Since 1983,  Clouston has been exclusively building and perfecting compression control technology for the plywood hot press. A Clouston Hot Press Compression Control is a device that when installed on a plywood hot press allows you to control how much of the pressing cycle is dedicated to pressing the panels at full hydraulic pressure, then it makes the hydraulic rams hold position for the duration of the pressing cycle. Therefore, you can leave the panels in the press long enough to allow the heat to penetrate the panels and turn the glue over without over-compressing the panels. This means that you can make the same thickness of panel with a thinner veneer peel.

When a high moisture content veneer is hot pressed at high temperatures, wood volume loss can be as high as 11%. If compression loss is reduced by only 1% (at veneer costs of $125/M/3/8"), a plant producing 100 million square feet (3/8") annually can save$125,000.

The CLOUSTON HOT PRESS COMPRESSION CONTROL SYSTEM* has proven in mills across North America for over eighteen years that it cuts compression loss by 1.3%-3.4% compared to single and multi-stage pressure systems. It is a device that when installed on your hot press allows you to control how much of the pressing cycle is dedicated to pressing the panels at full hydraulic pressure, then it makes the hydraulic rams hold position for the duration of the pressing cycle. Therefore, you can leave the panels in the press long enough to allow the heat to penetrate the panels and turn the glue over without over-compressing the panels. This means that you can make the same thickness of panel with a thinner veneer panel.

CONTROLLING HOT PRESS COMPRESSION: HOW IT WORKS
The CLOUSTON HOT PRESS COMPRESSION CONTROL SYSTEM interfaces with existing hot press PLC/electrical and hydraulic system. The press closes, comes to and stays at full  pressure for a period of time set by the operator. As the CLOUSTON SYSTEM is counting down the full pressure time, the ram movement indicator is monitoring the compression of the load of wood in the press. When the timer on the CLOUSTON SYSTEM has reached zero, the controller stops compression of the panels by maintaining bottom platen position. How well the system is holding can be seen on the operator interface. When the curing cycle is complete, the unit releases and resets ready for the next load.

Quality control can never set an amount of movement that is acceptable when in "holding" and if the system exceeds this amount an alarm condition is shown and recorded as well as the maximum amount it went over. The CLOUSTON SYSTEM has an on-screen troubleshooting screen(s) to aid in solving any problems that may occur.

THE CLOUSTON HOT PRESS CONTROL SYSTEM:

• Allen-Bradley PLC
• Most mills gain enough wood recovery to reduce their veneer peel by .002" or more.
• Improves panel uniformity
• Works exceptionally well with high moisture veneer.
• Programmable alarm system
• Automatically compensates for short loads, variations in veneer thickness and panel construction
• On-screen troubleshooting
• On-screen routine maintenance list
• 10" colour TFT touch-screen
• Uses high quality components that are easily maintained
• Been building hot press compression controls since 1983, longer than any manufacturer in North America and probably the world

WHY BUY THE CLOUSTON?

The CLOUSTON HOT PRESS COMPRESSION CONTROL SYSTEM offsets compression losses at the hot press  by allowing only enough compression to achieve maximum glue bond quality then holding that position for the remainder of the pressing cycle. This solution works very well on the higher moisture content veneers most vulnerable to over compression. Maintaining platen position gives excellent panel glue bonds without altering production schedules because the wood fibers do not expand or contract from movement in the press platen. Thinner veneer can be peeled at the lathe with corresponding savings.

In short, the CLOUSTON HOT PRESS COMPRESSION CONTROL SYSTEM offers the best dollar for dollar value to battle compression losses and increase wood recovery. The system is easily adapted to your present configuration, quickly installed, and extremely reliable. It's a good investment with a quick payback.