ECUADOR – Novopan del Ecuador, the leading producer of medium density particleboard (MDP) in the Andean region, will increase its production capacity in Quito, as informed by Dieffenbacher, chosen to carry out the order. Data on investment value, capacity or start date was not made available.

The scope of supply includes a forming station with conveyor system that begins at the glue blenders, a forming line with prepress, an 8 ft wide by 20.5 meters-long CPS+ press system, a raw board handling system and a stack and transfer system.

“We are happy to work with Dieffenbacher once again,” said Cesar Alvarez, CEO of Novopan del Ecuador, at the contract signing in December 2017. “With our existing plant, Dieffenbacher proved they can help us produce high-quality panels very efficiently. That’s why we trust Dieffenbacher will be the right partner for our new production line, too.”

Novopan’s current MDP plant in Quito produces up to 1,000 m³ MDP per day. In 2010 and 2013, Dieffenbacher modifications to the forming station and an extension of the raw board handling system helped to expand plant capacity from 400 m³ per day. “In 2014 and 2015, we installed a new prepress and EVOjet P glue-saving system from Dieffenbacher to increase plant efficiency,” added Alvarez.

Dieffenbacher began working with Novopan following the delivery by Metso of most of the original plant’s production line components. Metso sold its wood-based panel business to Dieffenbacher in 2008. Ever since, Dieffenbacher has serviced the original Quito plant.

The latest Novopan plant is Dieffenbacher’s sixth new plant project in Latin America in four years. Other projects include three plants in Mexico and two in Brazil. Numerous modernization projects, mostly the addition of EVOjet M, EVOjet P and PROjet gluing systems—all enabling significant glue savings, are also helping Latin America customers operate more efficiently.