Minda-TimberPress X 337 with a three-dimensional compression and pressing system © Minda
It started in 2010 when Minda developed the first press with a three-dimensional compression and pressing system in order to produce high quality CLT panels from laminations. The development process reached a first milestone with the successful market launch of the current HS-line. According to Minda, the launch was successful because the new TimberPress X-HS is being used in almost all current projects of renowned CLT manufacturers. Seven machines with a total of eleven pressing systems have been or will be installed until 2019. HS stands for high speed and facilitates the use of even faster curing PUR-adhesives in shorter cycles and, as a result, leads to capacity increases of up to 30%.
Minda’s technicians thoroughly analysed every step of the process, from “start adhesive application” to “press closed and under pressure”, and optimised each one of them. The new hydraulic system and the control system adapted to it play an integral part in the increased performance. Tried and tested advantages of this technology, e.g. the simultaneous loading of the glued laminations and unloading of the pressed CLT panel, have not been changed, of course.
Modular structure
TimberPress X 236 HS with a two-dimensional compression and pressing system © Minda
In order to fulfil all customer requirements, the TimberPress X-line is based on a modular construction kit. Minda lists the following technical key data of the new press:
- pressing width: 120 to 600 cm
- maximum panel length: customisable, in a grid of 60 or 80 cm
- maximum panel thickness: customisable, usually 60 to 400 mm
The biggest TimberPress X, which has been built so far, has a pressing surface of 6 x 20 metres, while another press produces up to 400 standard elements a day with a dimension of 2.4 x 5.5 metres.
The completely hydraulic compression and pressing system also has a modular structure so as to avoid limitations in the structure and composition of the CLT layers. For example, massive wood panels or loose laminations or a combination of both (e.g. longitudinal layers = massive wood panels, crosswise layers = laminations) can make up the different layers of a panel. No matter what the composition is, the TimberPress compresses the layers with high precision and produces high quality raw CLT panels.
Since CLT panels in large formats are usually produced in lot size 1 according to the respective order, it goes without saying for Minda that changes in size and thickness can be made continuously and fully automatically. The company confirms that manual setting steps do not exist.
