Slicing precious hardwoods is a long-established technique, which allows cutting thin sheets from a log with little to no loss. But there are thickness limitations in the slicing process, which is why thicker boards are sawn. The disadvantage of sawing though is each saw cut produces sawdust waste as the saw blade advances through a log.
"The fact that Danzer is now able to slice thicker lamellae means: we make almost 100% of the valuable raw material available for the following processing steps," says Rudi Heinzelmann, manager of the flooring program at Danzer. At the same time, he points out: "The yield advantage of the slicing process will always benefit the timber resource 100%, but it will not always result in lower cost - due to the higher investments required for slicing, compared to sawing.”
For the product development, Danzer could build on its proprietary, best-in-class slicers VS 4000 as well as on its vast experience in veneer production. Pivotal were also joint product optimizations with customers and investments in new technologies at its Mělník plant in the Czech Republic. Last year, about 5 million square feet of cut-to-size thick-cut surface lamellae were produced in Mělník. In 2015, Danzer is investing in additional clippers and drying kilns and will double its capacity.
In 2015, Danzer expects European Oak to be again the wood species in highest demand. Due to their flexibility in procurement and their technical expertise, Danzer can offer thick-cut hardwoods also in many other wood species.
