December 2013/January 2014 - PAWPRINT PUBLISHING

NEWS
Done and dusted at LS Laminating
LEADING dust extraction engineers, Dust Control Systems
(DCS), has recently installed a space-saving, high-efficiency
filter plant for specialist laminated timber manufacturer,
LS Laminating Ltd.
Based in Middlesbrough, on Teesside, LS Laminating Ltd
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 100 cubic metres 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, radio
frequency (RF) adhesive gluing system and a high performance
6-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 has 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 DCS to replace the old system
DCS modular filter unit and fansets neatly installed in limited yard space.
DCS extraction system maintains a dust-free sanding environment at LS Laminating.
with an externally located filter
plant and fansets, together with a
new ductwork system.
The new plant consists of an
ATEX approved 9,100 m 3 /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 lownoise,
reverse air fan units which
maximise filter cleaning efficiency.
Says Paul Pearson: “DCS was
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.”
DCS Ltd
Tel 01924 482500
Email sales@dcslimited.co.uk
www.dcslimited.co.uk
Page 6 Panel, Wood & Solid Surface December 2013/January 2014