Plywood

Plywood is an engineered wooden product, made out of thin layers of wood placed together and bonded with heat pressure. Hence, steam boilers are used for the production process in the plywood industry.

Stages of Plywood Manufacturing

Plywoods are differentiated into hardwoods including oak, maple, cherry, larch, and poplar while softwood comprises pines and fir. The manufacturing process involves several stages:

• Acquiring Logs: Choosing the right logs is essential, especially in ensuring they are legally harvested from forests.
• Debarking: The logs are fed in a debarking machine to peel off the bark without compromising the wood.
• Bucking (Cutting Logs): Bucking is the process in which logs are sawn to the required dimensions before proceeding with further fabrication.
• Peeling Logs: The marks or scrapes in the log are eased off using a rotary lathe and later the log gains a smooth surface.
• Creating Sheets: Large plies of wood veneer are produced and bonded together to form plywood.
• Cutting and Drying: There are standard lengths and widths of wooden sheets which undergo cutting and then followed by the drying process.
• Gluing Sheets: The veneer sheets are then joined in a gluing machine to form the actual thickness of plywood.
• Pressing Sheets: The glued sheets are placed on a hot press machine so that they are bonded and achieve the desired thickness.
• Trimming and Finishing: The plywood is sanded and can be painted or varnished for a better surface before selling.

The Use of Steam Boilers in Plywood Production

Steam boilers are essential in the plywood industry for drying the moisture in wood along with several purposes:

• Disinfecting Wood: Destroying termites.
• Sterilization: Dry heating to expel bacteria and fungi from the surface.
• Curing: Kilning and adding certain salts to make the plywood harder.
• Anti-Flaming: Ensuring non-flammable qualities.
• Grease Removal: Cleaning some surfaces of grease or oily film to enhance surface finish.

Considerations for Selection of Steam Boilers for the Plywood Industry

To ensure optimal efficiency and reliability, consider the following:

• Combustion: Boilers should be compatible with the fuel types such as logwood, chip wood, and coal. The use of high-quality traveling grates is good for combustion purposes and the generation of flue gasses.
• Pressure and Emission Control: To reduce emissions and achieve normal functioning the pressure must be managed correctly and induced draft fans maintained frequently.
• Safety Measures: Daily safety valve checks and accessories are necessary to prevent mishaps and maintain safe boiler usage.