Companies may deliver either tree length logs or logs pre-cut logs (optimally 5' in length), preferably debarked.

Log Conditioning Tank - Approximately ten 5' long, 12" diameter logs, can be soaked and/or heated in our log tank at a time.  The water can be heated up to 140 Fº.

Carmanah 12/48 Laboratory Strander - Capable of converting up to 12" diameter logs into strands from 3-12" in length for laboratory-scale OSB/OSL/LSL production.  A 48" inside diameter ring holds two knives which protrude into the inner face of the ring (both plate and disposable knives are available).  Flakes are produced by advancing the log through the rotating ring at a specified rate.  Projection of the knives in combination with ring speed determine the flake thickness, while the flake length is determined by the scoring knife spacing.  Desired flake width is achieved by selection of the appropriate counterknife angle (from 45 to 85 degrees in 5 degree intervals).

                       Carmanah Lab Strander Specifications

Acrowood Trillium Strand Screener - Acrowood Trillium^TM  as

well as Diamond Roll OSB/OSL Strand Screeners, capable

of separating strands into three size fractions.  The Trillium

screen has 18 shafts, each rigged with a multitude of

triangular shaped disks.  The shafts are divided into two

zones, each controlled by a variable frequency drive. 

The triangulardisk shape produces significantly higher

strand agitation through the screen as compared to

traditional circular disks, which increases the

screen's capability to separate fines from both dry

and green strands. While the Trillium screen works

well on dry strands, severalmanufacturers have

expressed the interest in green screening,

which removes the fines from the strand stream

prior to drying,thereby increasing overall efficiency. 

Larger strands pass over theTrillium screen, with

the remainder falling through into the Diamond

Roll Screen.  This material, in turn, is separated

into intermediateand fine size fractions.  A Gilson

screen is available to determinescreening efficiency

of the Trillium and Diamond Roll in removing

fines from the strand stream at various loading

rates and settings.Screen mesh sizes range

from #60 to 1 1/2".

                       Screening Specifications

Koch OSB In-Line Conveyor Lab Dryer - The dryer is 10' long and 3' wide, with an additional 4' of infeed and outfeed.  The dryer can evaporate up to 250 lbs of water per hour, at a maximum temperature of 325 Fº and a fan speed of 7,500 cfm.

Nyle Dehumidification Dry Kiln - Six drying racks are available for strand drying, each capable of holding 100 lbs of (aspen) strands, giving an effective daily rate of 600 lbs of green strands.

Coil Spinning Disk Atomizing Resin Blender - The Center has two Coil resin blenders: a 3'x6' with a capacity of 30 lbs/batch and a 5'x10' with a capacity of 120 lbs. The drums can be rotated at 20 rpm, and the spinning disk atomizer to 15,000 rpm.  The resins (normally PMDI or PF) and additives (such as waxes and preservatives) are sent to the blender's spinning disk by means of a peristaltic pump.

A custom built forming line is available to form oriented OSB/OSL/LSL mats, 52" wide x 100" long and up to ~16" high, ready for pressing. Picker rolls within the forming bin send a uniform flow of strand to the orienting deck, which contains toothed disks on shafts, both of which are adjustable for different strand lengths. The line contains a built-in image analysis strand measurement device which can quickly determine strand geometry and alignment. Hand forming of smaller panels within deckle boxes can also be performed.

  

  

34"x34" Dieffenbacher steam injection press. This press system, acquired in 2009, is controlled by ARC's PressMan system. Composite mats can be pressed either with or without steam injection (up to 250 psig steam pressure). Steam injection allows for the pressing of relatively thick strand composites, such as 3.5" thick LSL.

Boards/panels can be conditioned prior to testing in one of our two environmental chambers.  Most wood composites are placed in the chamber set at 70 Fº and 65% RH (which for most species, gives an approximate EMC of 12%).

The Center is ISO 17025 accredited to conduct many wood composite tests, including D1037-Standard Test

Method for Evaluating Properties of Wood-Base Fiber

and Particle Panel Materials and D5456- Standard

Specification for Evaluation of Structural Composite

Lumber Products