Edgebanding technology

What is edge banding?

Edge banding refers to a machining process in which edging material is applied to the narrow faces of a workpiece with the help of adhesive  . In recent decades, manufacturers have developed several processes for this. Among the best known are the glue roller process, the laser process, the hot-air process, as well as the application of the adhesive by means of a spray unit or hot air. The edging material can consist of various materials. The most commonly used edging material is plastic, followed by veneer and paper. To produce a joint that is not visible, adhesives in a wide range of colours can be used. Edge banding machines are used for machining, and these consist of a series of units and assembly sizes.

How does an edgebanding machine work?

The way an edgebanding machine works is complex and varies depending on the machine manufacturer and equipment specification. In general, however, a basic design can be explained as follows. Whether it is a left-hand or right-hand machine, machining begins with so-called jointing. Here, the panel material is trued and roughened by a jointing cutter so that the edging material will adhere optimally afterwards. This is followed by the glue application unit, which applies the adhesive to the narrow face of the workpiece. In edgebanding machines from Paul Ott, for example, this is done by the CombiMelt gluing system. A dosing unit applies glue to a roller, which then applies adhesive precisely to the edge to be edged. After the glue has been applied, the edging material is pressed onto the narrow face by the pressure zone and separated by the end-cutting shears. Downstream is an end trimming unit, which trims the edging material again at the corners of the workpiece so that it can be machined by the subsequent aggregates. Depending on the size of the machine, the flush scraper and radius scraper are either integrated as a combined unit or provided as separate machining steps. In the first step, the flush scraper removes the excess material above and below along the entire length of the component. The desired radius is then produced with the help of the radius scraper.

What is a zero joint?

The term "optical zero joint" comes from marketing and has become increasingly embedded in the minds of machinery and furniture manufacturers over the last few decades. The idea is that the joint between the edgebanding material and the decor of the panel or the top surface is so small that it cannot be seen with the naked eye. At present, there is no clear definition known, nor is there any method available for testing a zero joint. Nevertheless, to obtain a certain indication, the so-called graphite test can be carried out. In this test, graphite powder is dusted onto the joint and then rubbed in. The degree of visible colour change provides information about the quality of the zero joint.