Producing a consistent veneer door skin requires more than elegant wood; it demands tight control over slicing, drying, pressing, and finishing. In our facility, every stage is mapped to ensure dimensional accuracy, colour consistency, and repeatable supply.
Log selection begins with sustainably harvested species chosen for uniform grain and low resin content. Flitches are soaked for 48 hours to raise moisture to 45 %, then sliced to 0.6 mm thickness on a rotary lathe. A laser-guided knife maintains ±0.02 mm tolerance, preventing thin spots that could telegraph through the finish.
Kiln drying follows. Veneer leaves are stacked on aluminium racks and conditioned at 60 °C for 12 hours, reducing moisture to 8 %. In-line moisture meters divert any sheet above 9 % to a secondary cycle, ensuring the veneer door skin will not shrink after pressing.
Substrate preparation is equally precise. MDF or plywood cores are sanded to 240 grit and conditioned to match veneer moisture. A balanced moisture differential of less than 1 % prevents warping during hot pressing.
Pressing is carried out on a 10-opening hot press at 110 °C and 1.2 MPa for 4 minutes. Thermocouples in each platen maintain ±2 °C, while pressure sensors confirm uniform contact across the 2.4 m × 1.2 m panel. After pressing, panels cool on a controlled conveyor for 20 minutes to relieve internal stress.
Sanding and finishing are completed in a dust-controlled booth. Panels receive a UV-cured sealer, followed by two coats of polyurethane. Automated spray guns follow a programmed pattern to achieve a 25 µm dry film thickness with ±2 µm variance.
Quality gates include thickness gauging, colour scanning under D65 and 3000 K light, and a 500 g impact test. Panels that pass are edge-sealed with clear acrylic and stacked on moisture-barrier pallets ready for shipment.
By integrating tight log selection, controlled drying, balanced pressing, and automated finishing, the plant delivers veneer door skin panels that meet architectural specs while supporting sustainable forestry practices.