The Spain-based Formica Group is famous for its high-quality laminate flooring. In order to ensure a flawless production process, the Formica Group in Valencia opted for measurement equipment by Lufft, because monitoring of the direct environmental conditions is absolutely crucial in laminate production.
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The Spain-based Formica Group is famous for its high-quality laminate flooring. Tradition and quality are top priorities at its production sites in Spain, Finland, and the UK. This year, the company that invented laminate celebrates its 100th anniversary and a history of success in the areas of innovation and design. In order to ensure a flawless production process, the Formica Group in Valencia opted for measurement equipment by Lufft, because monitoring of the direct environmental conditions is absolutely crucial in laminate production. The various materials used are highly sensitive and would be damaged if they were exposed to inappropriate surrounding conditions, such as excessive temperatures. In cases like this one, the precision and long years of experience of the Fellbach-based company are very much in demand.
The term “laminate” originates from the Latin word “lamina,” meaning “layer.” It is used to describe a material or a product consisting of several layers that are evenly bonded together. Laminates are composed of a core support plate from a wood-based material, a stabilizing layer that provides stability and a decorative layer that gives the whole laminate product its appearance. These layers need to be compressed by means of pressure and heat. The laminate presses used for this purpose must be controlled with extreme precision to avoid any deformation of the plates.
Formica uses Lufft’s OPUS 200 data collector module to monitor the temperature and pressure of the pressing surfaces. This data logger stores the collected data in a database and makes it accessible at any time. The system raises an alarm whenever the measured pressure or temperature values go out of a pre-defined range. The laminate manufacturer also benefits from OPUS 200’s flexibility: the module offers universal connection options for all kinds of industrial sensors and is therefore also well suited for the measurement of other values, such as air humidity. The precision of Lufft products makes it possible to prevent errors in the handling of the sensible materials that are necessary for laminate production. The 2-channel data logger ensures a high degree of precision and has also been used extensively in pharmaceutical monitoring systems for many years.
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