EVA,PUR or LASER edge banding machine?What’s the difference?

What is edge banding?

Edge banding is actually the process of sealing the cutting surface of the wood-based panel with edge banding machine or manually, and it is also the most important process in the production of custom furniture for the whole house.

Why need edge banding for the wood-based panel?

The vast majority of people think that edging banding aims to seal the formaldehyde in the wood-based panel to prevent it from overflowing, which is relatively more environment friendly.But in reality, the values of the formaldehyde grade we are talking about are the results of the detection of wood-based panels without edge sealing. In fact, the role of edge banding is mainly for decoration, isolation from air, moisture and moth proof, thereby increasing the service life of the product.

How it works?

It is to glue the edge banding materials (PVC, ABS, PP, PMMA veneer, solid wood strips, HPL, etc.) to the cutting surface of the wood-based panel with the Edge Banding Machine and Adhesive, so as to seal the wood-based panel. The edge banding process has great influence on the overall effect of the board. Many people who customize furniture for customers will face such selective problem when choosing edge banding solutions.

If you want to know the advantages and disadvantages of laser edge banding machine, PUR edge edge banding machine and EVA edge banding machine you have to know the process of these edge banding technologies.

1.EVA edge sealing

Pour the granular solid hot-melt adhesive into the glue pot of the Edge Banding Machine, melt it into a viscous fluid at high temperature (180-210), and spread it evenly on the cutting surface of the wood-based panel .The edge bander is machine-pressed and glued to the cutting surface of the wood-based panel, through a certain tensile rubber nail(the adhesive force) formed on the wood-based panel, so as to realize the perfect combination of the wood-based panel and the edge banding. (Ordinary edge banding machine)

With time goes by, the temperature and humidity of the edged panels will reduce the adhesive force (60-100N), and the waterproof performance will be worse (You can do a experiment by yourself:  burning it with a lighter or blow it with a hot hair dryer, the edge-sealing skin will become soft and can be torn off easily). And because the amount of glue applied during the edge banding process is uneven (200-300g/㎡), which means the amount of glue applied cannot be precisely controlled, so there will be a thicker glue lines (0.1-0.2mm) after edge sealing. Heat resistance, solvent resistance are poor, yellowing resistance will reduce to 1-2 years, and easy to grow mildew. Especially in relatively high temperature and high humidity scenarios such as kitchens, bathrooms and balcony, the disadvantages of EVA edge sealing will be more obvious. The materials using for EVA edge banding  are always at the price of the edge bander (￥ 0.5 – 1.8/m), the EVA glue (￥10-30/kg).

Then the cost of sealing the edge of 1㎡ wood-based panel

Total:RMB 6.027 (The average amount of EVA glue is 250g/㎡ for panel at 18mm thickness)

2.PUR edge sealing

PUR hot melt adhesive is heated (130-150℃ (semi-open type) to melt into fluid under the condition of chemical reaction, so as to be coated on the cutting surface of wood-based panel. With the moisture existing in the air and attached to the surface of the panels undergoes a cross-linking chemical reaction which is irreversible and chain extension. Then a polymer with high cohesion will be generated, which significantly improves  the adhesion, heat resistance, low temperature resistance, etc. Also the amount of glue applied(70-150g/㎡) is less than half of the amount of EVA edge sealing glue. Moreover, the ordinary EVA edge banding machine can be upgraded to a PUR edge banding machine, because the PUR equipment is installed next to the EVA edge banding machine, and exists as an independent device to be used with the edge banding machine. (PUR sol system + ordinary edge banding machine)

Compared with traditional EVA hot melt adhesive, the adhesion(>140N) of PUR glue can be improved several times, especially the peel strength is improved significantly. PUR glue has higher temperature resistance, solvent resistance and other advantages. In the production of wood-based panel furniture, it can not only improve the waterproof and moisture-proof during the processing of wood-based panels, but also can effectively solve the glue seam (the glue line is very thin 0.03-0.05mm), and the water resistance , Weather resistance, heat resistance, solvent resistance will get better, yellowing resistance will increase to 5-10 years, not that easy to grow mold. The price of the edge bander for PUR is the same with EVA (0.5 – 1.8 yuan/meter), but the price of glue is more expensive (￥55-75/kg).

Then the cost of sealing the edge of 1㎡ wood-based panel is:（Calculated in RMB at a price of edge bander ￥1.5/m and PUR glue ￥65/kg）

3.Laser edge banding

The laser aggregates the high-energy laser beam onto the laser edge banding strip through a mirror that swings back and forth. The high energy laser melt the functional layer（0.2mm thick laser photo-sensitizer)of the edge bander (at temperature of 500-800 ℃）and then press the edge banding strip on the wood-based panel through the pressing wheel of the edge banding machine, then go through the processes of end trimming, rough trimming , fine trimming and round conner, so as to achieve the purpose of edge banding. Therefore, laser edge sealing requires a laser edge sealing machine and a laser edge sealing belt. (Laser generator + high-configured edge banding machine)

The laser edge banding machine can realize diamond cutting and six-sided non-marking edge banding, which have raised the edge banding quality to a new level.

So what is a diamond cut edge banding? What is six-sided seamless edge banding?

Simply put, diamond cutting edge banding is to perform synchronous line cutting on the edge band during edge banding processing to achieve the purpose of diamond lines, thereby achieving the perfect impact of edge banding vision. And six-sided seamless edge banding is another way of saying laser edge banding: There are no traces of edge banding, no glue lines, and the edge banding is perfect. In short, these concepts are the elaboration and embodiment of perfect edge banding. And because the laser edge banding machine no longer needs glue separators, cleaners and corresponding processing devices, etc., the functional layer is melted which permanently and seamlessly combined with the board body (without leaving seam lines), which completely solves the traditional bonding process. The problem of yellowing and soiling of seams caused by aging will solve permanently. It is authorized that laser edge banding  has no potential harm to the human body.once laser edge banding is completed, no other additional protection is required, the product failure rate is reduced, and the production accuracy is guaranteed.

If anyone wants to see where is the laser in the edge bander? Unfortunately, you can’t see it, because the wavelength of light used by the HOMAG is 980 nanometers while the visible light is usually 780 nanometers – 380 nanometers.

The cost of the laser edge banding machine itself is very high (RMB2.4-5.2 million/unit), and it needs a matching laser edge banding strip (RMB 3-5 /m), For 1m*1m wood-based panel, and the extra cost is An increase of (1m*1m) *4*4≈ 16 yuan/㎡. If coupled with high equipment depreciation, maintenance, and more sever working environment (need air conditioners), it will discouraged most furniture Production enterprises. According to incomplete statistics, by 2021, there are less than 100 laser edge banding machines on the market in China, while there are more than one million ordinary edge banding machines.

However, according to statistics from HOMAG China, in 2020, HOMAG in China sold nearly 50 laser edge banding machines. This also shows that with the development of the high-end customization market, consumers have high requirements for product quality, and laser edge banding has become a standard for high-end customization. In the past, only large enterprises considered purchasing laser edge banding machines to ensure product quality. Now more and more small and medium-sized enterprises focus on quality by purchasing advanced production equipment to enhance the core competitiveness of enterprises, and seize the high-end market.

So how do ordinary consumers decide? HOMAG laser edge banding machine likes Rolls-Royce, and Only few manufacturers will invest such a lot of money. In the case of a limited budget, PUR and EVA edge banding machines will be your first choice.