The CLT line has been in operation since last fall – Markku Herrala, Hanna Ahopelto, Kujakon manager Jouni Kujala and Jukka Peltokangas (from left to right) in front of the new system © Lorenz Pfungen
Even though CLT is used in Finnish construction more and more, there has so far been only one producer in the whole country. Business partners Jukka Peltokangas und Markku Herrala wanted to change this. Due to their previous employments, both have years of experience with wooden houses and glue-laminated timber products. "As Finland's biggest manufacturer, we are producing panels with narrow side-glued boards," Herrala explains. This yields visually more appealing surfaces without cracks what plays a particularly big role for customers working with applications in visual quality, he continues. Furthermore, the vapor sealing characteristics of components are better.
An X-Cut is cutting lamellas to the correct length © Lorenz Pfungen
"To distinguish ourselves from competitors, we are selling our products under the brand name Hoisko CLT," marketing representative Hanna Ahopelto explains. The initial aims are to supply the Finnish market, boost brand recognition and raise awareness for different possibilities of application. Even in Finland, the advantages of wood materials still have to be promoted to convince users. Apart from that, the company wants to tap into various export markets, Herrala mentions without disclosing further details. This will still take some time.
Main components from Slovenia
Planing is taken care of by a Europlan that can also apply glue to lateral surfaces, if needed. © Lorenz Pfungen
The place of production of the main components is Slovenia. "We decided to choose Ledinek because we have trust in the company and they have plenty of references," Herrala explains. Kujakon, Alajärvi/FI, is one of the partner companies that constructed the entire mechanization. The Slovenians delivered the cross-cut saw, the automatic planing mill comlete with gluing of narrow sides as well as lay-up unit with surface gluing and the press. An X-Cut is taking care of cutting the additionally bought boards that are already sorted according to strength to the right length. Subsequently, a Europlan is planing the lamellas before they are stacked in layers and pressed – but first things first.
Panels of up to 16.8 m³
Upstream of the laying bed (A), there is one buffer each for longitudinal and cross layers. Boards have to be aligned before the vacuum crane (B) can hoist the layers into the press bed © Lorenz Pfungen
The system can output panels with maximum dimensions of 3.5 m of width, 12 m of length and 40 cm of thickness. After feeding in the package, a vacuum lifter takes out the stack layer by layer and transports them to a buffer upstream of the cross-cut saw. Before the X-Cut can start cutting the boards to length, they have to be separated. Then, a cross-conveyor feeds the lamellas to the Europlan that takes care of planing and, if required, applying glue to the narrow sides of the boards. The conveyor chains make sure that cross lamellas are transported to the respective buffer one level higher. Longitudinal boards remain in the lower level.
In the lay-up unit, surface gluing and panel composition follow. Depending on the panel's width, glue is first applied to one side of the panel and afterwards to the other side © Lorenz Pfungen
During the entire production process, the open waiting time is taken into consideration – depending on whether thin or thick panels are being produced. Once all necessary layers are prepared, they are aligned and subsequently a vacuum lifter is transporting one layer after the other to a press bed in the lay-up unit where also surface gluing is performed. In the pouring station, the formaldehyde-free PU adhesive is first applied to one half of the panel and afterwards to the second half - depending on the size of the panel.
1.5 hours for one panel
The vacuum crane is hoisting the last board layer onto the package © Lorenz Pfungen
Once gluing is complete, the package is transported to the X-Press. In the meantime, the system can start filling a second press bed. After glue curing, the finished glulam is brought into a joining system by SCM and is processed according to the customer's needs. In full operation, it will only take 1.5 hours from feeding in the raw material to the finished panel, Peltokangas elaborates.
By the way: pressing is done at room temperature and with high pressure. What is crucial is a constant level of air humidity which is why the entire hall is equipped with humidifiers.
"The construction work within this project was supervised by Ledinek. They were able to tell me exactly how and where which elements had to go. In general, we are very satisfied with Ledinek's performance," Peltokangas sums up.
The main tree that is processed is spruce next to pine and other types of wood on request.
Potential expansion
The material is directly transported from the lay-up unit to the press. During pressing, a second press bed is already at the ready to perform another CLT composition. In full operation, it will only take 1.5 hours from feeding in the raw lamella package to the finished joined panel © Lorenz Pfungen
Since the system was only launched last year, the company is still in the introduction and learning phase. As for the current year, the plan is to produce around 5000 m³ of CLT. For 2018, the aim is to reach between 10,000 and 15,000 m³. "With the current system, we have a production capacity of up to 40,000 m³/yr. Depending on the market development, we are aiming at purchasing a second line in two to three years," Peltokanas announces. Currently, things are looking good, he summarizes confidently. The expansion would bring a total annual capacity of 70,000 m³ and catapult the company right into Europe's top producers.
CLT Finland
Company foundation: 2015
Locations: Hoisko
Managing directors: Jukka Peltokangas and Markku Herrala
Employees: 12
Products: Cross-laminated timber with sanded surfaces, contract joining
Ledinek
Company foundation: 1908
Location: Hoče near Maribor/Sl
Managing directors: Gregor and Pavel Ledinek
Products: Timber processing machines, patented Rotoles system, Stratoplan, Superplan, Superles, Europlan, Multiplan, Kontizink, rotary press, Eurozink, Flexipress, X-Press, X-Cut, complete KVH/glulam/CLT production solutions, engineering as well as mechanization solutions, moulders, control software X-Lam Manager
