Start»Veneers»Veneer production

Veneer production

From tree to single leaf – veneer production in detail

1. Delivery of logs

A truck delivers the purchased logs to the veneer mill.

2. Timber storage

All logs are stored in the mill yard until production begins. Proper storage includes continuous sprinkling with water. The moisture prevents cracking caused by drying and any changes in color.

timber storage
Cut the trunk to length

3. Cut the trunk to length

The logs are being cross-cut and prepared for further use.

4. Debark the trunk

The bark is removed (stripped) from the raw wood in preparation for the slicing and peeling machines. At the same time, any foreign material such as embedded stones, hammered-in nails, sand and soil are removed.

debark the trunk
Unravel the trunk

5. Unravel the trunk

Each log is processed into flitches with a specified cutting technique. For more information see the page on veneer production techniques.

6. Steam the trunk

Steaming (or cooking) the logs in hot water has two purposes. First, it gives the wood the pliability required for a smooth cut and thus perfect processing quality. Secondly, the length of time the wood remains in the water affects the color of the veneer.

Steam the trunk

7. Veneer peeling

Wood burls are clamped at the ends of the log, cut longitudinally at one point and rotated around their own axis, thereby peeling. One turn thus results in a veneer sheet.

8. Veneer slicing

Logs are sliced according to specified technique. The quality of the processing depends on precise setting of the blade with an accuracy of 0.1 mm. Only then can faultless quality be guaranteed.

9. Drying veneer

The still-wet veneer sheets are dried in dryers between webbing belts, which also flatten (smooth) the sheets.

10. Veneer cutting

When the veneers are dry, they are cut to size and bundled into flitches. The edges are trimmed and if necessary, growth irregularities are cut out.

Measure veneer

11. Measure veneer

After the veneers are cut, they are bundled into packs (flitches) of 16, 24 or 32 sheets (leaves) each.

Source: IFN, Initiative Furnier und Natur, www.furnier.de