At Äänekoski, logs are reduced before debarking, meaning that the VK debarking machine is also equipped with a butt reducing rotor, the new VFR model. The VFR rotor incorporates entirely new technology that enables the flare butt of each log to be reduced individually. The position of the cutting tools can be adjusted separately for every log, improving the accuracy and efficiency of the production process.
“We have been satisfied with the performance of the VFR, and the experiences in Äänekoski have been promising,” Lampola continues.
The VFR butt-end reduction rotor enables production without unnecessary stoppages during the reduction process and improves the efficiency of the entire production line.
“The VFR does not slow down production, and it is highly efficient,” Lampola says when describing the rotor’s most significant advantages.
“Thanks to butt-end reduction, disturbances in veneer block handling are reduced. The reduction process also improves the efficiency of veneer peeling,” he adds. The blocks are already properly prepared when they arrive at the lathe.
“We had strong confidence in Valon Kone and in the VFR development work carried out at the Lohja LVL mill. Therefore, selecting the new technology for the Äänekoski project felt like a natural choice,” he concludes.
Teemu Tynkkynen, who is responsible for machine sales at Valon Kone, is pleased with the progress of the project.
“Valon Kone and Metsä Wood have enjoyed a successful partnership for many years. We are proud to have been selected to supply the debarking and butt-end reduction process for this major Äänekoski project. We are especially grateful that Metsä Wood has trusted Valon Kone and given us the opportunity to finalize the development of this new butt-end reduction technology under real production conditions at the Lohja mill.”
Metsä Group is an international Finnish forest industry company, and the Äänekoski mill is its newest production facility. The investment is valued at approximately EUR 300 million.
Kerto LVL is an engineered veneer-based wood product manufactured by bonding together thin rotary-peeled softwood veneers, typically only a few millimeters thick. LVL products are widely used in the construction industry and contribute significantly to reducing the carbon footprint of buildings.
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