2 minute read

Hymmen presents its latest and its established surface technologies

Personal networking at trade fairs and conferences has picked up again last year after the pandemic break. Nevertheless, Ligna 2023 will be the first event where the relevant market players in the woodworking and decor industry from all over the world will meet at the same time at the same place.

“We are delighted to be able to explain our latest developments and proven technologies to the international audience again in face-to-face meetings,” summarises Dr René Pankoke, Managing Partner of Hymmen. Thus, at the show, Hymmen aims to build on the recent successes of its digital printing technology on an international scale. In the last 12 months alone, six new Jupiter digital printing lines featuring Digital Lacquer Embossing (DLEplus) technology have been sold. This means that there are now over 50 Jupiter digital printing systems in operation.

For the flooring industry, Hymmen has developed three possible finish options: Viscoelastic topcoat (AC5 falling sand), corundum (S42 Taber) or wear layer lamination. All surfaces convince with 100% synchronous pore structures. A wide variety of digitally enhanced materials – including the flooring installed at the booth – can be viewed and touched. ‘The best wood ever printed’ sums it up well,” says Pankoke. “It is difficult to distinguish the planks finished with the multiple award-winning Digital Lacquer Embossing (DLEplus) technology from real wood. With the help of a graphic, the individual process steps of the production are explained to the interested visitor. In addition, film recordings show the production in real operation. Of course, Hymmen’s experts will also be available to discuss the proven press technologies, liquid coating, calendar coating inert and laminating equipment, as well as digital printing of décor paper with water-based inks using the Saturn Digital Printing Line. Samples of end products manufactured using these technologies are available for explanation, as are film recordings of production equipment in real operation. Double belt press technology has recently enjoyed unabated attention in the laminate manufacturing market: Only in the fiscal year 2022, Hymmen had six continuous HPL lines in its order backlog. The double belt press can be celebrated as the ‘grande dame’ of the wood-based materials industry, as it is already looking back on the completion of its fourth decade of life.

The combination of process expertise with the manufacturing know-how of individual components from gluing to multidaylight presses and conveying and handling technology at Hymmen has already led to individual plant projects in the area of engineered wood in the past. “The positive feedback from our customers and the market’s demand for significantly higher automation and efficiency has now prompted us to expand our commitment in this market area,” explains Pankoke

There will be an opportunity at Ligna to discuss more details on projects that have already been successfully implemented and the possibility of new project planning.

Software is another important focus at the booth – and is equally relevant to all Hymmen-owned as well as external machinery and equipment. “This is the smart2i Industry Intelligence solution, for cloud-based monitoring and analysis of all relevant process parameters to optimise the entire production,” summarises Pankoke.

Visitors to Hymmen’s stand will be able to experience the live application of smart2i in real time at the booth. This is done via virtual access to real production data.