Based in Middlesbrough, on Teesside, LS Laminating specialises in the manufacture of laminated timber sections for use in the production of staircase components such as newel posts, strings and hand rails. Working with both whitewoods and redwoods the factory produces uniform sections which are made by gluing together, under high pressure, accurately machined lamellas of timber. A cost-effective alternative to solid wood, laminated timber is stronger, more stable, and less likely to shrink or swell after installation.
With the capability of producing up to 100m3 of laminated sections per week, in all lengths, LS Laminating has established itself as a quality supplier to leading stair makers and national timber products distributors. The firm’s well equipped factory carries a large stockholding of timber and includes both flat and upright presses, a radio frequency (RF) adhesive gluing system and a high-performance six-head moulding machine. All timber is dressed prior to pressing and then sanded using a Boere TKKS 900 triple wide-belt sander. Since the sander was first installed, extraction had been provided by a dust collection unit which had to be manually emptied on an increasingly regular basis.
Paul Pearson, the director who heads up the company, explains: “The Boere sander is the single biggest generator of dust in the plant and, as production levels increased, our existing extraction unit was struggling to cope. Apart from the constant chore of emptying the bags, the unit’s efficiency no longer met the standards required. But, most importantly, it was crucial for us to maintain a dust-free environment for the RF adhesive setting process, as well as for the health and wellbeing of our production team.”
LS Laminating contracted Dust Control Systems to replace the old system with an externally located filter plant and fansets, together with a new ductwork system. The new plant consists of an ATEX-approved 9100m3/hr modular filter unit complete with rotary valve. Collected woodwaste is discharged pressure-free into a waste transfer system which feeds the material directly into a box cart. The
DCS filter is fitted with high-performance Superbag polyester filter bags and with low-noise, reverse air fan units which maximise filter cleaning efficiency.
Says Paul Pearson: “DCS were able to meet all our requirements, by installing the filter and fans outdoors in very limited yard space. And we now have an extremely efficient system of extraction for the sander which operates on a continuous basis without the need for any attention.”
Tel 0800 040 7116
