Wood technology

The Microglass technologies offer solutions innovative in 360º in the domain of wood processing, including not only the water-based varnish drying (MOS ®) but also applications for furniture sanitation and manufactured wood products in general, packaging and also gluing and conditioning of glass sheets and panels for doors, windows, shutters, furniture and covering.

In the domain of wood sanitation, Microglass has come up with different solutions for anti-woodworm disinfection in the chambers of microwave processing of furniture and manufactured products, such as frames, works of art, various household articles, etc., obtaining an energy saving and a considerable reduction of processing time with regard to the traditional heating processes. These positive results were achieved thanks to the absence of thermal inertia as well as to the effectiveness against every type of parasite (saprophytic mushrooms, bacteria and xylophagous insects among which also termites) in every vital stage (egg, larva, adult).

In fact, the microwaves penetrate deep inside various tunnels where the parasites are nesting and the fast heating up does not allow the organisms to adapt to the new thermal conditions by their own thermoregulation capacities. Moreover, this technology ensures an absolute non toxicity and a low environment impact, avoiding the use of chemical agents, such as methyl bromide and other biocidal products. The accurate processing controls (temperature sensors on the manufacture, emissions survey and regulation of the emitted energy) guarantee an optimal monitoring for the protection of the object and the security of the workers.

In the packaging sector, the international standard FAO ISPM 15 provides for precise phytosanitary measures against noxious organisms dissemination (insects and nematodes) in the unrefined wood packaging materials (chests, pallets, bottom-boards,…) used in the international commerce (extra transits EU, USA, China, Mexico, etc.). Especially the heat treatment (HT), nowadays the most widespread technology since it avoids using polluting substances (like fumigation with MB …), ensures that the wood maintains the core temperature superior to 56 ºC for 30 min. The standard processing takes place in hot-air curing tunnels (electric resistances) or in steam curing tunnels, the use of which results in high management costs (thermal inertia, pressurized water steam, etc.).

Other processes (X and gamma rays, high pressure or vacuum processes) are still waiting to get approved and to be recognized. Microglass has studied processing chambers or in line tunnels using microwaves or combined technology (microwaves - hot air), that enable the processing of items of various dimensions (single boards as well as complete chests and packages) in a short time, without thermal inertia or polluting emissions in atmosphere. The microwaves are able to reduce the time necessary for the wood to reach 56 ºC also in depth, the temperature that is then maintained for the time stipulated by the regulation.

Moreover, various tests were conducted in the furnishing sector including resin polymerization, treatment of compound materials and many others. Continuous microwave presses have been developed (plants up to 104KW radiated) for a fast polymerization of the adhesives applied to the cellular veneer moulds, designed for subsequent ennobling or processing, for the application for veneering or laminating.

Another successful application of the combined technology (hot air – microwaves) was applied on the multilayered panels (e.g. lamination with HDF and melamine resin or polymer leafs) designed for environment with limited humidity (show rooms, fairs, offices,…), in which the bending after the application represents a critical problem difficult to solve. Fast evacuation of the inner humidity is obtained by irradiating the panels with microwaves for few minutes at the end of the processing cycle. This processing solves the problem of the bending without causing serious modifications or delays in the standard production cycle. The processing cabins can be produced in various dimensions and can have different power, according to the productivity of the production plants and of the size and shape of the processed items.