How Weathertex is Made: The Revolutionary Manufacturing Process Behind Australia's Premium Exterior Cladding
While the Weathertex factory is over 60 years old, our manufacturing process is up to date and is quite a unique process! Weathertex’s dedication to innovation and sustainability is evident through a unique steam-heated compression technology that converts sustainably sourced Australian hardwoods into durable, weather-resistant cladding solutions. Let's walk you through it.
Step 1-2- PEFC certified
Weathertex sources timber from REAL timber harvested from sustainably harvested PEFC certified and controlled sources. This careful selection ensures that every weatherboard and architectural panel begins with the highest quality Australian hardwood, setting the foundation for superior exterior cladding panels. Our logs are then reduced to chips using a high-volume chipping machine.
Revolutionary Steam Treatment (Steps 3-4)
The woodchips are fired, using high-pressure steam, through the Mason guns, the only two of their type in the world! We then star our wet process that adds 3% wax and water to the fibres passing through a board machine and reconstituted into what is known as “wet lap”
Advanced Compression Technology (Steps 5-8)
At this stage, the “wet lap” is approximately 60% moisture and around 35mm thick. The “wet-lap” is then fed into the hydraulic press, where steam platens “cook” the finished sheets. Stainless steel and nickel plates are used in the press to emboss our textures. The sheets emerge from the press, now having been reduced to around 10mm thickness.
Steps 9-10: Planning & Profile Cutting
After sorting by textures, sheets are humidified and processed through the planer to ensure all cladding panels are exactly 9.5mm thick. The sheets are then processed into weatherboards or architectural panels using a multisaw and groover equipment.
Steps 11-13: Priming & Curing
The sheets become profiled Weathertex weatherboards or architectural panels. Our Preprimed range receives its first primer coating before entering infrared ovens to cure at temperatures exceeding 70°C. Quality control teams grade all weatherboards and panels as they exit the paint line.
Steps 14-16: Primelok System & Packaging
Weathertex's innovative Primelok system utilises a special spline machine to insert splines into boards for superior cladding installation. Almost ready for dispatch, Weathertex is packed and wrapped using orbital plastic wrapping machines before beginning its journey to warehouses and building projects throughout Australia and the world.
Want to learn more about our Weatherboard cladding? check out our Sustainability report, virtual factory tour and video
Weathertex, a better choice, naturally!
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