Richmond Production Site

The Richmond Plant was opened in 1997 to primarily manufacture resins for the manufacture of wood products such as medium density fibreboard (MDF), plywood, Laminated Veneer Lumber (LVL), particle board and laminated wood products utilising local and global research. The aim of the company is to provide effective support to the export orientated forest products industry in New Zealand.

The plant operates on a 24-hour, 365-day cycle manufacturing  adhesives on a continuous basis.

The primary manufacturing is a continuous process followed by a batch process used to manufacture the required resin.

The Richmond, Nelson Facility manufactures synthetic resins which are then held in storage or pumped to trucks for direct delivery to the customers. To support these processes there is a package boiler, various heat recovery and steam raising systems, cooling towers, water treatment plant, and chemical powder handling and storage.

The resin plant comprises of two reactors (kettles), which operate at atmospheric or vacuum pressure depending on the product being produced. All the reactors utilise DCS (DeltaV) controlled loading systems and batch control manufacturing. The reactors are fitted with model predictive control (MPC), have pH probe monitoring/ control and viscosity meter end point cut-off control. The reactors have cooling and heating capacities and have an agitator fitted for mixing during the reaction.

Extensive safety systems are employed in all aspects of the manufacturing process.

Safety Case Summary

For information about AICA NZ Limited's Richmond Production Site operating as a Major Hazard Facility in relation to The Health and Safety at Work (Major Hazard Facilities) Regulations 2016, please refer to our Safety Case Summary.

Safety Case Summary - Richmond Site