Surging technologybuilds up OSB

ARIENTED strand board is the \-fhottest selling structural panel in North American residential construction. Used for wall, floor and roof sheathing, it has about 757o of the U.S. market.

lyzer t"hat scientists have recently developed. The system measures the resin distribution of OSB panels to ensure panel strength and consistency-a useful means to manage costs by calibrating resin use.

neering such research, "the most important ones deal with 'process variability' or establishing uniformity and consistency, yielding strength and durability in panel density, resin distribution and strand orientation."

A technology recently licensed from the University of California at Berkeley that is being refined uses sound waves to determine how long an OSB press must be closed to yield top adhesive strength for panels. This is done on the fly without opening the press.

How about an infrared density measurement system that can flag improper fiber distribution and density and correct imbalanced panel properties without interrupting the production process? The first such systems were sold to manufacturers in 2000.

A recently completed pro- '*,'t ject looked into the use of -" fines, or wood residue left over ry sil ltllg). *-:" I r ,i..n. * from the production process, to .1's.' qt' be used along with strands in OSB ' .i -. d *''"b qi ;*# panels with a minimum effect on 5,.f.tf' OSB properties. Manufacturers gain 'o* "' *^-^ ],^t,^-^ :r +L^,, ^^- 6,,+ '-^16 rr,^^;

Made from strands layered and oriented in different directions for structural strength and bonded with water resistant adhesives and resins, OSB is referred to as a commodity. But latest manufacturing advances, boosting panel i: .; more value if they can. put more wood ''; into their product while enhancing i:; structural integrity. OSB panels i already use most parts of a tree and are made from small diameter trees uni- like aspen, both conducive factors disf o r - couraging logging of old-growth mity, stands. strength

There are at least half a dozen nd dura- more ongoing projects that will help / and proJects [nat wrrl Irerp bility, are shape the future of OSB as a panel anything but developed from high-tech manufacaverage or turing processes. According to commonplace. Robert Knudson, team leader of comTake the resin posite wood products for Forintek distribution ana- Canada Corp., an organization pio-

At leasthalf a dozen ongoing projects will helP shape the future of 0SB as a panel developed from hightech manufacturing processes.

The ultimate goal is for all parts of the manufacturing process to be computer-simulated. The result of every variation in the production process then will be known -OSB produced at a higher mill temperature, with optimum wood use, frozen wood, fewer fines, less resin, and so on. This will enable manufacturers to make informed decisions based on processes and technologies that will yield the highest quality products in the most cost efficient manner.

Wayne Wasylciw, composite products scientist for the Alberta Research Council, another organization spearheading research advances for the industry, agrees. "We are heading toward the smart mill concept. From a variety of information, we will be able to optimize the product for specific applications. This on-going synthesis of ideas has led to connections with technologies which were perhaps not considered in this industry previously."