Wanhua Ecoboard, the panel division of the Chinese methylene diphenyl diisocyanate (MDI) glue producer Wanhua Industrial Group, has ordered two lines from Dieffenbacher that will enable it to begin producing straw-based supermechanical strength particleboard (Super PB) in 2023. Wanhua Ecoboard has now ordered 10 production lines from Dieffenbacher.
The production process of Super PB mixes standard core-layer flakes with slender, long core-layer flakes, enabling a board density up to 30kg/m³ lower than usual. This leads to savings in raw materials such as straw, wood and resin, and electrical and thermal energy without compromising board properties.
Wanhua will install its new lines in Chenzhou, Hunan, and Leshan, Sichuan. Delivery of the Dieffenbacher equipment is scheduled to start in September 2022 for line nine and in October 2022 for line 10. Start-up of both lines is planned for Q2 2023. Once the new plants are in operation, Wanhua will reach a production capacity of more than 2.5 million m2 per year with its 10 Dieffenbacher lines.
The companies’ relationship began in 2015 when Wanhua Ecoboard ordered its first straw-based particleboard plant from Dieffenbacher. Following five additional straw-based particleboard lines, Wanhua expanded its product range to straw-based Fine oriented-strand board (OSB) and medium-density fibreboard (MDF) by 2020.
“In today’s fast-paced world, such a long period of uninterrupted cooperation is quite rare,” said Shouheng Zhang, general manager of Wanhua Ecoboard. “But Dieffenbacher, as one of our most important partners, has proven time and again the wisdom of our continuing to invest in this partnership. Committing to our ninth and tenth lines confirms the excellent quality of our collaboration.”
