2. Thermobonding with modern machines

German woodworking machine manufacturers such as Friz, Burkle..., with their genius for advanced mechanization, have been developing hot-melt laminating machines for the past fifteen years, enabling very high production rates.

We're going to describe a highly advanced and versatile fusing line, the FK from Friz (Germany).

This machine can be adapted to handle a wide range of adhesives: VAE or PU dispersions, hot melt adhesives, PU reactive hot melt adhesives, and even UF resins, with the addition of different sizing or drying devices as described below.

• After brushing to remove dust, the backing panels can be preheated to an adjustable temperature suited to the adhesive's setting, thus speeding up drying and curing, especially with cross-linkable adhesives such as UF (figure