Tuesday, August 12, 2025
Lesbats Scieries d’Aquitaine, a leading French wood processing company, has introduced cutting-edge technology to optimise its material logistics. The company’s new automated storage and conveying system, featuring four Vecoplan Toploader systems, is designed to streamline wood waste handling and improve overall production efficiency. This move aligns with Lesbats’ commitment to sustainability by turning waste wood and bark into valuable energy while also providing the basis for efficient pellet production.
Lesbats Scieries d’Aquitaine operates in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region of France, processing wood into a range of construction products, including sawing, drying, and planing services, as well as producing glued components used in supporting structures and façades. With a focus on efficient material handling, the company has invested in Vecoplan Toploader systems, an automated solution designed specifically for bulk material storage and transportation. These systems ensure 24/7 material reception, automated unloading, and efficient storage, making them a key component of the company’s sustainable production approach.
The newly installed Vecoplan system includes a range of features that improve dust-free material transport and prevent bottlenecks in production. These features include a conveyor belt, closed drag chain conveyors, and a vibrating separator, which help screen material to the desired fraction size. The Toploader systems play a crucial role in controlling two critical material cycles essential for smooth plant operations.
Lesbats’ decision to implement four Vecoplan Toploader systems significantly enhances its internal material flow. The systems store key raw materials such as wood chips, bark, and sawdust, which are essential for both energy generation and pellet production. The stored bark is directly transported into a combustion chamber, where it generates hot air used to dry sawdust from 50% to 10% moisture content. At the same time, the Toploaders handle the sawdust and wood chips, feeding them into a screening system that immediately separates fine particles from larger wood pieces.
The larger wood pieces are then shredded and passed to a drying drum, where the material is prepared for pellet production. The Toploader system’s precise dosing mechanism ensures a steady flow of material into the drying drum, preventing interruptions or bottlenecks in the production process. This level of precision guarantees that both energy generation and pellet production run smoothly, optimising the plant’s overall efficiency.
The installation of the Vecoplan Toploader systems has enabled Lesbats to make optimal use of waste wood, turning it into both energy and the raw material for pellet production. By improving material storage and handling, the company has increased its efficiency while reducing waste. With automated storage and conveyor technology, Lesbats ensures that the energy generation process is more sustainable, and the overall wood processing system is both cost-effective and eco-friendly.
The Toploader systems have helped minimise dust, reduce the need for truck trips, and lower emissions, contributing to Lesbats’ commitment to a greener future. Moreover, the systems’ automation has improved internal handling, making the production process smoother and more efficient.
Lesbats Scieries d’Aquitaine’s investment in Vecoplan’s Toploader technology is a prime example of how automation and sustainable practices can drive the French wood processing industry forward. The company’s commitment to using renewable energy sources and optimising material handling aligns with broader industry trends towards more sustainable and cost-effective operations.
In 2024, Lesbats expanded its operations with a new pellet production plant at its sawmill in Saint-Perdon. This move not only boosted production capacity but also ensured that the plant’s energy supply was environmentally sustainable. The integration of the Vecoplan system has been a crucial part of this expansion, allowing for efficient and sustainable production at every stage.
By integrating Vecoplan Toploader systems into its operations, Lesbats has taken a significant step towards creating a more sustainable and efficient wood processing plant. The company has optimised the use of raw materials, minimised waste, and enhanced energy production, all while reducing emissions. This investment underscores the importance of automated material handling and conveyor systems in driving efficiency and sustainability in the wood processing industry.
Lesbats’ successful implementation of Vecoplan’s technology serves as a model for others in the industry, demonstrating that with the right equipment and processes, it is possible to reduce costs, enhance productivity, and achieve sustainability goals.
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Tags: Lesbats Scieries d’Aquitaine, toploader systems, Vecoplan AG, Vecoplan toploader systems, wood chip storage technology, woodworking and processing
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