Wednesday, October 29, 2025
“Repairing veneer by patching holes and knots is one of the most cost effective ways to improve value of end product in terms of more valuable plywood grades.” – Raute.
There is an increasing demand for face veneer in the production of thinner panels and a decreasing amount of large-diameter logs available. Patching is regarded as a practical solution to quickly increase the amount of face veneer from smaller-diameter logs for the correct raw material balance in the plywood structure. Patches come in various forms: butterfly, oval, and boat being the most common ones. Out of these the butterlfy patch that comes in many sizes, is the most efficient one. It does not pop up and bears double the load compared to the other types, and saves up to 25% in patching material. It is the easiest way to eliminate broken veneers.
The patching technology includes at least one patching level with one or two patching heads, depending on the veneer sizes. The patching heads are permanently installed in fixed positions on the patching frame whereas the veneers are moved and positioned under the heads.
A production line can include one to four patching levels along with a bypass conveyor, providing an additional grading feature based on uniform patching rules defined by the line camera’s recipe. With advanced intelligent camera technology, patching decisions and grading rules can be precisely controlled to meet industry-standard grading requirements — ensuring you never over-patch or under-patch.
“Start your production or add capacity easily with our R3-Series. When you want a proven, widely-known workhorse of the industry, the R5-Series is your solution. Put automation and machine vision in full use with our flexible R7-Series and master your productivity with high speed and maximum capacity.”
Patching classifications:
The road ahead
The installation of the LVL Lay-up Line R7 is set for completion in the spring of 2026, marking the latest phase in the Ville-Marie mill’s transformation. As the mill enhances its production capabilities, LVL Global is well-positioned to meet the growing demand for LVL products and continue its tradition of excellence in the engineered wood products industry.
With Raute’s advanced technology and LVL Global’s commitment to quality, the future of the Ville-Marie mill looks promising, with increased efficiency, higher-quality products, and a more sustainable production process.
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Tags: Automation, LVL products, patching, patching line, Raute, Solid Wood, solid wood patching, sustainable, Veneer, wood panel, wood patching, wood veneer, woodworking technology
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