CalPlant – MDF (Medium Density Fiberboard) Manufacturing Facility – Global Online Auction Event – May 6 & 7, 2026

Complete Willows, CA Facility Closure – Over $280,000,000 Invested – Launched in 2020

Launched in 2020, this State-of-the-Art Production Facility was designed to process post-harvest rice straw into medium density fiberboard known as Eureka MDF. The entire MDF line was installed by Siempelkamp, buoyed by a panel making technology utilizing Buttner natural gas fired heaters in conjunction with a ContiRoll 10’ wide x 117’ Generation 9 press installation. Downstream finishing of MDF panels is supported by Steinemann board sanding and Cut-to-Sheet systems with automatic strapping systems.

Summary of Major Equipment Groups

ContiRoll MDF Press Installation with Star Wheel Cooler

Design speed of 50 mm/s to 1000 mm/s max – partial listing includes: 

• • ContiRoll Generation 9 MDF press of approx. 35.4 meters long (117’)
  • Online X-ray density profilometer device with secondary metal detection
  • Diagonal cross cutting saw segment + continuous edge trimming station
  • Board weigh scale conveying with reject station with 200 kW breaker unit
  • Double rotating rotary board cooling carrousel with auto feed & discharge
  • Press area extraction system powered with 230 kW 4150-volt radial fan

Fiber Mat Forming Segment (partial listing)

Designed for continuous spreading of MDF fiber consisting of:

• Overhead blender, fiber bunker, metering retarder & distribution unit
• Continuous pre-press section for compacting fiber mat into 3500 mm width
• Automated Inline belt scale/reject segment, and infrared moisture metering unit
• Ecoscan Sico Scan detection station plus thru belt type metal detection system
• Mat trimming saw segment designed for mat range of 2490 to 3380 mm width
• Mat forming dust extraction & collection system for trimmed fiber material

Board Sanding System

Automatic 2 phase coarse grain & finish sanding platform consisting of:

• Steinemann type 4K-4N dual unit system with combined power of 1150 kW
• Elevated structural sanding deck with sanding data system & control station
• Hydraulic board lifting & board infeed loading table with board suction carriage
• Automatic roller infeed, thru-put and board discharge conveyors
• Fully automatic two-sided optical board inspection system with 2D-3D light source
• Ventapp/LHS high-capacity dust extraction system with 362 kW 4160-volt radial fan

Board Cut-to-Sheet System with Board Banding Lines

Fully automatic board cutting & pack-off matrix consisting of:

• Infeed length-rip saw station with staging table and fix table transfer segment
• Cut to length hydraulic guillotine cutter with associated waste collection station
• Otto Mayer cross cutting system with auto alignment and pusher transfer table
• Hydraulic lifting/angle/book forming table with stack roller discharge conveyors
• (2) OMS stacked board banding systems with multi-directional diversion table
• Waste material collection with Vibroplan feeders, hydraulic chippers, & load out

Straw Bale Receiving, De-stringing & Pulverizing Lines

(4) Individual process lines each consisting of:

• Nybladt 158 kW drum choppers with bale destringing & pre cutters
• Pallmann 200/400 kW hammermill pulverizing systems
• Explosion proof pnuematic transport systems with 152 kw blower/fans
• Baled straw receiving conveyors supported by (2) shuttle carriages
• (1) 16,000 kG overhead bridge crane with bale grapple & remote control
• Pit type troughing belt chain removal conveyor for stones & waste

Primary Cleaning & Separating Systems

(4) Individual cleaning/separating systems each consisting of:

• Ventapp silicate separator stations with pre separating chambers
• Twin screw integrated blending conveyors with straw distributer/sifters
• Ventapp extraction/filter cleaning systems with large hp power fans
• LHS bag filter/ dust collection systems with explosion proof flaps
• Straw dosing & metering bin measuring 32 m x 4 m wide x 6 m deep
• Troughing belt transfer conveyors of 17 & 37 meters (to refiner plant)

Pallmann Refining Plant

(2) Complete refiner systems with design capacity of 28 tons/hr.  consisting of:

• Pallmann PRS-258/64 high voltage refiners with 3500 kW 4160-volt motors
• Pallmann PR24 pin drum feeder with 500 kW main power & 22.5 kW feeder
• Horizontal digester, 2000 mm dia x 10000 mm long, 75 hp gear drives
• Stainless 37 meter double screw refiner feed conveyor, 37 kW gear drives
• Armstrong hot water heater with conditioning & dilution water pumps
• Remote controlled blow back pipe transfer system to fiber drying area