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All raw material logs are Radiata pine which are transported by truck from the Tumut region. The logs are sorted into diameter classes, to increase efficiency in the production line. As the company has two lathes, one produces 8ft wide layons, whereas the other lathe produces 4ft wide layons. The reason for this is that the 4ft wide layons are used as cross bands whilst the 8ft wide layons are used as face bands (or long bands). After the logs are stacked they are placed onto a loading deck by a forwarder, the logs then travel along a chain conveyer which travels through a ring debarker. This machine removes most of the bark and the cambium layer, the debarked logs are then cross cut to length depending on diameter, and quality. Large diameter high quality logs are cut to 8 ft lengths and are converted to face bands, whilts lower quality, smaller diameter logs are cut to four foot lengths and utilised as cross bands. Once the logs are cross cut they are then called bolts by the industry.
The lathing practises are similar for both lengths except for the loading of the log onto the lathe. The 8 ft wide bolts are loaded onto a lathe by a crane, they are then manually centralised onto the lathe and the chucks are engaged. Conversely the 4 ft long bolts are mechanically loaded and centralised onto the lathe by a X-Y charger. Both sizes are then rounded off by using the lathe knife only, this removes any remanning bark and produces a cylinder. Once rounding of is completed the nose pressure bar is engaged and a thin continuous veneer is produced. The veneer travels down a convey belt where it is clipped to its required size. The layons are then placed through a drier which takes 15 to 20 minutes to decrease the layon's moisture content to 3 percent. Temperatures used during the drying process range between 145 to 155 degrees Celsius at the top end, and 125 to 135 degrees Celsius at the bottom end of the drier.
After drying the layons are patched and then visually graded. Once they have been visually graded the layons are restacked and transported over to the rollon gluer to be prepared for gluing. The gluing processes actually determines the amount of plies in the end product, for this example the end product produced will be 3-ply plywood. A face band is placed through the rollon glue applicator, with adhesives being applied only on the loose side. Two cross bands are then placed through the applicator (one after another) and adhesive is applied to both the loose and the tight sides of the crossbands, the crossbands are then placed on the previous face band. Another face band which has had adhesive applied to the loose side only is then placed on top of the cross bands.
The uncured plywood board is then transported to the pre-press. The pre- press consist of a number of windows (ie multi-daylight pre-press), the boards are placed into the pre-press windows were pressure only is applied. The function of the pre-press is forces the adhesive into the void spaces, remove any air, and assits in future handling of the board. After pre-pressing the boards which are still not cured are placed into a multi daylight hot press. This press applies pressure plus high temperatures to cure the adhesive, therefore bonding the layons together. Temperatures which are applied by the hot press range in the vicinity of 148 to 150 degrees Celsius and are applied for approximately 11 minutes, depending on the thickness of the plywood.
Once the boards have been cured they are removed from the hot press and are reconditioned. Reconditioning stops the boards form curling, this is achieved by spraying water on the boards as soon as possible after the boards have been removed from the hot press. Reconditioning bring the plywood boards moisture content back up to the 12 percent mark. After reconditioning the plywood boards are trimmed by automatic trimmers, sanded using single belt sanders and packed ready for transportation by trucks.