Manufacturing and Repairing Platens and Presses for Engineered Wood at Venango
Venango’s steam platens are made in America using American parts and have become globally recognized for their excellent temperature control and heat uniformity. Our steam platens consist of precisely engineered plates that can accommodate any number of edge holes and can be used in presses with multiple daylights.
Venango is known for large, long-lasting platens that feature:
- Low-cost, uniform, and easily controlled steam heat
- An expertly engineered design fit for heating up to 320 degrees Fahrenheit
- Insulation with durable materials
- Individual steam traps for each platen to provide heating accuracy and temperature uniformity
Our steam-heated platens and presses for engineered wood provide cost-effective and accurate heating to deliver uniformity across the material being molded, pressed, or bonded.
Venango Can Refurbish or Replace Wood Industry Platens
In the engineered wood industry, the function of a steam-heated platen press is to heat and cure adhesives in the composite wood to maximize the final product’s strength and durability. Wood products that are pressed in steam platens most often go on to serve important functions in commercial and residential buildings. Examples of common products manufactured using Venago’s platens and presses for engineered wood include plywood, MDF, and OSB. The uniformity, stable heating, and economical operation of steam heated platens is what has allowed these engineered woods to become so commonplace.
Given the high heat and heavy impact involved in the process of engineering wood, platens used in the wood industry withstand significant wear and tear. Working on presses with anywhere from 10 – 50 platens, these heated plates run the risk of being bent, nicked, or gouged over time. While manufacturers may have the impulse to replace platens outright, it is worth considering whether a repair of their existing platen is a better first option. With that in mind, it is worth considering the wear or damage to your platens and determining if it is best to refurbish or replace them, and below we will provide pointers to help you make this determination.
Refurbished Steam Platens:
Refurbishment is an excellent option for newer platens as well as those in good condition but with certain types of developing imperfections. Venango’s engineers are equipped to refurbish steam platens, upgrade hanger and guide systems to accommodate additional press openings, and restore flat and parallel specifications to platens suffering from wear and tear. The cost of refurbishing steam platens may be less than replacement. Still, manufacturers should consider the cost of shipping, the repair itself, and the cost of being down a platen during production while repairs are made to the damaged platen in order to consider the full associated cost of this work.
Replace Steam Platens:
Platens over a decade old are ripe for replacement. Once a steam platen plate has already been repaired, refurbished, or starts micro fracturing, the time has come to invest in a new machine. Venango can engineer and replace platens to fit seamlessly into existing presses, and modify designs to accommodate the requirements thereof.
With an investment in new steam platen plates, Venango can help operators regain their competitive edge while producing excellent pressed materials, keeping customers happy, and minimizing lead times.
Expert Steam Platen Manufacturer – Venango Machine
As an experienced manufacturer of platens and presses for engineered wood, Venango is the trusted partner you can turn to for manufacturing and refurbishing of your wood industry platens and presses. We carefully advise clients throughout each step of our process to ensure that every steam platen made here is designed or refurbished precisely to your specifications.
Our engineers are able to repair and replace steam platens and presses for engineered wood and we also happily work with steam platen designs for a broad spectrum of uses beyond engineered wood manufacturing. From conceptual planning to final platen construction, we will tailor the best steam platen plates that precisely meet your unique requirements. For more information about our steam platens repair, refurbishing, or manufacturing work, we invite you to contact Venango today, and look forward to hearing from you!
