Is Recycled Material Deteriorating Your Equipment?
The Hidden Cost of Recycled Wood in Modern Processing
In today’s competitive wood processing industry, the increasing use of recycled materials has created an unexpected challenge. What began as a cost-saving measure has evolved into a significant operational issue for many facilities. As virgin lumber prices rise due to demand from power generators, wood processors have turned to recycled materials to maintain profit margins, but at what cost?
The contamination present in recycled wood sources is literally tearing away at processing equipment, drastically reducing asset lifespan and eroding business profits. Every day, facilities face unexpected shutdowns, increased maintenance costs, and premature equipment failure due to abrasive wear.
When Wear Protection Becomes Critical
The consequences of inadequate wear protection are both immediate and long-term:
- Deteriorating asset value: Processing plants see their capital investment value decline rapidly when equipment suffers from accelerated wear
- Unplanned downtime: A single weak link in your chip preparation, drying, blending, or layup plant can halt an entire production run
- Escalating maintenance costs: Replacement of worn components often exceeds the initial capital expenditure
- Shortened equipment lifespan: What should last decades may fail within just a couple of years
Consider one international particleboard producer who was experiencing daily failures throughout their manufacturing plant. The structural integrity of their drying cyclones was severely compromised despite being constructed from Hardox wear plate. The extreme abrasion caused by contamination in the recycled wood stream had created a critical situation requiring immediate attention.
https://www.kingfisher-industrial.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/K-ALOX-LINED-DRYING-CYCLONE.pdf
The Kingfisher Solution: Protection Over Replacement
Download our Wood Processing Sector Brochure
Rather than accepting equipment degradation as an inevitable cost of using recycled materials, Kingfisher Industrial offers proven technology solutions that protect your investment. In the case of the particleboard manufacturer, Kingfisher implemented its 92P K-ALOX ceramic lining solution, a system that provides superior wear resistance, outperforming standard abrasion-resistant wear plates. Over a six-month period, Kingfisher’s specialists completely covered the internal substrate with the ceramic lining system, eliminating the need for mechanical replacement activities.
The results were remarkable:
- The system has lasted more than 8 years (compared to the previous 2-year lifespan)
- Life expectancy is projected to exceed 15 years based on current wear rates
- The solution paid for itself in less than 2 years
- The customer avoided significant replacement costs.
Future-Proofing Your Operation
Kingfisher Industrial has been pioneering wear-resistant lining systems within the wood processing industry for years, with proven success throughout all areas of the plant:
Chip preparation: De-barkers, vibrating feeders, screens, chippers
Drying plant: Dust feed lines, rotary valves, drying drums, cyclones
Blending plant: Storage silos, vibrating screens, air separation systems
Sanding systems: Extraction fans, impellers, ductwork, filter housing
By identifying all relevant wear criteria and leveraging a large portfolio of wear protection materials and techniques, Kingfisher makes sound recommendations backed by strong performance guarantees.
Invest in Protection, Not Replacement
From planning new plants to modifying existing processing equipment, Kingfisher adds significant value by advising on design criteria, manufacturing methods, and most importantly, protection systems that lead to:
- Enhanced wear resistance
- Elimination of repair needs
- Improved product discharge
- Significant return on investment
- Future-proofed operations.
Take Action Today
Don’t wait for equipment failure to impact your production. Contact Kingfisher Industrial today to arrange a site survey of your wood-processing facility. Our expert engineers will identify opportunities to extend your plant’s service life and protect your capital investment.
This article first appeared on Kenny Fergie’s LinkedIn – connect with Kenny here.