Woodchem

Woodchem

Wood Chemicals SA (Pty) Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of PG Bison, supplies Formaldehyde and Formaldehyde based Resins into more than 30 different industries throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Woodchem as it is commonly known is the largest urea-formaldehyde (UF) resin and formaldehyde producer in sub-Saharan Africa.

Founded in 2001 and purchased by PG Bison in 2007, Woodchem has built a strong reputation over the last two decades through its quality products and service excellence.

In 2007, Woodchem expanded by adding an additional 64-ton resin reactor as well as an additional formaldehyde plant, resulting in more than doubling its formaldehyde production capacity from 16,033 tons to 34,535 tons 100% Formaldehyde per annum. Adding the second Formaldehyde production facility increased product availability which allowed the addition of two VITS treated paper lines. The addition of the treated décor paper lines enabled Woodchem to produce all of PG Bison décor paper required locally. To complete the raw décor paper treatment process, also required the installation of two new 10-ton syrup reactors for syrup production for the décor paper treatment lines. Being able to produce the treated décor paper internally has significantly reduced importation risk as well as contributed to both savings in cost and working capital.

The 4 resin reactors on site enables Woodchem a production capacity of 142,416 tons of UF resins per annum.

Technology

  • Continuous Process: Woodchem manufactures Formaldehyde gas through a Catalytic Oxidation of methanol and absorption of the Formaldehyde gas into water or Urea water to produce Formaldehyde or Urea Formaldehyde Concentrate (UFC) respectively.
  • Batch Process: Manufacturing of UF and MUF Resins in 4x Resin Reactors as well as laminating Syrups in 2x Syrup Reactors.

Production Capacity

  • 34,535 tons 100% Formaldehyde
  • 142,416 tons Resin

Key Raw Material

  • Methanol: 41,250 tons
  • Urea: 44,000 tons
  • Melamine: 2,400 tons

Products Produced

  • Formaldehyde 45/5
  • Formaldehyde 37/7
  • UFC
  • Urea Formaldehyde Resin
  • Melamine Urea Formaldehyde Resin
  • UF Syrup and MF Syrup

Woodchem USP’s

  • Solution orientated
  • Responsive to customers’ needs
  • Relationship focussed
  • Attention to detail
  • Good quality product
  • Reliable resin supplier
  • Competitive in the market

Paper Treatment Plant (PTP)

The PTP is where decor paper is treated with a liquid resin mixture, which is then used to upgrade our PB or MDF with decorative surface. This improves the abrasion and water-resistance properties and offers decorative finishes to our product. The plant was commissioned in 2015 and replaced imported treated paper; it consists of two production lines which are the only of its kind in sub-Saharan Africa.

Production Capacity

  • Two lines has a capacity to produce 80 million m2 per annum.
  • Supplies internally to Mkhondo, Boksburg and Ugie value-add plants

Benefits of a local paper treatment plant

  • Reduced risk in supply chain and longer useful raw decorative paper shelf life.
  • Reduced working capital.
  • Increased flexibility and improved quality.
  • Use of adjacent resin plant (own more of value chain)