Anyone who has ever tried to dry OSB flakes on an industrial scale knows that the material is unpredictable. For our customer in China, the Luli Group, we nevertheless managed to form a nice, homogeneous OSB product layer with our two two-storey belt dryers and thus dry the flakes evenly.
Drying OSB flakes is anything but trivial
The challenge when drying OSB flakes is that they do not form a homogeneous product layer due to their shape. They interlock and form lumps. However, a uniform product layer is a prerequisite for even drying.
In addition, the OSB flakes are to be used for the production of OSB boards and may therefore only have a maximum residual moisture content of 2 per cent. Why? If the OSB flakes have too much residual moisture, vapour is suddenly generated during the production of the boards, which forms vapour bubbles on the surface. Boards with such vapour bubbles are rejects.
And as if that wasn't challenging enough, the OSB flakes also fly away chaotically in all directions at the slightest air current, because they behave like wings...
The solution: Our new OSB flake feeder
We knew from previous tests: We would damage the OSB flakes with the classic feeding system. So our engineers had to think of something else, and with our new OSB flake feeder they have succeeded marvellously. From the first day of commissioning, the flakes formed an even product layer in both two-storey belt dryers thanks to our new OSB flake feeder, allowing them to be dried to less than 2 per cent residual moisture right from the start.
SWISS COMBI's OSB flake feeder in action
With the development of the new OSB feeder, our engineers have once again proven that they can also find a solution for difficult cases. This is what characterises us at SWISS COMBI. (Markus Kunz, CEO)
If you would like to find out more about our belt dryers, please click here or contact us.