Wood Based Panel Industry

Wood Based Panel Production Process

1. Heavy Duty Power Transmission Belt

Material preparation with flakers or chippers requires high inputs of energy if chips of consistent quality are to be manufactured. This constancy of chip quality has a direct effect on subsequent board properties, making it of crucial importance for the production of wooden boards.

Technical Requirements of the belts

As a constantly varying load affects the tool shaft during wood milling, the drive system should be designed such that shocks and impacts can be compensated for. In these applications, therefore, highly efficient heavy-duty power transmission belts are a better alternative than sensitive mechanical transmission designs with considerable energy losses.

Our Solution

With its Extremultus drive belts of the P and endless lines, Forbo Movement Systems provides a particularly effective solution for the transmission of large amounts of energy with a high degree of efficiency. While, in the P series, high damping properties have an additional positive effect, the splice-free endless line operates especially quietly and allows low elongation at fitting.

With Siegling Extremultus heavy-duty drive belts, chippers, flakers can be driven reliably and efficiently, with especially small reversing-drum diameters.

Features, Functions, Benefits

Siegling Extremultus drive belts have a long service life and a high load tolerance, are elastic, and absorb vibrations and shocks. Among their impressive benefits are:

particularly high efficiency – up to 98%
exceptional synchronization accuracy
power capacity of up to 1850 kW
belt speeds of up to 100 m/s

Our customers value these belts’ long service life, low maintenance requirements and quiet, vibration-free operation that is easy on bearings.

1 - Polyamide line with a tension member
made of highly oriented polyamide sheet

2 - Truly endless aramide line with a tension
member made of truly endless aramide cord

3 - Truly endless polyester line with a tension
member made of truly endless polyester cord

Other Information

For simple, rapid, efficient installation and other service activities, specialists and equipment are available to our customers under the global FS service network.
Which equipment is ideal in a given situation depends mainly on

the type of splice. Other important aspects are where the splice is to be produced (workshop or on-site assembly) and the relevant belt width.

Siegling Extremultus Heavy-duty drives
Ref. No. 192
PDF | EN | 0.3 MB
Siegling Belting Wood
Ref. No. 262
PDF | EN | 1.5 MB
Siegling Extremultus Compendium
Ref. No. 333
PDF | EN | 7.7 MB

2. Bin Bottom Belt

Bin bottom belts are used at various process stages in the manufacture of wood based panels: in large wet-fiber bins and chip silos upstream from the dryer, as well as in connection with buffering of dried chips, in dosing bins used in connection with gluing, and as a vital part of the forming line in spreader bins.

Technical Requirements of the belts

Bin bottom-belts need to have high lateral stiffness and thickness accuracy. To prevent adhesion to the belt, the surface requires good release properties. When used in wet-fibre bins and chip silos, high surface loads and (in outdoor situations) weather conditions must also be taken into account.

Additional functions require other specific belt properties. Where belts are used for check-weighers, utilized in connection with gluing, strict compliance with thickness and weight tolerances is crucial. When conveying dry chips/fibers, belts can be fitted with longitudinal profiles for lateral-sealing purposes.

Our Solution

From a large portfolio of bin bottom belts, Forbo Movement provides the right belt for a given use.
Tailored to a given conveyor, PVC, polyurethane or silicone surfaces with different structures and tension member design can be supplied that optimally enhance the process.

Depending on the installation situation, both melt splices and mechanical fasteners are available as the splicing technology.

Features, Functions, Benefits

Forbo Movement Systems’ bin bottom belts have the following features, functions and benefits:

a range of surface materials such as polyurethane, PVC, silicone
ideal release properties
excellent compliance with thickness and weight tolerances
possible use of profiles on the top face and underside of the belt
individually selectable splicing technologies
long service life
run on small-diameter rollers

1 - Z-splice: Meets the most rigorous of requirements for uniformity of thickness. Very flexible splice, required particularly for knife edge belts. Standard splice for 1 and 2-ply belt-types.

2 - Stepped Z-splice: Vergleichbare Properties comparable to those of the Z-splice. Also suitable for rugged operating conditions (e.g. soiled drums). Possible for various 2 and 3-ply belt types.

Mechanical fasteners make it possible to

quickly fit and remove the belt without
disassembling machine components
repair a belt at short notice by inserting
a piece of belt material,
make belts endless quickly and easily
(please inquire about lacers).

Following fasteners are available:

3 - Wire hook fasteners (HS)
4 - Clamp fasteners (CS)
5 - Plastic fasteners (KS), also available optionally imbedded or heated into the belt coating.

Other Information

For simple, rapid, efficient installation and other service activities, specialists and equipment are available to our customers under the global FS service network.

Which equipment is ideal in a given situation depends mainly on the type of splice. Other important aspects are where the splice is to be produced (workshop or on-site assembly) and the relevant belt width.

Siegling Belting Wood
Ref. No. 262
PDF | EN | 1.5 MB
Siegling Transilon product range
Ref. No. 224
PDF | EN | 1.4 MB

3. Forming Belt

Forming or spreader belts are a major factor affecting the quality of composite wooden boards to be manufactured. On the forming belt, the fibers or chips supplied by the forming machines are shaped into a mat of (as close as possible to) the precise thickness and weight required, and are fed into the pressing process.

Technical Requirements of the belts

Modern forming belts are far more than merely conveyor belts. As components that influence quality, they need to ensure low tolerances with regard to thickness and weight (this includes the splice area).
Despite the many chemical components in wood material, in glue and in sprayed release agents, chemical resistance must be ensured. Even after a lengthy operating period, there must be no chips adhering to the surface. In order that nosebars can be used, high lateral stiffness and flexible splices are required.

Our Solution

Forbo Movement Systems has two alternatives as robust 1- or 2-ply belt types with polyurethane coating available for use as forming belts. They can be joined using a Z splice or stepped Z-splice that allow nosebar radii down to a minimum of 8 mm. And, of course, the belts have antistatic properties and are suitable for passage through metal detectors.

Example: E 18/H U0/U2 MT white Art. no. 906420

Thanks to the use of single-ply high-tech fabric, this type has become a top seller in the industry. The specific features of this product are extreme precision, high lateral stiffness and low minimum drum diameter, combined with a maximum width of over 4000 mm. Its special design also makes this belt type virtually maintenance-free – re-tensioning due to belt elongation is not necessary.

Example: E 12/2 U0/U2 MT blue Art. no. 906782

This 2-ply belt type was specially developed for highly adhesive conveyors, and its distinctive features include excellent chemical resistance, hydrolysis resistance and ideal release properties.
Use of this belt type can lead to considerably longer service life in problematic systems.

Features, Functions, Benefits

Forbo Movement Systems forming or spreader belts have the following features, functions and benefits:

low weight tolerances ( < +/- 1 %)
excellent properties of uniform rotary motion
no adhesion of chips to the belt surface
precision manufacture (especially important for manufacturing of thin boards)
excellent lateral stiffness
minimal roller diameter in the transfer region
chemical resistance
hydrolysis resistance
antistatic finish
flexible, durable Z or stepped Z splices of the exact thickness required
delivery widths > 4000 mm

Other Information

For simple, rapid, efficient installation and other service activities, specialists and equipment are available to our customers under the global FS service network.

Siegling Belting Wood
Ref. No. 262
PDF | EN | 1.5 MB

4. Ventilation Belts

Efficient ventilation of the spread fiber mat or chip mat is a major factor affecting the quality of wood based panels to be manufactured. It prevents air pockets forming in the board that could lead to quality issues. Pre-compression of fiber mats or chip mats must be effective and such that sufficient air escapes from the belts over a relatively short distance without lateral expulsion of the wood material occurring.

Technical Requirements of the belts

Ventilation belts are always fabric belts, i.e. they have a permeable structure. The mesh size used needs to be tailored to the wooden material in a given case so as to achieve an ideal compromise between ventilation performance and chip geometry. Copper or carbon threads woven in the polyester yarn make the belt highly conductive and prevent electrostatic build-up. There is no risk of critical fire safety situations.

Our Solution

Forbo Movement Systems provides a range of enhanced belt types from the Transvent Series for use as ventilation belts. All belts have a highly conductive finish preventing adhesion of chips and fibres. Due to their stable fabric structure with sealed edges, they achieve two primary functions simultaneously and uniformly: namely, ventilation and pre-compression.

The Transvent Series with its three types – W01, W02 and W03 – are products with air permeability of up to 9900 m³/m² per hour.

Marking-free Z splices or endless woven belts, as well as corresponding mechanical splices, make for various splicing options. This allows rapid and reliable assembly tailored to a given pre-press.

Features, Functions, Benefits

Forbo Movement Systems ventilation belts have the following features, functions and benefits:

Stable fabric structure
Good ventilation performance
Variable permeability to air
No adhesion of chips to the belt surface
Marking-free splicing technology
Sealed edges
Antistatic finish
Delivery widths of up to 4500 mm

Other Information

For simple, rapid, efficient installation and other service activities, specialists and equipment are available to our customers under the global Forbo Movement Systems service network.

Siegling Belting Wood
Ref. No. 262
PDF | EN | 1.5 MB

Tools and Accessories

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5. Pre-press Belts

Modern plants for wood-based products are equipped with continuous pre-presses that pre-compress and ventilate the spread fiber mats or chip mats before these mats are conveyed to the main press. During pre-compression between several successive pairs of rollers, much of the air contained in the fiber mat is expelled. To prevent the fiber mat being subject to a spring-back effect, a pre-press belt conveys it through the pre-press while also holding the mat together in a compressed state.

Technical Requirements of the belts

So that the fiber mat can be compressed and held together, pre-press belts must be extremely strong; they therefore require a highly modular tension-member structure. To ensure the surface of the pre-compressed boards is of high quality, low-wear belt coatings with good release properties are required.

Other fundamentally important characteristics are marking-free, reliable and durable splicing technology, as well as being able to use a perforated upper pre-press belt to aid mat ventilation.

Our Solution

Forbo Movement Systems has developed an enhanced, 3-ply, polyurethane-coated belt for use as a pre-press belt, with a tension member made of aramide fabric. The highly modular aramide fabric gives rise to excellent elongation properties, and compensates for high nip pressures and belt pull.

AE 140/3 U0/U4H MT black (article no. 906441)

A distinctive aspect of this belt is its versatility of use, including that in heavy pre-presses with nip pressures of up to 3000 N/cm and belt pull of up to 1800 N/cm.
The hard-wearing polyurethane surface ensures the surface of the

pre-pressed boards is of excellent quality, with the fabric’s structure inside the belt ensuring compensation for lateral forces (caused, for example, by belt tracking). In this way, pressure peaks and differences in thickness within the chip mat can be adjusted.

Features, Functions, Benefits

Forbo Movement Systems pre-press belts have the following features, functions and benefits:

Stable aramide fabric structure
Up to 140 N/mm belt strength
Nip pressure of up to 3000 N/cm
Belt pull of up to 1800 N/cm
Very hard-wearing surface
Surface hardness > 90 Shore A
Short take-up ranges
High lateral stiffness

Minimal expansion of the chip mat between the pressure rollers
No adhesion of chips to the belt surface
Perforated version available as upper pre-press belt
Mark-free splicing technology
Antistatic finish
Delivery widths of up to 4400 mm

Siegling Belting Wood
Ref. No. 262
PDF | EN | 1.5 MB

Tools and Accessories

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6. Microwave Belts

Modern plants for wood based products can be equipped with pre-heating units to increase their effectiveness. These are available as steam pre-heaters or microwave units, and heat the pre-pressed chip mat or fiber mat before it enters the continuous press. This upstream heating of the mat means the continuous press can run faster. The method in which Forbo Movement Systems has specialized is that of microwave pre-heating.

Technical Requirements of the belts

Microwave units are equipped with an upper and a lower belt. As with all other belts on the forming line, high lateral stiffness, excellent antistatic properties and marking-free splicing technology are of fundamental importance. Because the molecules of the chip mat are set in motion by a shortwave alternating electrical field as they pass through the microwave unit, one particular focus regarding the belt materials used is on their heating performance.

Our Solution

Forbo Movement Systems has tested a wide range of materials for use as microwave belts and enhanced their composition. Many standard types – with polyurethane coating, for example – have proven unsuitable for this application.

One perfect solution for this use, however, is our belt type E 8/2 X0/A2 MT-NA-HACCP white FDA (article no. 906776).

It is not only its coating that makes it suitable for specialist use as a microwave belt. With its belt thickness of 1.7 mm, it also has outstanding lateral stiffness even after being slightly heated, without the belt edges dishing.
Forbo Movement Systems is the only supplier worldwide that is able to provide microwave belts of up to 3350 mm in width without a longitudinal seam.

Features, Functions, Benefits

Forbo Movement Systems microwave belts have the following features, functions and benefits:

Stable polyester fabric structure
Smallest degree of belt heating
Lateral stiffness even when heated
Small roller diameter
Highly wear-resistant surface
Surface hardness > 90 Shore A
No adhesion of chips to belt surface
Marking-free splicing technology
Delivery widths of up to 3350 mm without longitudinal seam

Siegling Belting Wood
Ref. No. 262
PDF | EN
Siegling Transilon Product Range
Ref. No. 215
PDF | EN/DE/FR

Tools and Accessories

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7. Press Outfeed Belt

As it exits the continuous press, the continuous ribbon of board is transferred to press discharge belts that feed it to the crosscut saw. Press discharge belts usually run as a group of belts (several narrow belts arranged parallel to each other).

Technical Requirements of the belts

The chief requirement for these belts, which move only horizontally, is reliable, skid-free conveyance of the boards to ensure their exact positioning.

Good heat stability is required because of the close proximity to the continuous press and the fact that the temperature of the boards is still very high at this point.

1 - AR = Rough-top
2 - MT = Matt
3 - SG = Lattice
4 - STR = Normal texture

Our Solution

Forbo Movement Systems has a wide range of belts for which perfect grip and exact board positioning are provided by suitable tension members, coating materials and top-face patterns. From this portfolio, any conveyor can be optimally fitted for a given set of board properties.

Features, Functions, Benefits

Forbo Movement Systems Transilon belts have the following features, functions and benefits:

Properties	Benefits
low elongation	short take-up ranges; saves costs
flexible in machine direction	short reversing-drum diameter; saves energy
dimensionally stable	reliable and maintenance-free
low noise during operation	improved working conditions
durable	economical operation
lightweight with low overall thickness	easy to handle / to put into operation; cost-saving design

Siegling Belting Wood
Ref. No. 262
PDF | EN
Siegling Transilon Product Range
Ref. No. 215
PDF | EN/DE/FR

Tools and Accessories

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8. Board Conveying / Stacker Belts

In plants making wooden panels, it is generally robust conveyor belts or heavy live roller conveyors that are used for moving boards and board stacks. Use is often also made of plastic modular belts for conveying pallets.

Technical Requirements of the belts

Of particular importance in the (chiefly horizontal) conveyance of boards and board stacks are reliable, skid-free conveyance and exact positioning of the stack.
Conveyor belts also need to be extremely robust, as the board stacks are transferred to heavy industrial trucks.

Our Solution

Forbo Movement Systems provides customized solutions for different specific points of use:

Siegling Transilon - conveyor belts generally arranged parallel to each other in a group, these are used for transverse conveyance of boards, in board turners, and for in-feed and out-feed areas for dividing saws and wood sanding machines.

Siegling Extremultus belts are suitable for power transmission to live roller conveyors. They feature high abrasion resistance and low

flexing action. For heavy live roller conveyors, the particularly robust and hard-wearing belts from the Siegling Transtex line are recommended.

Where plastic modular belts are used, our Prolink system enables customized solutions to be configured. As well as straight-ahead and curved conveyance of stacks, entire ‘marshalling yards’ can be created. The Prolink Series S7, S8 and S9 have been developed specifically for conveying very heavy loads such as board stacks and pallets.

Features, Functions, Benefits

Siegling Transilon conveyor belts and processing belts allow efficient material flow and cost-effective work processes. In all conveyance functions, the reliable, skid-free conveying of boards ensures exact positioning and prevents production waste. To this end, particularly robust belt types with two or three fabric layers and anti-skid surface coating are used.

Extremultus belts for power transmission to line roller conveyors are energy-saving, durable drive elements that feature constant grip and high tensile strength. Their structure allows rapid assembly and results in low-maintenance requirements. In particular, E-type Extremultus belts (with polyester tension members) are used in the wood products industry because their properties are independent of ambient conditions, with tension kept consistent.

Transtex belts have ideal features for coarse applications, such as power transmission of heavy live roller conveyors. Thanks to their robust nature and puncture resistance, as well as their high abrasion resistance – combined with benefits such as low energy consumption, low vibration and long lifespan –these belt types are perfect for heavy-duty uses. As well as especially high dimensional stability, they are flexible, low-noise and are resistant to moisture and chemical effects.

Siegling Prolink plastic modular belts are robust, durable, and allow efficient conveyance and processing functions. Individual modules can be rapidly replaced in the event of damage. This reduces downtime and maintenance costs. The Prolink Series S7, S8 and S9 include especially strong and robust belt types with excellent tensile strength for industrial applications, and are designed for conveying heavy loads.

Siegling Belting Wood
Ref. No. 262
PDF | EN
Siegling Transilon Product Range
Ref. No. 215
PDF | EN/DE/FR

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Wood Based Panel Industry

Wood Based Panel Production Process

1. Heavy Duty Power Transmission Belt

1. Heavy Duty Power Transmission Belt

2. Bin Bottom Belt

2. Bin Bottom Belt

3. Forming Belt

3. Forming Belt

4. Ventilation Belts

4. Ventilation Belts

Tools and Accessories

5. Pre-press Belts

5. Pre-press Belts

Tools and Accessories

6. Microwave Belts

6. Microwave Belts

Tools and Accessories

7. Press Outfeed Belt

7. Press Outfeed Belt

Tools and Accessories

8. Board Conveying / Stacker Belts

8. Board Conveying / Stacker Belts

Tools and Accessories

Further Information

Success Story