Technical term for the subsequent (post-) shaping (forming) of an already applicated surface material on panel workpieces along the edge profile. This method was firstly introduced in 1976 through the German company IMA Klessmann GmbH.

The surface material is applied to the panel workpiece in a way that it overlapse over a profiled edge. In a secondary working process on a postforming machine the material is applied (stroke and classical throughfeed method).

Postformingparts are used where woodbased materials and there edges are not so appropiate of moisture, chemicals and mechanical stress.

• Bathroom and kitchen furniture
• Laboratory facilities
• Hospital facilities
• Reception and sales counters
• Yachting furniture

Postforming method

Stroke method

The starting material is a panel sheet which has a profiled edge and the surface with another material glued on it.

• On the edge profile / The shaping zone glue is applied by a gluing pistol.
• The workpiece is put and clamped in the postforming machine.
• An electrical heating rail (forming rail) circles around the profile and a constant pressure from a starting point of the workpiece surface and is pressing the overlapping surface material against the edge profile. Through the emitted heat a forming process happens and the surface material is formed in the exact form of the edge profile.

Inner curves occur where work topes need to be fitted to a wall. Such worktop ends where they are connected to a wall are especially endangered, and thats why the postforming process is especially relevant for such applications, because as a result of the postforming process there is a continuously coded layer. In this case the heating rail does not circle around the profile, but the workpiece is put around the heating rail and the gap between the two worktop pieces is filled with a accurate batten (see picture).

Manufacturers of Postforming machines stroke method (as of 2010):

• Brandt , Germany
• emi, USA
• Midland, USA

Throughfeed method

The starting material has a coated surface and pre-profiled edges. The machine concept is from its main structure like an edgebander. The main difference is a pressure zone. Such throughfeed postforming machines have a pressure zone consisting of many rubber rollers which can be adapted exactly to the workpiece profile in there inclination. For the setup of the machine a preprofiled sheet is put in the machine. The rollers of the pressure zone are a line to the edge profile in such a way, that the overlapping surface material, starting from the surface of a panel, is folded around the profile. Radiant heaters and heating fans ensure that the necessary temperature for the forming process is reached. Some machines feature an automatic glue application station, other machines require a manual application of the glue. Depending of the configuration the following aggregates are a flush trimming aggregate (see flush/radius/chamfer milling units) for the flush trimming of the glued surface material. Further aggregates for special processings could follow. High performance machines process those the workpiece and the postforming segment even before the gluing to size so that the joint is not visible anymore.

Manufacturers of postforming machines for the throughfeed method up to 25 m / min (As of 2010):

• emi , USA
• IDM Italy
• IMA, Germany
• Homag, Germany
• Midwest, USA

The following surface materials can be formed in the stroke method and in the throughfeed method:

• HPL
• CPL
• Multilayer papers
• veneers

Direct Postforming

In the direct postforming method the starting material consists of unprofiled, coated panels without an overlapping of the surface material. The machine does a profiling of the forming zone by itsself and uncovers as much of the coating material as is needed for the coating of the edge (see picture). In the following step the overlap is folded around the edge profile, as described in the throughfeed process.

Advantages of the direct method:

• One machine for several working steps ...
• space and time effective
• shortend internal transport distances and therefore less risk of damages
• simplifies the labour organization
• as starting material are serving already coated sheets

Possible surface materials:

• HPL laminate (by exclusive use of PVAC glue)
• CPL laminates> 0.4 mm (by exclusive use of PVAC glue)
• Polyester
• Formable melamine direct coating
• Veneers

Manufacturers of machines for direct postforming in a throughfeed method up to 20 m / min (as 2010)

• Homag, Germany
• IDM Italy
• IMA, Germany

Postforming glues

• Dispersion gluing PVAC-basis are applied by spraying on the workpiece edges and on the coating material
• solvent glues on the basis of polychloroprene (especially America, Asia)
• hotmelt glue on the basis of EVA (ethylene-vinyl acetate), polyolefin (PO) and Polyurethane (PU) are either applied with the slot nozzle or with the gluing roller on the workpiece edge

Alternative terms, related terms

• Postforming
• Postformingmachine