The FLI, also called FL/INNOVATION, is a veneer splicing machine of the manufacturer KUPER for splicing and gluing face veneer in the door, furniture, plywood, and parquet industries. The use of urea-based adhesives enables further processing of the veneer sheets under high temperatures and tensile stress (e.g. in jacketing or membrane press technology).

Construction and mode of operation

In order to achieve a tight joint, the veneer sheets are placed against a narrow web on the right and left and then fed into the machine. Two rollers from the top pull the strips in and simultaneously press them down onto two counter-rotating horizontal discs which bring the strips together. Immediately after these discs, liquid caurite adhesive is applied by means of a bevelled disc. Subsequently, the joined strips are positively guided by two upper and two lower chains. Between the left and right chains there are heating rails which accelerate the setting of the urea adhesive so that the strips are permanently joined together after leaving the machine. In the next pass, another strip can be glued to the veneer sheet that has just been created.

Veneer strips with pre-glued edges can also be joined on this machine. The glue is then applied with the KUPER KLM veneer bundle gluing machine.

Machine features

• heating zone: A narrow heating zone is gentle on sensitive veneer and reduces veneer shrinkage.
• thickness range from approx. 0.4 mm to approx. 2.5 mm - optionally also for thick veneers up to 5 mm

Optional equipment

• cooling unit for cooling the glue application station for a longer service life of the Kaurit glue
• bar with holding-down device for assembling micro-veneers

History and type system

KUPER has brought a total of 3 generations of this type of veneer splicing machine onto the market up to the present day (as of 2022).

1. Generation (1997 to approx. 2008): FL/Innovation, abbreviated "FLI" on the type plates; The workpiece feed was by means of stainless steel chains. The pneumatic controls were integrated in the top pressure, the electrical controls were located on a swivelling panel at eye level.
2. Generation (approx. 2008 to approx. 2010): FL/INNOVATION II 1000 is now written on the type plates. The workpiece feed by means of a plastic chain has since prevented the formation of stains due to condensation and abrasion. The gluing system has been substantially changed. All operating elements are located in the upper print. From approx. 2011 onwards, the type plates show the shorter designation FLI 1000.
3. Generation (from approx. 2016): FLI 1000 the model is called in brochures and is also described this way on the type plates. There is the special model FLI 500 with a stator projection of 500 mm and later a model with a 1,250 mm stator projection. The electrical operating elements are designed as a membrane keyboard. Machining parameters can be combined and stored in programmes. The optional machining thickness is extended.