Sanding of High Pressure- and Continuous Press Laminates, 1997 Asian Laminates Symposium Proceedings

The requirements for sanding of high pressure laminates (HPL) and continuous press laminates (CPL) have gone up significantly the last few years. This development demands new designs for sanding machines and the proper selection of abrasive belts in order to fulfil today’s requirement for surface quality and thickness tolerance. Sanders for two type of applications are available, one for processing of individual sheets, one for incorporation into continuous press lines. HPL sheets are sanded with speeds of 40 to 60 meters per minute. Sanders in presslines are equipped with adjustable abrasive belt speeds to adapt to the various laminate qualities. High pressure laminates are expensive products and "just in time” production allows a drastic reduction of capital intensive storage. This means the sanding line must be capable to process sheets with different thickness’. For such manufacturing processes, sanders with a "closed loop” measuring and remote thickness setting of the sander are available.