Significant steps in improving the pilot plant capabilities at the BioComposites Centre in North Wales have been taken.
A pilot plant press with Press Man control, a resin blender with air atomisation and a QualScan fibre quality analyser have all recently been commissioned.
Since the installations several commercial projects have been completed including projects on OSB, particleboard and MDF. The Centre can now produce a three-layer particleboard (15mm) at a pressing factor of 4.5s/m.
The new pilot plant manager Dr George Goroyias said: “Our main objective is to continuously improve our capabilities and provide a high standard service for the industry.
“A press factor of 4.5s/mm for particleboard is very realistic and simulates industrial conditions. We hope that this demonstrates that our facility can be a cost-effective alternative to running trials on the production lines.”
