Westwood is one of five (5) technology companies in the world holding a Patent on thermo-treatment processing of wood. Westwood thermo-treatment technology was developed in Europe in 2004. Currently, Westwood technology is the most advanced, developed the technological achievements of similar processes in the world. In 2005 Westwood implemented the new way to manage and control of technological processes, introduced by the Japanese company OMRON. The new System automatically adjusts to the species, size, initial moisture content, chemical composition and geometry of the original timber, which allows a predictable result. In 2007, the heat wave control was improved to 3-D Technology. This is especially important for treating hardwoods. In 2009, the new generation of equipment began being developed together with SII Dry Kilns.

7493 Airport Dr Macon GA 31216 (612) 308-3953

www.westwoodcorporation.com

WESTWOOD AND THE OTHER WORLD THERMO-TREATMENT PROCESSES

Thermo-treatment processes all have in common the treatment of sawn wood at elevated temperatures in the range between 160 °C and 260 °C (320 – 450 °F) in an oxygen-free environment. The main differences between the processes are to be seen in the process conditions (process steps, steam or nitrogen, wet or dry process, use of oils, steering schedules etc.) and published in several patents. Westwood is the latest world technology of a new generation introducing the 3-D heat control, which is important to treat hardwoods and get a predictable treatment result.

Plato-Process (PLATO BV - The Netherlands) uses increased pressure (superatmospheric pressure). The process time is depending on the wood species used, the thickness, shape of wood etc., and uses a thermolysis step (4-5 hours ) followed by an intermediate drying step (3-5 days) and a final curing step (14-16 hours). In some cases, a conditioning step (2-3 days) is needed.

Retification Process (NOW New Option Wood - France) starts with relatively dry wood (approx. 12 %) and heats up the material up to 200 °C – 240 °C in a nitrogen atmosphere (below 2 % oxygen).

Bois Perdure (BCI-MBS - France and Canada) process starts with fresh wood, subsequently a fast drying process and heating up to 200°C – 240°C under steam atmosphere. The wood is heated under steam atmosphere (steam generated from the water of the wood).

OHT – Process (Menz Holz - Germany) is performed in a closed process vessel. Hot oil is pumped from the stock vessel into the process vessel where the hot oil is kept at high temperatures circulating around the wood. Before unloading the process vessel the hot oil is pumped back into the stock vessel.

ThermoWood process (Stora, Finnforest, Stellac, Jartec - Finland) has been developed at the Finnish Research Center VTT. Today the process is licensed to the members of the Finnish ThermoWood Association. The ThermoWood process can be divided into three main phases: 1) the kiln temperature is raised at a rapid speed using heat and steam to a level of around 100ºC; 2) once the high temperature kiln drying has taken place the temperature inside the kiln is increased to a level between 185ºC and 230ºC; and 3) to lower the temperature temperature using water spray systems and then adding moisture and conditioning takes place to bring the wood moisture content to a useable level over 4%.

Westwood (Westwood Corp. - USA) process automatically adjusts to the specie, size, initial moisture content, chemical composition and geometry of the original timber, allowing a predictable result, which is especially important to treat hardwoods. In 2007 the heat wave control was improved to 3-D Technology (the other European technologies use the principles of convection dry kilns, which is 1-D linear technology). The Westwood process takes 22-40 hours and has the best energy cost efficiency and equipment cost in the market.

Technology ( –good, - bad)

Hardwood treatment

Yearly capacity

Treatment cost

Equipment cost / Capacity

Time of installation

Total

Plato (The Netherlands) -3

Retification (France) +1

Bois Perdure (France) +6

OHT (Germany) +3

ThermoWood (Finland) 0

Westwood (USA) +13

  Westwood technology uses only electric heating elements and fans to provide the processes managing the chamber environment. Using steam or hot oil to provide heat leads to loss of accuracy based on the response time to changes in the chamber. The accuracy of Westwood processes is 0.3 degrees, a much higher accuracy than the gas or fuel fired chambers. In addition, using oil or steam under pressure demands special pipelines, raising safety concerns.

  The Westwood technology is automated, eliminating the human intervention factor. The chamber turns off as soon as the cycle is complete, has a multilevel system of protection against failures and a system of self-diagnostics, so it does not require the operator on duty around the clock (a significant cost savings). In case of emergency situations or malfunctions, such as an interruption of water supply or failure of any sensor, the system will cool down the chamber to a safe temperature automatically (if necessary, the cycle can continue from this point after removing the causes of failure). Westwood provides a multilevel system of power protection, which is the international standard of safety.

  The system has multilevel access (through passwords) to program parameters, visual supervision processes system, manual fine tuning system during a cycle, archiving and data recording every 30 seconds in the built-in memory that allows the user to analyze and reproduce any cycle, and output to computer or the Internet.

  Westwood system has Internet remote management (even by the cell phone) allowing diagnostics of equipment by the manufacturer, updating of programs or remote correction of malfunctions.

  The 3-D control not only allows a predictable result for hardwood treatment (which includes the ability to choose colors that are more suitable for a specific product), but also to produce specific products, such as boards with color deviation, colored parquet and other design products.

INSTALLATION SITE REQUIREMENTS

Surface of installation site should be level, with cement or concrete ground. Space requirements: min length – 85’, width – 12’, height – 15’. Operation temperature range from 40 F. Electricity: 480 V three phase, 300 Amp (350 kW). Water: 25 gal/hour. Drain system, Internet line.

WARRANTY

The equipment warranty is 2 years. Provided: free delivery and installation of parts (which are required by the scheduled and unscheduled replacement within two years), software updates, diagnostics of current modes of operation (including on-line via the Internet), recipes development, equipment installation and training. After two years the warranty can be extended. Technical advice and consultation, 24/7 technical support, and software upgrade are free of charge during the lifetime of the equipment (15-20 years).

WESTWOOD TECHNOLOGY DESCRIPTION

In order to treat hardwood, a very precise control of temperature is needed (thermochemical reactions occur when treating hardwoods). Westwood introduced the unique 3-D heat wave control system for this purpose. Westwood technology is far ahead of it’s European competitors, which are using the 1-D linear models first developed in Finland in 1995, based on principals of conventional kilns. As a result European processes are applicable for softwood treatment mostly, which is free from thermochemical reaction (97% of treated wood in Europe is softwood). Westwood is currently the only technological decision, specially developed to treat hardwoods.

Westwood's Thermo-treatment Kiln is fully automated. Westwood introduced the feedback control system, so the cycle time is variable and is optimized by the system itself, based on the intermediate parameters achieved. The system monitors and controls more than 20 parameters every 5 seconds, allowing for predictable results when treating hardwoods. The intelligent cycle system and 3-D heat wave control Technology® make Westwood the technology leader for the next generation.

The research performed in Europe (2005-2008) shows that the properties of stability and durability of thermo-treated wood depend on more complicated reactions than just heating and require the precise control of both the temperature and time of process, which we have successfully implemented in the Westwood technology.

WESTWOOD KILN SPECIFICATION

 One load capacity: 5,000 (up to 6,000 BF).  Species - any dried hardwood or softwood (6-10% MC).  Treatment temperature – 370°- 450° F.  Treatment time per cycle: 22 - 40 hours.  Theoretical Year’s Output: 2,500,000 BF.  Chamber net dimensions - 5’ х 6’ х 38’.  Operational kiln dimensions - 8’ х 15’ х 85’.  Controls – fully automatic, plus Internet and cell-phone management.

WESTWOOD TECHNOLOGY ADVANTAGES AND APPLIED INNOVATIONS

 Due to the developed feedback control, allowing the processes to be automatically managed, Westwood technology allows us to automatically adjust the parameters to treat different species of wood.

 The Westwood chambers sizes are ideally balanced between reasonable heating and treatment times based on the wood species. As a result, the Westwood heat treatment cycle takes only 22-40 hours. Productivity of Westwood chambers (5,000 bf of one full loading) corresponds to the productivity of other manufacturer chambers much larger holding capacities. The size of chamber and short cycle time provides essential flexibility for smaller orders. Cell phone control

  A set of interchangeable parts and components required for the first 2 years of work is delivered with the Westwood equipment with no additional cost. So, the first 2 years of operation of Westwood equipment does not require any additional expenses.

  By using the intelligent Westwood cycle processing, the cost of Westwood treatment appears to be as much as 3 times less than in the larger chambers, compelled to use liquid fuel or natural gas energy. Also, Westwood chambers have 3 times less power consumption. The energy consumption comparison for different materials and processes is shown. Thanks to good insulation and the compact size of the Westwood chambers, even the combined Westwood mode drying + thermo-treatment consumes less energy than any other treatment process.

  Westwood equipment is delivered as a ready-to-use unit (plug-and-play) and can be installed within a few days. It includes all items necessary for equipment operation: power supply, control system, two-level emissions cleaning system, two complete sets of loading-unloading pallets, programs of various wood species for treatment and so forth. The equipment is built in to a standard hi-cube 40’ marine container; therefore it is easy to transport and install.

  Air emissions and water discherge concentration levels comply with environmental standards. The system is supplied with two cleaning devices. The first – a scrubber - provides three-level clearing, drying and cooling of steam leaving the chamber. The second – an exhaust system with ajustable concentration.

  Through the innovation and design optimization, the cost of Westwood equipment is significantly below the cost of other technologies with similar manufacturing capacity.

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