Three first boards in four days
The production of the first board is a special milestone for all parties involved in the joint project handling. The first time a new wood-based panel plant is in operation, it's a reason to celebrate. Within just four days in mid-June, three new Dieffenbacher lines produced their first board, which was a great pleasure for the plant operators.
The Chinese Wanhua Group and its subsidiary Wanhua Ecoboard were twice as pleased. On 10 June, the first board rolled off the production line at the Jingzhou site in Hubei province, and only three days later board production also started in Tongling, Anhui. Wanhua produces straw chipboard from rice straw on both lines.
Wanhua has been relying on Dieffenbacher's expertise in alternative raw materials since 2015. The plants just started up were the orders number four and five in the joint cooperation. Three further plants, among others for the production of MDF and Fine Surface OSB with straw content, are already planned.
The commissioning of the two Wanhua plants is also a very special event for Dieffenbacher. In both plants, the "CPS+", the gold standard for efficient continuous press systems, is being used for the first time in China, once again demonstrating its flexibility and universal applicability.
Another first plate was celebrated on 12 June near the Ecuadorian capital Quito. This is where the new Dieffenbacher particleboard line from Novopan del Ecuador started its work.
Dieffenbacher also has a long-standing partnership with Novopan. Already in 2008, when Metso had sold its wood panel business to Dieffenbacher, the Eppingen machine and plant manufacturer took over the support of the first production line in Quito.
"With our existing plant, Dieffenbacher has proven that they can help us in the efficient production of high-quality wood-based panels. We are therefore confident that Dieffenbacher is also the right partner for our new production line," said Cesar Alvarez, CEO of Novopan del Ecuador, when the contract was signed in December 2017.
