OSB Finishing | I-Joist Systems | LVL | Plywood Machinery
 

Globe I-Joist Manufacturing Systems

With increased environmental pressure to preserve old growth lumber coupled with a growing shortage of availability of large dimension lumber from managed resources, there is a growing demand for wood I-joists as a direct replacement for solid wood or even steel joists.

As an engineered wood product, wood I-joists offer technical advantages over their traditional counterparts. They are generally more consistent in straightness and stability and have a greater span rating. Market preference for the product is on the increase both in North America and overseas.

Globe supplies a complete equipment package for the manufacture of "wood I-joists". A wood I-joist consists of top and bottom "flanges" made from solid wood or LVL connected by a "web" made from plywood or "OSB".

FLANGES AND WEBS are machined and brought together in a continuous assembly machine that will produce speed to >700FPM. Globe’s patented I-joist assembly machine is the heart of the system. It is unique in that all assembly pressures and forces in the machine are electronically controlled by a central computer. A menu of different parameters for different size beams can therefore be established and individual set-ups can be recalled without the need for manual readjustment. Beams of 6" to 24" in depth can be made with consistent results. Custom machines have been produced for beams up to 32" in depth.

Flange Preparation
Solid wood flanges originate from MSR lumber. Preparation includes cross-cutting, finger jointing, curing (usually by RF) and testing. Flanges are prepared in lengths of up to 80'. An automatic storage deck is recommended to handle this long finger jointed material prior to introduction to the assembly process. Flanges can be fed automatically or semi-automatically to the assembly machine. Moulding heads within the assembly machine perform edge easing and grooving operations directly ahead of assembly.

LVL flanges are cut from billets. Globe supplies the complete handling system and heavy-duty rip saw necessary for this operation. The cut strips are then handled and processed the same way as finger jointed solid wood stock. Plants can be integrated to handle LVL and solid wood.

Web Preparation
Webs are prepared simultaneously on separate or integrated system. Web stock is delivered in sheet form and requires cutting to width and edge profiling. Systems are produced to match the raw material available, OSB, Plywood or Hardboard. Systems are supplied using either a multi-rip saw or a booksaw coupled with a long edge then a short edge profiler. Systems are design to couple directly to the assembly process or as an offline sub-system to the I-Joist production line.

I-joist exiting the assembly area

profiling multi-rip saw for web preparation

Arbor detail of profiling multi-rip saw

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I-joist exiting the assembly area

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Last modified: 02/20/08