Energy Consumption During Drilling Mounting Holes in Furniture Elements Made of Particleboards Based on Alternative Raw Materials

Global particleboard production reached almost 123 million m3 in 2024. Such quantities require intensified search for alternative lignocellulosic materials in accordance with the principles of the circular economy. The research aim was to determine the total energy consumption (Emax) and specific cutting work (SCW) when drilling holes in boards made from 100% forest biomass, agricultural biomass, and wood-based post-production residues. The experiments were carried out on a CNC (computerize numerical control) center at a constant speed of 6000 rpm and variable feed rates of 0.2, 2, and 20 mm/min, using conventional particleboard as a reference. The results showed that the feed rate has a dominant influence on energy consumption. As the speed increased, the average SCW value decreased from 22.32 J/mm3 to 6.11 J/mm3. Conventional board required the highest energy input in all variants, and statistical analyses showed no significant differences (p > 0.05) between boards made from alternative raw materials and the reference. This proves that the variability of energy consumption depends mainly on the process parameters and not on the material itself. The research confirms the technological feasibility of using alternative biomass sources in the furniture industry without increasing energy consumption during processing, which promotes the implementation of sustainable development principles.