Rotary Batch Mixer Blends Wood Powders for Plywood Adhesives
A rotary batch mixer tumbles the raw materials for plywood adhesives.
To blend raw material for plywood adhesives at higher rates with greater uniformity, the Willamette Valley Co. replaced a ribbon blender, which agitates material, with a rotary batch mixer, which tumbles it. The company, also known as Wilvaco, mixes fine mesh bark powder from the Western Red Alder tree, along with other wood material, to produce dry blends that it ships to customers who formulate plywood adhesives. Examples of the products blended include Modal SPR-Dark and Modal SPR-Lite, both bulking agents for plywood glue mixes.
“We wanted pure blending in high volume,” says Don Coleman, plant manager. “Our glue customers are very particular when it comes to their ingredients, so consistent quality is important. The ribbon blender did not mix materials thoroughly enough. The material, which customers mix in vats in their own formulations, could clog filters and shut down lines if not properly blended.”