In the course of extensive investments and expansion of the existing premises, SCS Scierie et Caisserie has extended the existing drying capacity for sawn timber with another 8 drying kilns. In the course of this investment effort, a new 3.5 MW Urbas biomass boiler was also put into operation, supplying the new drying kilns with heat. In addition to the existing 7 combined kilns and 5 drying kilns supplied by Mühlböck, the new systems expanding the firm's drying capacity to approx. 20,000 m³/year have now been put into operation.
What makes the combined Mühlböck drying and steam kilns special is the fact that they combine 2 processes into one system. The sawn timber heated in a steaming process and stacked on special aluminium stacking laths remains in the drying kiln and is optimally prepared for the subsequent drying process. The temperature-controlled cooling process downstream from steaming is already used for drying.
Another advantage of the combined drying and steaming kilns lies in the special supply and exhaust air system of this type of system.
The uniform introduction of fresh air over the entire length of the kiln further increases the uniformity of the kiln climate and improves wood quality in all combined kilns installed at SCS Scierie et Caisserie de Steinbourg. Since a large part of the goods produced is exported, the quality of the steamed beech is a decisive factor in order to be able to compete on the international market.
The software for operating the plants in Steinbourg is another element that has been brought up to date. All 20 units were converted to the latest Mühlböck K5 control system and linked. For the operators, this results in intuitive operation, maximum reproducibility of all processes and support for all drying activities. With the extensive reporting tools built into the K5 control system, they are now also able to evaluate and further optimise all processes.
