Wednesday, February 26, 2025
International technology group ANDRITZ has successfully commissioned a second pressurized refining system at Wisewoods Co., Ltd’s mill in Phetchaburi, Thailand. This new installation, operational since early 2024, enhances the mill’s capacity to process rubberwood into high-quality Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF), catering to markets across the Middle East and Asia.
The newly operational fiber preparation system boasts a capacity of 30 tons per hour, efficiently converting rubberwood into premium MDF. Central to this system is the high-efficiency pressurized refiner, engineered to deliver superior fiber quality while minimizing energy consumption. Complementing the refiner, ANDRITZ has supplied a plug-screw feeder that optimizes dewatering before refining, ensuring effective pre-steaming and further reducing specific energy usage.
Visarut Palarit, Deputy Director of Wisewoods, expressed satisfaction with the collaboration: “Our first line from ANDRITZ has been showing excellent performance since its installation in 2016. The new line will enable us to enlarge our production capacity significantly. In parallel, ANDRITZ’s technology ensures that we receive top fiber quality—a precondition for our MDF board to deliver lighter color and smoother surface properties.”
This successful commissioning underscores the robust partnership between Wisewoods and ANDRITZ, reinforcing ANDRITZ’s position as a leading global supplier in the panelboard industry. ANDRITZ’s pressurized refining systems are renowned for producing exceptional fiber quality with reduced energy demands. The process begins with pre-steaming raw materials to ensure uniform heating, followed by compression and moisture stabilization via a plug-screw feeder. The material then enters a vertical digester for conditioning before refining, culminating in fibers directed to the dryer. Innovations in refiner plate design further minimize electrical energy requirements, ensuring optimal performance with lower operational costs.
Wisewoods Co., Ltd has been a prominent figure in the wood panel industry for over four decades, producing high-quality MDF products for regions including the Middle East and Asia. The enhanced capacity from this new system positions Wisewoods to better meet the growing demand for superior MDF products in these markets.
ANDRITZ continues to offer a broad portfolio of innovative plants, equipment, systems, services, and digital solutions across various industries. With a strong emphasis on sustainability, ANDRITZ aims to contribute significantly to a sustainable future, assisting customers in achieving their environmental objectives. As a global market leader in Pulp & Paper, Metals, Hydropower, and Environment & Energy sectors, technological leadership and global presence remain the cornerstones of ANDRITZ’s strategy, focused on long-term profitable growth.
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Tags: Andritz, fiber quality, MDF, Medium Density Fiberboard, panelboard industry, Phetchaburi, pressurized refining system, rubberwood processing, Thailand, Wisewoods
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