Leber has launched its own vacuum drying chamber, marking a significant step in manufacturing independence. By bringing the drying process in-house, the company no longer relies on external timber suppliers to meet moisture standards. Instead, Leber now manages the entire cycle, filtering out defects at the earliest stages of preparation.
Working with natural wood begins long before the first cut is made. To ensure that outdoor furniture and playground equipment retain their shape for years, the timber must be dried with precision. Previously, Leber purchased pre-dried wood from timber merchants. However, finding raw materials with consistent moisture levels on the open market is a challenge; boards often arrive either over-dried or too damp, which inevitably leads to warping and deformation in the finished product.
The introduction of our own vacuum drying chamber has granted us total oversight. We no longer rely on the moisture percentages claimed by suppliers; we now bring the timber to our exact required parameters ourselves.
The new system can dry between 12 and 16 m³ of pine in a single cycle lasting just 2–3 days. In traditional convection chambers, this process takes three to five times longer. The vacuum method provides both speed and precision, consistently achieving an ideal moisture content of 8–12%.
Multi-stage quality control
The primary driver behind this investment is total quality management. We have implemented a rigorous system where no material can enter the production workshop without meeting our internal moisture standards.
The rejection process at Leber is now divided into several clear stages. First, boards with visible cracks or defects are set aside before drying; these are used as a «sacrificial layer» at the top of the stack to protect the main batch. During the drying process, built-in sensors monitor the wood’s condition in real time, and every batch is double-checked upon completion using a handheld moisture meter. The final quality check occurs during the planing stage, where hidden flaws such as curvature, sapwood, or loose knots are identified.
When accounting for all these factors, the rejection rate sits at approximately 20–25%. This ensures that only premium-grade timber, fully compliant with our strict internal protocols, moves forward into production.
Where this timber is used
Timber processed in our own drying chambers is used in the majority of products within our Urban line, which is supplied throughout Russia. We guarantee that our materials meet the exact dryness levels required by state GOST regulations and international quality standards.
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