Development of innovative particleboard panels for the furniture industry, employing new materials. Panels of particleboards developeded in this project exhibited six major results:

• New lightweight panels with a reduced density;
• Improved mechanical performance with an increased stiffness and an improved workability;
• Lower environmental impact compared with current practices;
• Innovative binder materials;
• Developed processes for using waste wood as a raw material;
• New methods of process control during panel manufacture.

This project was about developing new, innovative particleboard or chipboard panels that offer better mechanical performance and result in a lower environmental impact during the manufacturing process.

In the modern furniture industry the use of particleboard panels is continuously growing. They are basically composite materials, traditionally made of wood chips, and a binder.

The project aim was to reinforce the technological basis of chipboard manufacturing, and to develop innovative lightweight chipboards that meet mechanical performance requirements and have a reduced environmental impact. This allow furniture manufacturers to use panels of adequate reliability that are environmentally friendly.

Innovation and a technological competitive advantage through the development of new panels are seen as a way to strengthen the European market of wood-based panels.

The project comprised two main phases:

1. the development of a new binder, the use of raw materials and instrumentation for production process control;
2. prototype panels made and tested in furniture components.

Physical properties of the new panels were evaluated, in addition to the economic impact of the new panels in the market place and environmental aspects. Both of these phases were developed in parallel by specific dissemination, exploitation and training actions.

Duration: Started on September 15^th 2005, and had a duration of 36 months (until September 2008)

This project was supported by the European Commission under the Sixth Framework Programme for research. The project is known as a Collective Research instrument. This instrument is aimed at improving the participation of SMEs in European research and supports the Lisbon agenda.

DIPP Project Partner: Geographical distribution of the partnership of DIPP project

Chipboard_production_chain: Production chain of particleboard

Measurement of mechanical properties of developed particleboard

 Measurement of mechanical properties of developed particleboard

Durability of furniture prototypes made from DIPP particleboards

COSMOB – Consorzio del Mobile SpA (Coordinator), AIDIMA, Università Politecnica delle Marche, CNR – ICTP, Falco SpA, Campec srl, Mobilpref srl, Cidemco, Biesse, Fraunhofer Institut – WKI, I.M.S. Hellas S.A., I.M.S. Napredak S.A., CTBA, Assindustria Pesaro – Urbino, Upper S.p.A., iVTH, FDM S.L., Medifa, B.Maier Zerkleinerungstechnik GmbH, Thermosensorik GmbH, Zeutec, Innovawood, Prieur Company, TrennSo-Technik GmbH, AGROSYS, ELKA-Holzwerke Lud. Kuntz GmbH.