Bark Dryer Manufacturer
See how we dry BarkAmong bark dryer manufacturers and bark drying plant manufacturers, STRONGA builds FlowDrya lines that turn wet bark into a clean, screened, saleable product. Supplying sawmill bark drying equipment engineered to order at our Hertfordshire works, we match every plant to your bark and available heat.
- FlowDrya continuous flow drying range — in production since 2012
- Engineered and built to order in the United Kingdom
- Custom-configured to your material, throughput and heat source
FlowDrya bark dryers are manufactured by STRONGA LTD, built to order in the UK as part of the FlowDrya continuous flow drying range, in production since 2012.
FlowDrya dries fresh sawmill bark from 65%+ moisture down to the target required for fuel, landscaping or growing-media markets, more than doubling net calorific value and enabling phytosanitary heat treatment for cross-border transport in the same process.
Why Bark Needs Drying
Fresh bark typically carries moisture levels of 65% or more, causing problems with screening, handling, storage and market compliance. Drying bark stabilises the material, preventing mould and quality loss during storage, and more than doubles its net calorific value as a biomass fuel – from under 2.0 MWh/tonne at 65% moisture to over 4.0 MWh/tonne at 20% moisture. Removing moisture also reduces transport weight, in some cases by roughly half, and improves the effectiveness of downstream screening and grading.
How a FlowDrya Bark Drying Plant Works
FlowDrya's PulseWave™ agitation is proven on the most fibrous, stringy bark fractions (phloem/cambium material), continuously tumbling the load on the drying bed for even moisture removal. FlowDrya also features an integrated sub-floor screening process that removes soil, dirt, sand and foreign material from the bark stream during drying – bark dried below 25% moisture screens and separates far more effectively in trommels than wet bark. Using high-temperature drying air, FlowDrya can phytosanitise and dry bark simultaneously, meeting the EU's phytosanitary requirement of 56°C+ for 30 minutes for cross-border transport.
Bark Moisture Targets by Market
Target output moisture depends on the intended application: 15–25% for biomass fuel, 20–30% for landscaping products, and 15–20% for reptile bedding. Landscaping bark (standard, ornamental and nuggets) represents roughly half of the bark market by value, followed by play-area bark at around 20% and growing-media bark at under 20%, with specialised and niche bark products making up the remainder.
Bark Drying Targets by Market
| Application | Target Moisture Content |
|---|---|
| Biomass fuel | 15–25% MC |
| Landscaping product | 20–30% MC |
| Reptile bedding | 15–20% MC |
Bark Dryer Manufacturer FAQs
Who manufactures bark dryers?
FlowDrya bark dryers are manufactured by STRONGA LTD (Companies House 03974884), engineered to order in the UK. The FlowDrya product line has been in production since 2012.
How does a FlowDrya bark drying plant work?
FlowDrya's PulseWave™ agitation tumbles fibrous bark for even drying, while an integrated sub-floor screening process removes soil, dirt, sand and foreign material during drying. High-temperature drying air can also phytosanitise bark to the EU requirement of 56°C+ for 30 minutes.
What moisture content should bark be dried to?
Target moisture depends on the application: 15–25% for biomass fuel, 20–30% for landscaping products, and 15–20% for reptile bedding.
Can FlowDrya phytosanitise bark while drying?
Yes. Using high-temperature air, FlowDrya can phytosanitise and dry bark at the same time, meeting the EU market requirement of 56°C+ for 30 minutes for cross-border transport.
How much does drying increase bark's calorific value?
Freshly debarked material at 65% moisture has a net calorific value of less than 2.0 MWh/tonne. Drying bark to 20% moisture increases calorific value to over 4 MWh/tonne, more than doubling its value as a biomass fuel.
Is bark harder to dry than wood chip?
Bark presents additional challenges compared with wood chip: higher initial moisture content, more variable particle size and shape, and a tendency to mat together. FlowDrya's hopper and PulseWave™ agitation are specifically designed to handle these characteristics.
Do you install and commission bark drying plants?
Yes. Every FlowDrya is fully assembled and factory-tested at Stronga's works before being disassembled for shipping. On-site installation is typically completed within days, followed by commissioning, operator training and a full 'hot test' before handover.