The production line on which the production of laminate is carried out. Own business: laminate production

Recently, the construction market has been conquered by laminate flooring, thereby displacing materials such as linoleum, carpet and parquet. The reason for this popularity is the low price of the material and excellent performance. Let's find out what laminate is made of, how it is made and where it is used.

When was laminate introduced?

The birthplace of the laminate is Europe, and the beginning of the production of the coating took place in the mid-eighties of the last century. Therefore, to this day, European laminate is considered the best. Of course, progress does not stand still and laminated products began to be produced in China, Ukraine and Russia.

Although modern laminate production can be called flawless, there is no limit to improvement, and new technologies are being developed every day. So, earlier there were laminate models imitating various types of trees, and now marble, granite, flowers, fruits and even 3D images can be depicted on the floor surface. In addition, models with a textured coating appeared on the construction market, which was not there before. Given the rapid growth in popularity and the frequent improvement of production technology, the quality of products is guaranteed by the appropriate certificate for the laminate, thereby removing unscrupulous manufacturers from the market.

Where is laminate used?

Due to its excellent performance, laminate can be used in almost any field of activity:

• Private construction. Since the laminate is produced in all sorts of colors and at the same time has excellent wear resistance, it is almost ideal for use in houses and apartments;
• Offices, shops and other public spaces. In places with increased load on the coating, the service life of the laminate is 5 years or more, while this indicator depends on the quality of the material and the integrity of the manufacturers. Also, the protective layer of the laminate will not lose its appearance even with intensive movement along the coating;
• Sports and industrial complexes. The excellent strength qualities of the coating allow the installation of the laminate in places with extremely high loads. For example, the coating can easily withstand the weight of machine tools, sports equipment and other equipment.

Laminate every day conquers new heights, and finds application in almost any field of human activity. And the main reason for this is the low price of the material, combined with quality and durability.

What is laminate made of?

The production of laminate flooring resembles the creation of a “sandwich” consisting of four layers, each of which performs its own function:

• Protective top layer- is a layer of protective coating applied to the base. It is made of melamine or acrylic resins that can withstand loads in the form of scratches, bumps and indentations;
• decorative layer- paper with a pattern printed on it. It can imitate various materials and is "responsible" for the appearance of the coating;
• The main layer is the “heart” of the laminate, because all the main functions are assigned to it (heat and noise insulation, structural strength). The main material for the laminate is fiberboard (wood sawdust, which undergoes special thermal and pressing processing);

Important! The main layer must be processed with high quality, because the quality of the entire material depends on it.

• stabilization layer- this coating is applied in order to increase the rigidity of the entire product and prevent it from deformation. Also, additional sound insulation can be attached to the stabilizing layer.

What are the classes of laminate flooring?

Depending on the thickness of the upper protective layer and the additives included in the composition, the laminate can acquire a different wear resistance class.

Therefore, the laminate is divided into two groups, each of which has three classes:

1. household group:
   • First class or 21- designed for light and intermittent loads. Ideal for bedrooms, offices and libraries;
   • Second class or 22- the manufacture of a laminate of this class implies medium loads. It can be used for living rooms, children's rooms, etc.;
   • Third grade or 23- such a laminate is able to withstand increased loads and is perfect for both kitchens and living rooms and hallways.
2. Commercial group:
   • First class or 31- designed for use in small offices, conference rooms, where there are small loads;
   • Second class or 32- this group of laminate is used for large office premises, reception rooms, small shops, etc. This class is designed for medium-sized loads;
   • Third class or 33- designed for large and frequent loads. For example, supermarkets, cinemas, gyms and other large premises.

Advice! If you use commercial laminate at home, you can extend the life of the flooring for a long time, but it will cost much more.

How is laminate made?

At the moment, there are several technologies for the production of laminated coatings, namely:

DPL production

The bulk of the produced laminate is a coating created using DPL technology, that is, direct pressing. This type of production is a laminate standard, which is enshrined in GOST, because this technology was the original and it serves as the basis for others.

According to this technology, the initial action is the creation of a base, namely the impregnation and pressing of lumber into a durable fiberboard sheet. After that, cutting into boards and processing with protective layers is carried out. First, a decorating layer of paper is established, which is protected by melamine or epoxy resins. From below, a sheet of paper and a stabilizing coating are applied to the board. Sometimes an additional soundproofing coating is applied.

The gluing process takes place in a special press under a pressure of 2000-3000 kg / m2 and a temperature of at least 200 degrees. Gluing time takes only 1 minute. After the board has cooled, cutting takes place and the laminate in a package with an indication of the class is sent to the distribution network.

HPL production

According to this production technology, which is carried out at high pressure, it turns out to achieve a particularly durable coating. The pressing process takes place in two stages:

• First, a surface coating is formed, which includes several layers of kraft paper, decorative and protective layers.
• Then, as in the previous technology, the top layer is glued to the base coat.

Interesting to know! This technology also produces high-strength countertops for kitchen sets, as well as other high-strength finishing materials.

Unfortunately, this production technology is expensive, because the production of lamellas requires large production costs.

Finished products must be packed in a sealed film winding. Most often, a package or a laminate box is created for the product, which protects the surface from dust and dirt, which will serve as an abrasive and thereby damage the decorative layer of the lamellas.

CPL production

This technology is similar to DPL, with the exception of just one point, there is still an additional layer of kraft paper, which serves as an additional reinforcing element.

DPR production

This is a modern highly efficient technology for the production of laminate. Its main advantage is the absence of a paper layer, which plays the role of decoration. In this case, the decorative coating is applied directly to the base fiberboard sheet. According to the technology of drawing a pattern, a special impregnating material is applied to the plate, after which it is heated, and then the decoration is applied.

This technology has a number of advantages over its predecessors:

• The technology allows you to apply all kinds of patterns, bright color combinations and even 3D images;
• The production of laminate is much cheaper;
• Thanks to the simplification of production, this technology allows the production of laminate in small exclusive batches.

Important! The finished material must be properly stored; for this purpose, the laminate in the pack is hermetically sealed, thereby preventing the ingress of destructive dust and moisture.

findings

As you can see, the production of laminate is a complex high-tech process, for which special equipment is used, as well as special warehouses with excellent ventilation, in which the packaged material is stored for a certain time. Although the material is packed in separate boxes, which contain from 9 to 12 lamellas and the weight of a laminate package varies around 15 kg, different batches should be stored in common packages.

Fashionable and relatively "young" flooring appeared in the 80s of the last century and quickly gained popularity among consumers. Despite the wide variety of textures and shades on the market, more and more people prefer high-quality and relatively inexpensive laminated material, which is an excellent alternative to traditional linoleum, carpet and parquet board.

Among the main advantages of laminate flooring are durability, ease of maintenance and a wide range of applications. This floor covering is successfully used in apartments, houses and offices. It is a thin multi-layer panel, each layer of which is made of different materials, which allows to achieve excellent performance characteristics of the material.

When was laminate introduced?

The history of laminate production goes back to 1977, when the first laminated board was created by the Swedish company Pergo. Of course, the product was significantly different from the coating we are used to - it consisted of two layers connected with a thermosetting adhesive by hot pressing. The new material was called "laminated plastic" (ang. layered plastic), and its production technology (HPL - High Pressure Laminate), which turned out to be very expensive, continued to improve.

It took almost 10 years for another company, Horniteks, to introduce a new technology for the production of laminate - the direct pressing method (DPL - Direct Pressure Laminate). In the new product, the number of layers increased to four, and their composition began to include foil impregnated in phenolic and melamine resins.

A little later, the German company HDM proposed a fundamentally new technology, the essence of which was to create a laminate board coated with an acrylate layer. The decorative film hardened under the influence of an electron beam, and the technology was called EOF.

In our country, laminated flooring appeared not so long ago - about 15-20 years ago. The first laminated boards were notable for their high cost and were inaccessible to the mass consumer. Nowadays, thanks to the constant improvement of laminate production technologies, new players are entering the market, offering high-quality coating at an affordable price.

If earlier all the production of laminate was concentrated in Europe, now you can purchase products from Asian and Russian manufacturers, which are distinguished by a lower price. Traditionally, the best material is considered to be German-made laminate, as well as French, Belgian and Swedish. By the way, some European laminate factories have opened their representative offices in Russia, which made it possible to reduce the cost of the coating manufacturing process and, accordingly, offer a product of an average and low price category. The first Russian manufacturing companies were Kronostar and Kronospan, subsidiaries of well-known European brands, later they were replaced by brands created by domestic entrepreneurs.

The main technologies for the manufacture of laminate boards

Technologies for the production of laminate in different factories may vary, but the principle of manufacturing laminated boards is largely similar. The first stage involves the manufacture of high-density fiberboard, the quality of which determines the mechanical strength and moisture resistance of the future coating. The main raw material for the production of such a fibreboard is steamed, crushed to the desired fraction and dried wood chips. It is obtained using special machines that cut the tree peeled from the bark into small pieces.

Resins, binders, antiseptics and paraffin are added to the material obtained in the refiner. The process of impregnating fiberboard used to make the top layers of a laminated board is called impregnation. The future class of the finished product depends on it, because. as a result of impregnation, the wear resistance and strength of the future coating increase. To impregnate the material, baths filled with a resin solution with various additives are used. The mass impregnated with it is sent to the drying chambers, and then to the primary pressing unit.

There, the woodchip carpet becomes thinner by almost 5-7 times (air is squeezed out of it) and takes the form of a slab. The primary formation of the plate surface occurs at a temperature of 200-300°C and a pressure of about 300 MPa. As a result of repeated pressing, the plate warms up to 190°C under a pressure of 40-120 MPa. The final leveling of the slab surface is carried out under a pressure of 60-150 MPa.

A conveyor belt, which is part of the laminate production line, moves the pressed fiber to the machine, on which the carpet is cut into pieces, in accordance with the specified dimensions (most often 2800 x 4140 mm). In order for the plates to acquire a stable structure, they are placed in a special cooler for 20-30 minutes, after which they are stacked in piles for several days.

Next, the pressed boards are sent to the formatizer - equipment for the production of laminate, which cuts the workpiece in half and grinds it, making the surface perfectly smooth and the thickness equally even. To obtain a moisture-resistant laminate, some manufacturers impregnate the resulting plate with special moisture-repellent agents.

At the next stage, the blanks are sent to the pressing area, where they are lined with paper-resin films and an overlay (from the English overlay - the top layer). As already mentioned, today manufacturers use several technologies for the production of laminate, or rather, technologies for connecting individual layers to each other.

The most common is the DPL method, according to which all layers of the laminate are pressed together simultaneously under the influence of high temperatures. The use of glue is not expected, since the layers impregnated with a resin solution, during the hot pressing process, turn into a single monolithic surface of the board. If additional layers of kraft paper are used, then this technology is called CML or RML.

PDL-pressing technology allows you to apply a decorative pattern directly to the board, which eliminates the need for a top decorative layer of paper. Otherwise, the PDL technology repeats the steps described earlier.

If manufacturers use ELESGO technology, the main difference from previous pressing methods is the overlay hardening process. Coated with acrylate resin, it is exposed to an electron beam. The end product is considered more environmentally friendly, and the more transparent acrylate resin provides better visibility of the top layer.

Special machines for the production of laminate make it possible to produce boards with both a smooth and a textured surface that repeats the relief of natural wood. Using sawing devices, the pressed panels are cut into elements, then spikes and grooves (laminate locks) are cut out, which allow the individual flooring boards to be fastened together and lubricated with a wax coating that prevents moisture from entering inside. At the final stage of the production process, the boards are packed in bundles and sent to the warehouse.

Despite the availability of seemingly perfected technologies for the production of laminated coatings, specialists do not get tired of improving them, offering even better, durable and moisture-resistant material with improved sound-absorbing properties. In addition, work on the creation of new forms, original patterns and textured surface of the laminate board does not stop, which reduces the existing differences between natural parquet, tiles and laminate to a minimum.

The creation of laminate dates back to the late 70s of the last century. The first flooring material that vaguely resembled a modern laminate was created by the Perstorp company from Sweden. This company was engaged in the development of various materials for construction work and was quite popular throughout Europe. The new material is called laminated plastic, which means laminated plastic. The first development consisted of only two parts. From above, the material was processed with melamine resin, which helped to recreate the decorative layer, and from below, phenolic resins took part in the production. Layers were connected at once in several ways. Impregnation with thermosetting glue was not enough, and the creators began to use pressing under the influence of high temperatures. Laminate, as we are used to seeing it, appeared only a decade later. The author of the global revision of the material was the German company Horniteks. This company has applied a completely new technological approach and equipment for the production of a new type of laminate and has managed to create a laminate flooring with unique properties. There were now four layers instead of two. Foil impregnated in phenolic and melamine resins was introduced into the composition.

From a technical point of view, laminate is just the top layer of laminate flooring, but we will use the common word laminate to refer to laminate flooring as a whole.

Laminate production is a complex multi-stage process, because laminate is a multilayer product, each layer of which is made of different materials and performs its function. The laminate consists of four main layers, due to which the laminate has wear resistance and strength. In turn, to give the laminate greater strength, or other characteristics, various laminate manufacturers use more layers for manufacturing. But fundamentally, the remaining layers only complement the existing four layers.

Laminate device

1. The top layer or overlay (from the English overlay - the top layer) is designed to protect against external influences: mechanical damage, abrasion, pollution, moisture, chemicals and sunlight. It is a special transparent, high-strength resin film, the very "lamination" that gave the name to the whole product. The quality of the laminate depends on the quality of the overlay. The overlay may also contain transparent corundum particles, which give the top coat additional strength.
2. The decorative layer is a special paper or furniture foil that imitates the structure and color of various tree species, ceramic tiles or other materials. The quality of this layer is such that it is sometimes difficult to distinguish laminate from natural wood products. In some more expensive brands of laminate, the first two layers are replaced with designer vinyl. The total thickness of all upper layers can be from 0.2mm to 0.9mm.
3. The middle layer is the basis of the laminate. The base is made of HDF (High Density Fiber board) - high density fibreboard, which makes the laminate extremely strong. The middle layer can also be made of plastic to create a waterproof laminate. The density and base material significantly affect the quality of the laminate, since their technical characteristics depend on: strength, rigidity, moisture resistance and invariance of the geometric parameters of the laminate.
4. The bottom layer, the so-called stabilizing layer, is a resin impregnated or waxed paper, the purpose of which is to protect the HDF board from deformation and protect the laminate from moisture. Sometimes paper is replaced with a layer of plastic. The thickness of the bottom layer ranges from 0.1mm to 0.8mm.

Laminate production technology

Making a laminate is a complex process consisting of the following steps:

• production of high density fibreboard;
• impregnation of the upper layers;
• plate lining;
• sawing and milling panels;
• package.

High Density Fiberboard Manufacturing

The basis of the laminate is HDF (High Density Fiber board) - this is a high-density fiberboard (fibreboard) (from 880 kg / m3). The higher the density of the produced board, the higher the moisture resistance and mechanical strength of the laminate. The thickness of the HDF board used for the manufacture of laminate can be from 5.8 mm to 12.1 mm.

The raw material for the production of HDF board is wood, which is cleaned of bark, after which, using special machines, it is chopped into chips. Then it is washed to get rid of foreign matter (dirt, sand, etc.). After washing, the chips are heated with steam in special bunkers to a temperature of 165 - 175°C. This is done to soften the chips. After heating, the chips become very plastic, which allows them to be crushed into fibers. Various additives and binders are added to the wood pulp crushed into fibers: resins, antiseptics, paraffin, etc. After that, the fibrous mass is subjected to drying in a dryer, at the outlet of which the moisture content of the mass should not exceed 9%.

With the help of special aggregates, the fibers are evenly distributed over the set height and width of the conveyor in a continuous carpet. After that, the carpet is subjected to preliminary pressing, during which air is squeezed out of the carpet, and its thickness is reduced up to 7 times. After pre-pressing, the carpet takes the form of a slab. After that, the plate is subjected to the main pressing.

Moving further along the conveyor, after pressing, a continuous tape of pressed fiber is cut in width and length to the required dimensions. After that, the plates are cooled in a special cooler for 20-25 minutes. After that, the plates are temporarily stored in piles.

The next step after pressing the board is the process of grinding and grading the finished HDF board. With the help of special machines, the plates are made perfectly even and uniform in thickness.

In order to make the slab of the future laminate moisture resistant, some manufacturers completely impregnate the finished HDF slab with moisture repellents.

Upper layers impregnation

Impregnation is the impregnation of a material with special compounds. The upper layers of the laminate are impregnated with resins with various additives, which form a durable layer when cured. The strength and wear resistance of the top layer of the laminate, and hence its class, depend on the formulation of the impregnating compositions. In some cases, particles of corundum are added to the impregnation, which increases the wear resistance of the laminate.

The process of impregnation of the upper layers of the laminate consists in the fact that through a system of shafts, paper from rolls or overlay, passing through baths filled with resins with various additives, is impregnated with a solution, after which it enters the drying chamber. Thus, the upper layers are impregnated with resins that melt when heated.

Many laminate manufacturers do not impregnate the top layers, but buy them ready-made.

Slab cladding

To obtain a laminated board, it is necessary to cover the HDF board with paper-resin films and an overlay. To do this, there are many ways to produce laminate: HPL (High Pressure Laminate) - high pressure laminate; CPL (Continuous Pressure Laminate) - assembly line laminate; DPL (Direct Pressure Laminate) - direct pressing laminate; CML (Continuous Multilayer Laminate) or RML (Reinforced Multilayer Laminate) - continuous multilayer pressing laminate; PDL (Printed Decor Laminate) - technology for printing a picture; ELESGO (ELEktronen Strahl Gehaertete Oberflache) is an electron beam surface hardening method.

HPL and CPL technologies

HPL technology is the very first laminate production technology. HPL technology is a laminating process - gluing two materials together with glue. There are three types of laminating: cold, warm and hot. The most common is hot lamination technology, since the quality of gluing is much better.

With HPL technology, the laminating process begins with cleaning the surfaces to be glued from dust. After that, a hardener and glue are applied to the surface in an even layer. Next, the two surfaces to be glued, at a temperature of about 200°C, are pressed together at high pressure (up to 300 MPa).

HPL technology is a two-stage process performed by laminating. At the first stage, the overlay and the decorative layer are glued together. Top layers can be used, both impregnated and not. If the layers have gone through the process of impregnation, that is, they have already been impregnated with glue and dried, then no glue is applied, and the layers are immediately pressed. During the pressing process, at high temperature, the adhesive melts and sticks together the surfaces. At the second stage, to obtain a laminate, three materials are glued together at once: the resulting combined top coating, base and bottom layer.

One variation of the HPL technology is the CPL technology, which uses conveyor presses. With this technology, passing through rollers-presses heated to 200°C, the top layer is rolled to the plate. When using two or more upper layers, and as a rule this is the case, these layers are glued together in the same way, and only then they are rolled to the HDF plate.

DPL and CML technologies

The most common laminate manufacturing technology is DPL technology. With DPL technology, all layers of the laminate are pressed simultaneously, at high temperature. This laminate production technology does not use glue, since layers that have undergone an impregnation process are used, that is, impregnated with incompletely cured melamine-containing resin, which melts when hot pressed (up to 200 ° C) and glues the surfaces. After curing, the resin and overlay become a monolithic surface layer of the laminate.

Some laminate manufacturers add several layers of kraft paper between the decorative layer and the base. This gives additional strength and hardness to the laminate panel. At the same time, the quality of the laminate improves, but the price also increases. This type of DPL technology, with the use of additional layers, is called CML or RML technology.

PDL technology

With PDL technology, the decorative pattern is applied directly to the HDF board. Thus, there is no need to use an additional decorative layer of paper. All other stages of production are carried out using DPL technology.

Technology ELESGO

ELESGO technology (ELEktronen Strahl Gehaertete Oberflache) consists in a special production of the top layer of the laminate. The top layer is made by hardening the surface under the influence of an electron beam, and not with the help of presses and high temperatures. The essential difference is that instead of melamine resins, acrylate resins are used.

The top layer of the laminate, with Elesgo technology, consists of three layers. To make the top layer of the laminate, the decorative layer (patterned paper) is covered with two layers of overlay, impregnated with an acrylate resin composition and mineral particles (corundum), which give the surface resistance to abrasion and scratches. After that, this three-layer sandwich is subjected to electron beam irradiation, under the influence of which, the layers harden and form a high-strength elastic film.

A thermosetting adhesive is applied to the HDF board from above and below, and with the help of a press, at a temperature of 200 ° C, all three layers of the laminate (top, base, bottom) are pressed.

The advantages of this method are that solvents are not used, which means that the laminate is more environmentally friendly. In addition, the acrylate resin is anti-static and more transparent, which provides better visibility of the decorative layer.

Practically, in all production technologies, it is possible to produce both a smooth and structural laminate surface. The structure or smoothness of the surface is achieved by pressing the top layer. When pressing, the part of the adhesive that is on top of the overlay takes on the structure of the surface of the press plates. Thus, by changing the plates of the press, it is possible to obtain panels with different surfaces. When making a structural laminate surface, it is important that the structure of the press plate matches the design on the decorative paper, and where the knot is drawn, there should be a relief of the knot.

More and more manufacturers in the production of laminate use an additional sound-absorbing layer on the underside of the panel. This layer prevents sound from spreading through your apartment. Different laminate manufacturers use different materials as a soundproofing layer. Very often, cork is used as a soundproofing layer.

Sawing and milling panels

The last important stage of production is the manufacture of a laminate of the required size. With the help of sawing equipment for laminate, laminate sheets are cut into the required dimensions. Each laminate manufacturer has their own laminate sizes. After cutting into plates, with the help of milling equipment, a spike and a groove are cut out of the edges of the laminate, with which they are fastened together. Modern HDF boards allow you to cut a tongue and groove of a certain profile, which are called laminate locks. With the help of these locks, the laminate panels are tightly fastened together without the use of glue. The quality, strength and tightness of the connection of laminate panels depends on the quality of the laminate lock and the strength of the HDF sheet. Some manufacturers make laminate locks using metal or rubber inserts.

In some cases, after milling, the edges of the laminate are coated with wax compounds to protect them from moisture penetration.

After that, the surface of the laminate is cleaned and packed on special equipment.

The laminate industry is still developing. Development is proceeding in several directions, such as:

• improvement of the production process;
• technical improvement of laminate panels (laminate locks, sound absorption, strength increase, laminate quality improvement, laminate water resistance, etc.);
• expansion of design refinements (colors, surface structure, shape of the laminate panel and others).

Laminate cleaning and maintenance

Whatever class the selected coating corresponds to, whatever properties the manufacturers endow it with, improper cleaning and maintenance can significantly reduce the service life and nullify all the positive properties. The basis for the manufacture of laminate flooring is wood, which is 90% of its component. From prolonged exposure to moisture, this coating can swell, changing its structure. For the proper care of the laminate, it is enough to follow some simple rules.

For regular, planned cleaning, laminate flooring is enough to be vacuumed. Dirt that has stuck to the floor can be easily removed with a damp, well-wrung rag, with a minimal addition of vinegar. More persistent pollution can be removed using special tools. After cleaning, the floor must be wiped with a damp cloth. For a longer life of the top flooring, try not to use detergents that contain solid particles. When transporting furniture, lift it off the floor, dragging it can damage the coating. If possible, try to use floor protection materials on the legs of chairs and tables. When cleaning with water or other solutions based on it, remember that moisture should not be absorbed into the floor.

What space will be required for the production workshop.
Laminate is made from wood that has been debarked and crushed. A high-density slab is created from the chips. The moisture resistance and strength of the finished product depends on the degree of density. The manufacturing process is quite complex, requiring the use of specific equipment, so the workshop must be spacious. Also, pay attention to the humidity in the room, since the laminate does not have special moisture-resistant qualities. The rented workshop must be heated, with a size of about 2,000 sq.m. Depending on the cost of rent in a certain city, the price can be $ 1-5 per 1 sq.m.

Staff for laminate business.
Directly for the production process, at least 15 people with experience in similar work will be needed. The salary of such an employee is from $ 500 per month. For the delivery of finished products, you need to hire drivers, possibly with your own car. The driver's salary will be from $ 400 and depreciation costs are possible. To service the ordering and delivery process, 2-3 operators and 4 loaders will be needed. These are not highly qualified personnel, their salary can be about $400. For operators, you can introduce a motivational program, with bonuses, depending on the volume of orders. This will make them interested in quality customer service. To account for doing business and filling out accounting reports, you need to hire an accountant with work experience, whose salary is calculated from $ 800.

Equipment selection.

Laminate production takes place in several stages:
1. Wood board manufacturing.
2. Saturation of the top layer with chemicals.
3. Facing.
4. Sawing panels according to the specified dimensions.
5. Packing.
In this regard, to create a business in the field of laminate production, you will need certain equipment: a cleaning machine, a machine, a drying chamber, a packaging machine. The minimum cost of all of the above is from $ 500,000. To ensure the acceptance of orders and record keeping, you will need computers, telephones and other equipment (the cost is from $ 10,000).

Search for clients. Use of effective advertising media.
For this production, the most effective will be the search for customers through Internet resources. To do this, you need to create your own website (cost from $100) and effectively "promote" it in the network (depending on the required traffic, the cost of the service is $200-800). The site must be filled with up-to-date information about the quality and cost of the laminate, indicate the methods of ordering, delivery, contact information, and create a feedback form. All this information takes part in the promotion of the site through search engines (SEO promotion). It is better to entrust the writing of texts to professionals who will write them according to the requests of potential customers and increase the possibility of bringing the site to the TOP. This will allow customers to find the company themselves. Additionally, you need to launch an advertising campaign that includes contextual and targeted advertising (cost from $200). You can order all these events in a specialized company, which will provide a discount for a complex order.

Sales of finished products.
For this field of activity, the optimal distribution process would be delivery directly to the client, without the participation of intermediaries. It is better to arrange the process in such a way as to ensure delivery in the shortest possible time. The cost and conditions must be written on the site and announced to customers when ordering, in order to avoid misunderstandings. It will also serve as a competitive advantage for the company to provide free delivery from a certain order amount or to regular customers. In order to establish uninterrupted work, it is necessary to clearly understand the volume of deliveries, take into account the time of unloading / loading of goods, the time for delivery, and also correctly calculate the work schedule of drivers. The second option for the distribution line, which is better to establish when production volumes increase significantly, is the creation of a dealer network.

Required investment in the workshop.
Investments in the production of the business will amount to $524,000, excluding the cost of purchasing raw materials, the volume of which will be determined depending on the breadth of the market and the frequency of receiving orders.
- Equipment - from $510,000;
- Rent - from $2,000 per month;
- Payroll fund - from $11,000 per month;
- Marketing (website creation, advertising) - $800.
It is also necessary to take into account the costs of product certification. In the production of laminate, chemicals are used, so the availability of technical specifications for production and a hygiene certificate for products is mandatory. There are companies that carry out the necessary analysis of products and issue certified documentation.

Business payback.
The profitability of the laminate business is an average of 30%. The payback of the project is about 12-15 months. To reduce the payback period, it is necessary to properly establish the production process, follow the technology, produce high-quality goods, hire qualified workers, create a constant customer flow through advertising campaigns, set a competitive price and vary it according to market fluctuations, ensure uninterrupted supply.

Today on the market there are many building materials intended for arranging floors in rooms for various purposes.

A special place among them is occupied by a laminate. This is a very durable, environmentally friendly material that is easy to install and does not require special care. The main equipment for the production of laminate is presented in the form of a panel saw.

Equipment Description

Panel saws provide smooth and clean cuts for:

• wood boards,
• wood fiber panels,
• particle boards,
• laminate,
• laminated chipboard.

In addition, this type of equipment is used in the processing of chipboard, fiberboard and other various materials. Also, panel saws are widely used for cutting various materials that are lined with decorative film, as well as sawing at a certain angle various lumber, fiberboard and chipboard, plywood sheets and other various sheet materials that are lined with veneer, plastic or laminate.

In addition, this type of machine is sometimes used when processing massive wood blanks, after preliminary trimming of the lower edges in order to prevent the formation of chips.

Due to its versatility, this type of production equipment is often used in the manufacture of furniture and construction, therefore it is very widespread both in large industrial enterprises and small private industries.

The existing equipment for the production of laminate, with which the panel wood-containing materials are cut, can be divided into several types. Such a division is made on the basis of design and functional features.

At the moment, panel-cutting machine equipment is horizontal and vertical, one-sided and two-sided, standard and CNC. When choosing equipment, it is necessary to take into account the purposes for which it is purchased, as well as the expected volumes of output.

For example, inexpensive equipment with a basic set of options is suitable for occasional and short-term work. For industrial scale production, it is recommended to purchase expensive equipment designed for large production loads.