Incomac, an international leader in lumber drying technology based in Italy, has continued to grow since 1975 as it has set higher and higher goals for quality in response to market and customer demand.
The company, which has been represented in the U.S. since 1998, has more than 10,000 units operating in 95 countries. Incomac continues to focus on innovations in the lumber drying process and technology. All kiln systems are manufactured in Italy.
Range of Wood Drying Technology
Incomac offers a wide range of technologies and products for drying, steaming, and heat-treating wood. Traditional ICD lumber kilns are heated by water, diathermic oil or steam. The company’s MAC dehumidification kilns use heat pump technology to dry lumber. TAG wood dryers are a variant of conventional systems and are equipped with a burner and are fueled by gas or diesel oil. VAP steaming chambers expose lumber to high temperatures and humidity in order to change the color of the wood. PAL chambers are for drying and heat-treating wood pallets to comply with ISPM-15 regulations for wood packaging.
Viscous Dissipation and Heat Recovery
Incomac also offers IDV wood dryers that utilize an innovative viscous dissipation process. The viscous dissipation chambers do not require any type of auxiliary heat. Using only the speed of the fans, heat is created by a particular air flow that generates heat because of turbulence and friction between the air and the lumber. The temperature of the wood also increases, causing water to evaporate from the cells. This process results in no dispersion or loss of heat, contrary to other heat exchange processes.
Incomac has combined this revolutionary process with another fundamental lumber drying technology: the heat recovery system, which replaces the classic dampers in the kiln. Air recycling is essential to ensure a good drying process, and dampers are necessary to expel hot air saturated with humidity outside the dryer and to let in dry air. However, especially during the winter season, the heat loss caused by venting is considerable because of the low temperature of the outside air. To maintain a constant temperature inside the kiln, the dryer should be continuously supplied with heat.
With the Incomac heat recovery system, all air is canalized through an air-to-air exchanger that recovers an average of 25 percent of heat, which increases in the winter when the outside air temperature is lower.
Combining these two ‘green’ technologies results in a faster drying process, lower energy consumption, and reduced emissions.
Customer Focus
The strength of Incomac’s business is the high degree of confidence it enjoys from customers — customers who appreciate the quality of Incomac wood drying systems as well as the direct, constant and cooperative consulting they receive. Incomac’s goal is to build a relationship of trust with customers and to become a reliable business partner in wood drying. To this end the company offers a range of after-sales services in order to guarantee customers the wood drying performance they expect. Services include a 24-hour diagnostic service program, periodic maintenance, and spare parts.
Incomac is committed to continuous improvement in its plant operations and making investments in research and development in addition to placing a strong focus on post-sales service and support.
For more information about Incomac and its lumber drying systems, visit www.incomac.com.
Incomac is represented in the U.S. by Cambium International in Cary, N.C. For more information, contact Ivan Perez at (919) 380-7926 or email iperez@cambium-int.com.
