During the past decade there has been a substantial increase in the amount of knowledge on the fundamentals of particleboard manufacture, significant changes in machines and processes, development of new products, changes in the economics controlling the establishment of new mills and a dynamically increasing market. This changing situation has brought about a need for a series of symposia designed to present pertinent and current information on particleboard in the United States and Canada. These symposia are also intended to serve as a forum for the exchange of ideas and the encouragement of discussion on an individual basis. Hopefully, this will lead to broader perspectives, the uncovering of new avenues for research endeavors and, ultimately, further refinement and sophistication within the industry itself.
The first of these symposia was held at Washington State University on March 1, 2, and 3, 1967. It covered most of the major aspects of the particleboard manufacturing process. No one area discussed was covered completely because of limited time; however, an excellent foundation was established for future symposia. Session titles included the following: (1) Relationship of Raw Material Characteristics to Processing Variables, (2) Some Equipment and Methods for Generating Particles, (3) Certain Equipment and Methods for Drying Different Types of Furnish, (4) Blending t~esins and Other Additives With the ~urnish, (5) Various Forming Systems, (6) Pressing Techniques and Presses, (7) Some Developments Beyond Basic Particleboard (Molding and Overlaying), and (8) Special Considerations (Standards and Economics).
A number of significant points of interest were brought out during the sym. posium. For example, the companies producing the majority of the partieleboard generally have four common characteristics: (1) They have control over much of the wood resources coming into their various plants. Consequently, they do not have to compete in the open market for the residues they use in their particleboard plants. (2) They all have integrated operations where they attempt to extract full use out of the raw material with the particleboard plant as the final scavenger.
(3) They all have large plants which usually means they are economical to run. (4) They all have extensive marketing capabilities within their own sales organizations. These firms are market-oriented, selling many different wood-based products.
Speakers at the symposium pointed out that most of the new plants in the immediate future will be built in the South because of the availability of cheap raw material and nearness to market. The South is also in the enviable position of being the most rapidly expanding market area. Much of this demand is for furniture board which also happens to be a product with a high profit potential.