6 Repurchases: Kiln Dryers Power Gabon Africa's Timber Excellence
Rimbunan Hijau Group Made 6 Repurchases of our Kiln Dryers in Gabon, Africa
Since 2007, the RH Group has ordered our conventional kiln dryers 6 times, with 36 units in total. These are used at their Gabon timber base, mainly for drying Okoumé (about 90% of world production, used for plywood and veneer), Sipo (for high – end furniture), and Wenge (for musical instruments).
High humidity and varying timber drying rates in Gabon cause problems, such as mold, crack, warp or split. Our drying kilns, with multi-phase thermal management and aerodynamic optimization solve these issues. Their repeated orders show satisfaction and long – term cooperation.
Wood Drying Challenges in Gabon, Africa
The Rimbunan Hijau Group (RH Group), founded in 1975, is a “Global 500” enterprise. Since 1988, it has diversified from forestry into many industries, operating in over 20 countries. RH Group’s Gabon operations faced critical challenges in drying three key timber species under equatorial rainforest conditions (ambient humidity >85%):
- Mold Proliferation: Prolonged natural drying cycles increased fungal contamination risks, degrading Okoumé’s plywood-grade surface quality
- Okoumé (Aucoumea klaineana) Drying Defects: Rapid free water evaporation below fiber saturation point (FSP ≈30%) caused surface checking due to unmanaged moisture gradients drying wood drying process.
- Sipo (Entandrophragma utile) & Wenge (Millettia laurentii) Drying Defects: Internal stress accumulation during bound water removal (EMC <20%) led to warping and end splits.
Tech Engineering Wood Drying Solutions: Adaptive Kiln Systems & Precise Process Control
1. Multi-Phase Thermal Management
- Preheating Stage: Saturated steam at 95°C/90% RH for 48hrs to equalize initial MC (45-60%) across species
- Free Water Removal (Okoumé): High-velocity airflow + 75°C dry-bulb temperature accelerated free water evaporation while maintaining wet-bulb depression <5°C to prevent case hardening.
- Bound Water Extraction (Sipo/Wenge): Reduced to 45-65°C with cyclic humidity spikes (15min @85% RH every 2hrs) to relieve hygroscopic stress.
- High Pressure Heat Exchanger: Sustains 1.27MPa steam pressure (35% higher than industry average) with <0.01% annual leakage rate.
- Siemens Linear Actuators: Activate aluminum dampers within 2s to purge moisture-laden air when MC exceeds FSP thresholds.
2. Aerodynamic Optimization
- Symmetrical All-alloy Fans:Generate turbulent airflow to eliminate dead zones, achieving uniformity across timber stacks.
- Anisotropic Flow Design: Tangential airflow for Okoumé (radial/tangential shrinkage 1:2.3) vs radial patterns for Sipo to minimize warpage.
3. Smart Control Ecosystem
- TECH PLC Control：0.5°C accuracy through PID loops integrating temperature test points and wood moisture content test points. The PLC control system allows the drying cycle to be divided into up to 11 stages, and each stage can be customized to meet the drying requirements of different types of wood.
- Remote Management via Cloud Platform: The PLC control system is connected to the cloud platform, supporting remote monitoring operations on both mobile phones and PCs. It enables remote control of the equipment, real – time viewing of temperature and humidity change curves, data management, and receiving of alarm notifications, among other functions.
4. Structural Engineering Excellence
- Zero-Ferrous Architecture: 3003 Al-alloy rust-proof kiln chamber wall and 6063 Al-alloy kiln body structure optimized for tropical environments (RH>85%), these alloys passed 480hr salt spray tests (ISO 9227-CX grade), eliminating rust-induced structural degradation.
- ASTM 304 Stainless Steel Core Components: Demonstrated 15+ years service life in Gabon’s corrosive rainforest conditions, validated by RH Group’s 2007-2025 operational data.
Our drying kiln system effectively addresses critical challenges in industrial drying—mold reduction, uniform drying, and minimizing surface checking, warping, and end splits—through advanced engineering and process optimization. These dry kilns have helped the RH Group’s timber business in Gabon. Their repeated purchases show satisfaction and strengthen our long – term partnership.
