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Hampton Upgrading Darrington Mill

A new co-generation plant at Hampton Affiliates' sawmill in Darrington, Mt., will improve the mill's efficiency and cut rising energy costs.

When it opens in April or May, the 6-megawatt plant will burn wood waste from the mill that was previously hauled away. The power generated will feed all the mill's operations, plus generate enough steam to heat the drying kilns. The company hopes to sell excess power to the local utility company.

"This will give us an economical source of steam for the dry kilns," said manager David Garcia. "Right now, we're burning two grades of diesel, which is extremely expensive."

New kilns added last spring more than doubled drying capacity at the mill.

Hampton Affiliates bought the mill in 2N2. Two years later, the mill produced 212 million bd. ft. of dimensional softwood lumber and ranked 30th in production among U.S. softwood mills. Last year, the mill produced more than 300 million bd. ft.

"The ultimate goal is about 350 million bd. ft. a year," said Steve ZIka,Hampton's c.e.o., who added that machinery modernizations at the mill are 80Vo to X)Vo completed.

Alaskan Genter Works For Change

Three Alaskan tree species now have their own grade stamp, due to the efforts of the Ketchikan Wood Technology Center.

Previously, Alaskan species were lumped together with lumber from the lower 48 states and Canada. Strength test- ing and other research conducted at the center changed that, by proving that Alaskan spruce, hemlock and cedar are distinct species. "The last time this was done in Alaska was never," said Mike Hannon. the center's facility manager. "It's long overdue." ffirimg os.rt the Vic?orian in cr Vicforign" W[r*n instc]llcrs wfini io rfs*i* elcb$rric 'frill: ic*ir-rr+:s, ill*ydcillllrliJ{li]i:.:!.'li:l:lijii;.r'rr':l]*i1rltl.ir't:l::il.irltal: l::iiilv*rL.;iJ|[i.-l;';.:r'1ll..l1:i.tl..'':t'.'..'1...1.,'.,'',,....":iliiil|.:lit:iir:Ey*;1*yilii.'Li}il-i:-11l.)|l|ii: l* h*ii,l:rc. r::: ,,:,,f. llt, ,:i:::r:,1{:i, r.itri ;'; :-; rq1'-.ii.;if [, ar v].-r.i1 w',rr..;';.*;*i..i*rtt

"Your wood is rvorth more because they have it in the grade books now," said Rick Cabe, who owns a sawmill on Prince of Wales Island and Thorne Bay Wood Products, which used to sell only green lumber. After investing in a kiln and a planer, the company now sells flooring, tongueand-groove siding, and log-cabin paneling.

All three of the species are strong and durable, but Alaskan cedar is naturally bug and decay resistant. "That's going to be huge as more and more wood-treatment chemicals are banned as carcinogenic," said Kevin Curtis, who heads the center.

Started in 2000, the center is located at the giant Ketchikan Pulp Mill, which closed in 1997. Money from a variety of state and federal sources funds research into new ways of using and marketing Alaskan wood, especially in engineered wood products.

Testing of second growth timber is also being conducted for the U.S. Forest Service. Understanding the commercial value of this timber is crucial, said agency spokesperson Dennis Neill. since Alaska has more than 435,000 acres of clear-cut area in various stages ofregrowth.

Curtis hopes that the center's efforts will positive encourage change in Alaska's lumber industry. "The testing and marketing efforts are describing the path, but whether we take it is up to us," he said. "We can't force people to do it. We have to understand this incredible resource we have in this state and how to use it effectivelv."