5 minute read

On the Edge

Advances In Technology And Materials Bring Edgebanding To The Next Level

STAFF REPORTS

ABOVE: TECE PROUDLY PRESENTS THEIR PRODUCT: HYBRID EDGEBANDING.

BELOW: CASTALY MACHINE OFFERS A RELIABLE, AFFORDABLE EDGE BANDER WITH AUTOMATIC FEED STATIONS FOR VARIOUS PROCESSES.

Gone are the days of awkward edgebanding on fabricated boards and plywood, with obvious edges and telltale seams.

Traditional edgebanding was a manual process requiring ordinary carpentry tools and materials. In modern applications, edgebanding is applied to the substrate by an automated process using a hot-melt adhesive. However, this method can result in visible seams, glue residues and poor quality joints.

New edgebanding technologies have emerged to overcome these limitations and create seamless, adhesive-free and high-quality finishes. Edgebanding goes beyond wood veneer products and also can be made from metal, plastic or rubber, and comes in different shapes and sizes.

Today’s edgebanding machinery, materials and techniques help to achieve smooth, flawless surfaces while offering greater durability and moisture resistance while covering the exposed sides of wood products like plywood, particle board or MDF.

These technologies include:

• Laser edgebanding: A predetermined layer of the edgeband material is melted by laser radiation and pressed onto the panel, forming a jointless transition between the edgeband and the panel

Hot-air edgebanding: A similar process to laser edgebanding, but using hot air to activate the functional layer instead of a laser, making the process less expensive

• Zero-joint edgebanding: An edgeband with a preapplied functional layer that replaces the traditional glue, allowing for a superior and seamless joint between the edgeband and the board. It can be used with all zero-joint edgebanding machines including hot-air, laser, plasma and NIR

These innovations in edgebanding technology allow manufacturers to achieve a monolithic panel look at a lower cost than solid or painted panels, enhance leading industry trends such as high gloss and textured panels, and improve the quality, durability and aesthetics of the final product.

Here are a few new options in today’s edgebanding industry:

Castaly

Castaly Machine offers a reliable, affordable Edge Bander with automatic feed stations for various processes. It includes pre-milling, gluing, trimming, edge scraping, profile rounding, and polishing. The machine features an easy-to-use HMI touch screen control, automatic and synchronized material feeding, and sound/ safety covers with dust extraction outlets. Its heavy construction ensures stability and accuracy, with precise tracking and support for wider workpieces. www.castalymachine.com

Cantek

The new Cantek RapidEdge Pro Automatic Edgebander is designed to make edgebanding changeovers fast and convenient. Through its user-friendly touch screen interface, the operator can automatically switch between different edge thicknesses by a simple touch. The appropriate working units will automatically adjust in and out according to the edge thickness selected using a three-position pneumatic system. This promotes repeatable accuracy and optimizes throughput production. www.cantekamerica.com

ProEdge Foil

ProEdge, Inc is a leading manufacturer of heat transfer edge foils, serving the furniture, cabinet and other wood related industries for more than 25 years. Heat transfer foil is an ideal alternative to edge banding and has an advantage in that the foil can be applied to a contoured profile edge. The decorative product is printed on a polyester film carrier. The coating formulation includes the adhesive and top coat systems, which offer superior workability and durability in your finished product. Using heat and pressure, the decorative coatings transfer off of the carrier and onto the board. This provides a seamless finish. ProEdge foil is available in a variety of designs including solids, woodgrains, and marbles. The ultra matte product line is the latest addition offering less than 10 percent gloss to meet the trending demand for super matte finishes. www.proedgefilms.com

ABOVE CENTER: EDGEBANDING AND MORE SPECIALIZES IN IMPORTS OF PVC/ABS EDGEBANDING.

ABOVE: ORDER-MADE EDGE-BANDING FROM PANEFRI NORTH AMERICA

Tece

In the world of edgebanding, the color white accounts for 50% of the entire market. They have developed an optimal white edgebanding solution that is both cost-effective and environmentally friendly, boasting outstanding features thanks to its innovative formula. Tece proudly presents Hybrid Edgebanding, eaturing:

• Crafted from a healthy and environmentally conscious pure polymer (Polypropylene)

• Offers excellent flexibility for versatile application

• Demonstrates exceptional heat resistance

• Manufactured using the strongest polymer available

• Boasts economical advantages

• Produced in our factory utilizing renewable energy sources

Overall, our Hybrid Edgebanding stands out due to its use of a healthy and nature-friendly pure polymer, its excellent flexibility, exceptional heat resistance, utilization of the strongest polymer, cost-effectiveness, and its production process that relies on renewable energy sources. www.tece.com.tr

The Pinske Edge

The Edge Butler is designed to help you create a faster and easier way to edge band. Create less down-time switching between band colors by hanging all the colors needed for that day on your cart. Then wheel the cart to your edgebanding machine and start banding. No more walking back and forth to grab the next band color! The butlers make it easy to store each band color on its own designated butler by looping the band end through the spacers when the color is not in use. No more having to worry about the coil unraveling or taping the banding back together. www.pinske-edge.com

Panefri North America

Panefri North America Enterprises Inc. (PNA) is an order-made edgebanding manufacturer for high-end customers since 1978. The company’s Marbret S (Hot Air, Primer) features:

• Number one market share in Japan

• Master craftmanship and handmade skills from Kyoto and Mie

• Artistic design, top notch color matching for high-end customers

• 100% pure ABS selected fine materials

• Highest durability and safety for long-term customer satisfaction www.edgeband.com/na

Edgebanding and More

Edgebanding and More specializes in imports of PVC/ABS edgebanding, stocking multiple designs and finishes: gloss, matte, super gloss, super matte, multiple woodgrains, rustic, smooth, textile, meals, and many more. The products are manufactured in Europe with state-of-the-art technology, ensuring consistency in color and texture from roll to roll. Currently, the company stocks matching edgebanding for the complete collection from Kronospan with over 160 edgebanding designs, and also matches manufacturers to a client’s specifications.

www.edgebandingandmore.com

Peterman Lumber

Peterman Lumber offers a full line of perfectly matched materials that seamlessly integrate consistent pattern and texture onto any surface. Do not settle for the closest match. Peterman makes it easy by working directly with manufacturers to make sure the board, HPL, and edgebanding is perfectly matched from the source. The company has hand selected in-demand textures in colors meant for the Southwest market from industry-leading companies like Salt International, Stylelite, Stevenswood, and Merino with the goal to have beautiful and durable textures that match regardless of the application. www.petermanlumber.com

Pro Edge Technology

Pro Edge Technology offers the PET IV Automatic Edgebander, a blend of today’s technology with the workhorses of yesterday, coupled with a return conveyor for maximizing efficiency. The PET IV is built to last, backed with a two-year warranty. It features maintenance-free digital automatic lubrication, high feed speeds, increased horsepower on the top and bottom trimmer stations, diamond tooling on all top and bottom trimmers and pre-mill station, and much more. Contact Pro Edge Technology today. www.proedgetechnology.com

DC Distributing

Now stocking edgebanding to match FENIX colors. This edgebanding will give you the same look and feel as the FENIX material itself. These are stocked in 1MM thickness only to provide you with a durable finished product. www.dc-dist.com

Felder

The Felder G 500 EX is a game changer. This modern, robust machine is designed for rugged, everyday multi-shift operations and is compact enough to fit easily into any shop. Its refined and straightforward controls and impressive feed speed of 47.5 feet per minute makes this machine an exceptional solution for any serious wood shop looking for a competitive edge. www.felder-group.com/en-us

Acmos

ACMOS 100-5030 is a silicone-free release agent for spraying systems on banding machines to prevent the adhesion of hot-melt residues on surfaces, machinery, and tooling. The formulation is non-flammable and non-hazardous, which simplifies storage and shipping, and saves customers a significant amount on transportation costs. ACMOS 100-5030 is a versatile product that streamlines and replaces several other agents that are used in edge banding systems. It is economical to use and saves on material costs, while promoting high quality finishes. www.acmos.com/en/products/wood s p