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A Hatton-Brown Publication
Co-Publisher: David H. Ramsey Co-Publisher: David (DK) Knight Chief Operating Officer: Dianne C. Sullivan Publishing Office Street Address: 225 Hanrick Street Montgomery, AL 36104-3317 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2268 Montgomery, AL 36102-2268 Telephone: 334.834.1170 FAX: 334.834.4525
Volume 44 • Number 3 • April 2019 Founded in 1976 • Our 452nd Consecutive Issue
Renew or subscribe on the web: www.timberprocessing.com
Executive Editor David (DK) Knight Editor-in-Chief: Rich Donnell Managing Editor: Dan Shell Senior Associate Editor: David Abbott Associate Editor: Jessica Johnson Associate Editor: Jay Donnell Art Director/Prod. Manager: Cindy Segrest Ad Production Coordinator: Patti Campbell Circulation Director: Rhonda Thomas Online Content/Marketing: Jacqlyn Kirkland Classified Advertising: Bridget DeVane • 334.699.7837 800.669.5613 • bdevane7@hotmail.com Advertising Sales Representatives: Southern USA Randy Reagor P.O. Box 2268 Montgomery, AL 36102-2268 904.393.7968 • FAX: 334.834.4525 E-mail: reagor@bellsouth.net
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Timber Ponzi Scheme Goes South
SOUTHPORT LUMBER Oregon Sawmill Continues To Upgrade
NO MORE BOTTLENECK
Canfor Profiler Streamlines Flow
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MICHAEL’S DAMAGE
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GREEN END SCANNING
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MACHINERY ROW
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Midwest USA, Eastern Canada
NEWSFEED
Timber Industry Adjusts To New Landscape Latest Technologies Set The Pace
Upgrades For GP, Collums Lumber
AT LARGE
Katerra Says It’s A Game Changer
COVER: Southport Lumber, which was founded 20 years ago in Coos Bay, Ore., has never been shy about implementing new sawmill technologies. Story begins on PAGE 14. (Jessica Johnson photo)
John Simmons 32 Foster Cres. Whitby, Ontario, Canada L1R 1W1 905.666.0258 • FAX: 905.666.0778 E-mail: jsimmons@idirect.com
VISIT OUR WEBSITE: www.timberprocessing.com
Western USA, Western Canada Tim Shaddick 4056 West 10th Avenue Vancouver BC Canada V6L 1Z1 604.910.1826 • FAX: 604.264.1367 E-mail: tootall1@shaw.ca
Member Verified Audit Circulation
Kevin Cook 604.619.1777 E-mail: lordkevincook@gmail.com
International Murray Brett 58 Aldea de las Cuevas, Buzon 60 03759 Benidoleig (Alicante), Spain Tel: +34 96 640 4165 • + 34 96 640 4048 E-mail: murray.brett@abasol.net
Timber Processing (ISSN 0885-906X, USPS 395-850) is published 10 times annually (January/February and July/August issues are combined) by Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc., 225 Hanrick St., Montgomery, AL 36104. Subscription Information—TP is free to qualified owners, operators, managers, purchasing agents, supervisors, foremen and other key personnel at sawmills, pallet plants, chip mills, treating plants, specialty plants, lumber finishing operations, corporate industrial woodlands officials and machinery manufacturers and distributors in the U.S. All non-qualified U.S. Subscriptions are $55 annually: $65 in Canada; $95 (Airmail) in all other countries (U.S. Funds). Single copies, $5 each; special issues, $20 (U.S. funds). Subscription Inquiries— TOLL-FREE: 800-669-5613; Fax 888-611-4525. Go to www.timberprocessing.com and click on the subscribe button to subscribe/renew via the web. All advertisements for Timber Processing magazine are accepted and published by Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. with the understanding that the advertiser and/or advertising agency are authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The advertiser and/or advertising agency will defend, indemnify and hold any claims or lawsuits for libel violations or right of privacy or publicity, plagiarism, copyright or trademark infringement and any other claims or lawsuits that may arise out of publication of such advertisement. Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. neither endorse nor makes any representation or guarantee as to the quality of goods and services advertised in Timber Processing. Hatton-Brown Publishers, Inc. reserves the right to reject any advertisement which it deems inappropriate. Copyright ® 2019. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part without written permission is prohibited. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Ala. and at additional mailing offices. Printed in U.S.A.
Postmaster: Please send address changes to Timber Processing, P.O. Box 2419, Montgomery, Alabama 36102-2419 Other Hatton-Brown publications: Timber Harvesting • Southern Loggin’ Times Wood Bioenergy • Panel World • Power Equipment Trade
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THEISSUES
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Dan Shell Managing Editor
MARKET TRENDS BEAR WATCHING
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here was an interesting note in a recent issue of the Random Lengths newsletter highlighting a report from the National Assn. of Homebuilders (NAHB): Following years of a trend toward larger houses, including square-footage increases from 2009 through 2015, the median size of single-family home dropped in 2018 for the third straight year. This is a significant trend, for it portends a move toward smaller units, and even more importantly—more affordable housing. As the lumber industry embarked on its 10-year wild ride from the Great Recession and the lowest lumber prices since the Great Depression to the highest lumber prices on record (and perhaps the most volatile markets ever) in 2018, the housing starts recovery remained slow. Unlike past recessions, low interest rates and a generally improving economy didn’t deliver the same cure, as housing starts continued to drag. Economists pointed to explanations such as lagging incomes, leftover student debt, and young people getting married and forming households later. So the recent note from the NAHB is a welcome one. High-end homebuyers will always be catered to, but more builders developing more entry-level inventory is a good trend. The same NAHB report noted that while building material costs were the top item of concern for builders in 2018, labor is moving to the top of the list in 2019. However, those same homebuilding labor issues are driving a positive trend that has the potential to develop a whole new category of product: cross-laminated timber. The growing mass timber construction movement has the potential to create truly new demand. In an industry that deals with primarily commodity products, that’s a big deal. This issue includes a news item on the most recent CLT plant announcement in North America, as Kalesnikoff Lumber in British Columbia is building a $35 million facility in South Slocan that’s scheduled to start up later this year. The news underlines the year 2019 as a big one for North American CLT, as plants are scheduled to start up in Colville and Spokane, Wash. and Dothan, Ala. The issue also includes a detailed article supplied by Katerra, owner of the Spokane CLT facility and a major player in not only CLT trends but the move toward more pre-fab construction and off-site building to alleviate those same labor cost and availability concerns. While some have characterized Katerra as a company of erstwhile Silicon Valley visionaries who don’t know much about the construction industry, the reality is the company plans to drastically disrupt the traditional building industry—whether it’s working with a CLT plant, pre-fab facility or large architectural firm. And Katerra has $3 billion in capital to make it happen. So whether the trend is housing size or construction labor woes or mass timber growth, there are changes in markets that producers must react to, and it’s the mills and organizations that can bend the trends to their advantage. TP
Contact Dan Shell, ph: 334-834-1170; fax 334-834-4525; e-mail: dan@hattonbrown.com TIMBER PROCESSING
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NEWSFEED TIMBER CON MEN FACE PRISON, TRIAL Two Mississippi men charged last year in the largest Ponzi scheme in state history are facing justice now as one reported to prison in January to begin a 17-year sentence and the other goes to trial in April. Arthur Adams of Jackson began serving his time at a federal prison in Arkansas in January, and William McHenry of Canton goes to trial this month. Adams pleaded guilty to operating a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors of between $85-$100 million. McHenry has been charged with participating in the scam by receiving commissions and bonuses for bringing in new investors. The scheme ranged far and wide, duping 300 investors, including U.S. Sen. Roger Wicker (RMiss.), and also leading to
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some uncomfortable moments as Adams spread the money around freely, including multiple five- and six-digit donations to churches and ministries, plus another $400,000 given to the Ole Miss athletic foundation. According to the federal criminal complaint, Adams operated a classic Ponzi scheme: “Adams devised a scheme to defraud investors by soliciting millions of dollars of funds under false pretenses, failing to use the investors’ funds as promised, and converting investors’ funds to Adams’s own benefit without the knowledge of the investors. Adams used the invested funds for his own personal benefit and for purposes other than those represented to investors, which also included making payments due and owing to other investors, thus perpetuating the Ponzi scheme.”
The two operated as Madison Timber Properties out of Jackson, Miss. and falsely represented that Madison Timber was buying cutting rights and re-selling them for a profit. Their basic con was selling investments in “loans” to acquire timber rights that didn’t exist, yet were guaranteed 10%-15% returns that were paid out of new investors’ funds. According to federal investigators, the loans didn’t exist except in just a few cases, and Adams perpetuated the scheme by falsifying timber deeds, creating bogus legal documents that were notarized, included forged landowner signatures and even fake “timber cruise summary” reports. As a salesman for the scheme, McHenry was charged with helping mislead investors, failing to disclose his commissions, misrepresented his ownership in Madison Timber and wire fraud.
Fake cutting rights didn’t exist.
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NEWSFEED ARIZONA PROJECT GETS NEW OWNER Ownership of a major Forest Service stewardship contract to treat 300,000 acres in Arizona is changing hands for the second time, as the large volume of biomass generated and a lack of utilization infrastructure
and markets in the state continue to pose a challenge to the far-reaching project. Tom Loushin, owner of A1 Timber out of Chehalis, Wash., is heading up a team that purchased New Life Forest Products and the contract the goes with it. The contract is Phase 1 of the federal 4 Forests Restoration Initiative
4FRI Phase 1 stewardship contract is now on its third owner.
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(4FRI) that seeks to treat more than 2 million across across four national forests in Arizona. Started as a response to the devastating fires that hit Arizona soon after the turn of the century, the 4FRI has sought to bring once opposed organizations to the table to develop solutions to forest health and fire prevention in the state. The group has brought stakeholders from across the state together and is seeking innovative ways to address forest health issues in Arizona. Unlike other efforts that have concentrated on individual watersheds or tracts, 4FRI has taken an unprecedented regional scope, seeking to address forest health across four national forests covering 2.4 million acres. The Phase I contract was the first of several, each covering hundreds of thousands of acres.
The contract was initially awarded in 2012 to Pioneer Forest Products of Montana, which wasn’t able to gain financing for its plan to build a pine cutting mill, small log sawmill and biofuel plant to process the material coming off the forests. In 2013 Pioneer sold the contract to Good Earth Power, which had little experience in such ventures and ended up bringing in a new set of investors and changing its name to New Life Forest Products in 2017.
OSU STUDY FOCUSES ON FIRE On the heels of Oregon’s most expensive wildfire season ever in 2018, researchers at Oregon State University are ramping up efforts to better predict how the blazes behave, including how they gen-
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NEWSFEED erate fire-spreading embers. A team led by David Blunck of OSU’s College of Engineering has been chosen by the U.S. Dept. of Defense to spearhead a new $2.1 million effort to study the burning of live fuels. OSU will partner with the U.S. Forest Service on a four-year grant awarded through the DOD’s Strategic Environmental Research Development Program (SERDP). “The DOD is interested in this because they have a lot of land, and it burns,” says Blunck, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering. “Live fuels are basically trees that are green and living. These trees are often what torches, but historically, dead fuels have primarily been studied.” The work will be built around the theory that there are likely just a handful of factors—such as pyrolysis,
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the decomposition that results from high temperatures, and the products of that decomposition—that cause differences in burning behavior when live fuels burn. “Most live fuel studies tend to be fuel specific, controlling for variation in burning behavior based on time of year and moisture content, but with those results, it’s hard to know how new fuels will burn, or even how the same fuel will burn outside the conditions that have been studied,” Blunck says. “So it’s really better to understand what’s driving the sensitivity when you have different fuels. Our theory is that it’s just a few processes that cause the differences when you burn different live fuels, and if we can understand what they are, we can better predict how new species would burn.” The research will provide
Dept. of Defense managers with fire models that can predict ignition, burning rate and fuel consumption for mixtures of live and dead fuels, allowing them to more effectively plan prescribed burning as well as wildfire responses. It will involve a mix of lab work, modeling and field studies. In recent months, Blunck’s group has examined the burning behavior of more than 100 trees representing four different species—Douglas fir, grand fir, western juniper and ponderosa pine—in the range of 10 to 15 feet tall. “That height is not very large for a forest perspective, but for testing for wildfire purposes this is typically not done, and never for the number of trees that we have burned,” he says. Most wildfire research, Blunck explains, involves either prescribed burns, or work
in a laboratory on samples up to a size of roughly 1 meter. “In the lab you can control all the parameters like temperature, size and moisture content, but how well do the results scale?” he quesdtions. “With a prescribed burn, you’re researching under actual conditions, but with the data you get it’s very hard to understand cause and effect. There’s so much out of our control that it’s hard to know what’s driving the various phenomena. “With trees that are about 10 feet tall, we can bridge the scales between the laboratory and prescribed burns. We can look at many species and start to vary the parameters we think are important. Our experiments are on an intermediate scale but have a replicate size that is not rivaled by any study I have ever found.” In addition, last December
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NEWSFEED Blunck and other researchers studied the effect of fire retardant on ember generation and found that under some conditions, trees coated in the retardant sent off fewer embers that contained enough energy to start a new fire. This effort was in partnership with an industry sponsor, P N Solutions. “Embers are wildfires’ most unpredictable modes of causing spread,” Blunck says. “By understanding how embers form and travel through the air, we can more accurately predict how fire will spread.” Techniques for studying embers include infrared videography, collecting embers in trays of water and measuring scorch marks on squares of fire-resistant fabric placed on the ground at varying distances from the fire. In Oregon last year, the cost of fire suppression for the first time exceeded half a billion
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dollars, according to the Northwest Interagency Coordination Center, which provides logistical support and intelligence for federal and state wildland fire suppression agencies. The state in 2018 saw 1,880 fires burn 1,322 square miles— more land area than the state of Rhode Island. By Steve Lundeberg. E-mail steve.lundeberg@oregonstate.edu
LA FESTIVAL: 40-YEAR EVENT Officials with the Louisiana Forest Festival report the event is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year on April 26-27 in Winfield, La. Across four decades, the Louisiana Forest Festival is a celebration of the regional timber industry with displays, events and entertainment saluting the efforts and economic impact of loggers
Lumberjack competitions and chain saw events are festival highlight.
and lumber producers on the regional economy. The event kicks off April 26 with a parade and concerts by country music performers Spencer Brunson and Jesse Keith Whitley. Later, fireworks light up the skies. The festival features numerous forestry equipment displays
and exhibits. Pro lumberjack sports athletes competitors throughout the U.S. compete in 13 lumberjack events six different chain saw events. The festival includes excellent food, homemade crafts, more contests and prize drawings and also children’s activities and games.
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BIG RESULTS
By Jessica Johnson
Oregon’s Southport Lumber Co. makes the most of small logs with new sawmill line.
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NORTH BEND, Ore. rom its inception in 2005, Southport Forest Products has always tried to be innovative in processing smaller secondgrowth and plantation Douglas fir logs in Oregon’s Coast Range. Over the years Southport’s employees and owners, along with Mill Manager Greg Dickey and his team, have done a variety of things to keep the company on strong footing—from consulting with Perforex to help weather the downturn of poor 14
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lumber markets, to adding three dry kilns and thus opening new markets, to its newest project: adding a complete second primary breakdown line focusing on small diameter Douglas fir. Dickey says this addition brought the mill to 200MMBF annually, a gain of approximately 50MMBF. Driven by the decision to more efficiently handle the smaller logs, Southport made multiple changes to the facility in addition to installing a Comact DDM6 single pass small log sawing system. A new merchandiser by Price LogPro was added ahead of the DDM6, which handles all logs from 3-7 in. diameter. Thanks to the increase in capacity, Southport also had to upgrade its Baxley sorter from 45 bins to 64, as well as add a new SEC/BID high speed stacker with automatic stick system. To handle the additional volume of kiln sticks an SEC/BID stick recovery system was also installed. “We’ve made quite a few changes,”
Dickey says, before adding that the two merchandiser lines also benefited from CEM whole log chipping system upgrades and changes. On the existing large log line the 75 in. chipper was removed and replaced by an 84 in. model. The 75 in. chipper was then moved to the trimmer line. Both chippers run new MDI metal detectors. To handle the greater capacity in the planer mill, Southport made the decision to upgrade the existing FinScan auto grading system at the trimmer with the HD version. Dickey notes the faster processing speed has been working really well for the mill. “I know 200 million might not sound like an awful lot compared to large log sawmills,” Dickey admits, “but for the size of log that we handle it is quite impressive. We’re running a lot of pieces at a really fast pace.” For context, Dickey says Southport processes between 13,000 and 14,000 log segments per shift. ➤ 16
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S SMALL LOGS
With a new primary breakdown line added, Southport Lumber Co. capacity jumps to 200MMBF
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NEW LINE
The new breakdown line focuses strictly on Douglas fir logs that are 3-7 in. diameter.
Start-up of the Comact DDM6 was extremely smooth according to Mill Manager Greg Dickey.
The Southport management team, from left, Matt Weybright, Optimization; Scott Sams, Sawmill Supervisor; Carrol Sams, Planer Supervisor; Brian Currier, Maintenance Supervisor; Lonnie Wood, Safety Manager; and Tim Banaszek, Maintenance Manager 16
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Southport did bid out the new line project, but Dickey says that ultimately it wasn’t a difficult decision to go with Comact as the supplier, citing the company’s strong industry reputation for handling small logs. “It was really seamless, so it made sense for us,” he adds. The project timeline was quick, less than one year, with logs being run through the new Comact line in December 2015. Dickey says with other installations he’s been involved in, “hiccups” and other startup issues have always arisen. That was not the case with the Comact line. Instead, Dickey reports that it truly just started up and ran: Meeting the production and performance expectations Southport had relatively quickly. “Thanks to BID and our team, we were sawing high quality, high quantity lumber within the first bunch of days. We were quite impressed, they have those machines perfected,” he adds. The addition of the line was right before the big surge of BID Group projects throughout North America—and Southport was happy they were able to complete the project when they did. As to the future? Southport has their eyes on a few opportunities where they could upgrade and would definitely be interested in working with BID Group again. Overall, Southport did not change product mix. The mill is still focusing on dimension and stud lumber, both green and kiln dried. Following the installation of two dry kilns in 2012 and a third in 2014, Dickey says most of the production had moved away from green and into dry. Now, the kilns don’t have the capacity for what the new line is able to put out and Southport is going back to more green lumber as it did pre-2012. “Additional kiln capacity is a potential future opportunity for us,” he says. “We can dry about half of what we can produce. Kiln-dried markets tend to be more stable and favorable.” While the kilns don’t have the capacity to handle all the extra production, they are handling a good portion of it well. As such, there was some stress on the planer mill. In February 2018, Southport added a dedicated second shift to the planer mill to help balance out that constraint. Adding experienced operators on the second shift has been a good move overall for Southport. Dickey says the new employees got up to speed quickly, and Southport was able to start seeing production gains out of the Stetson-Ross 614 planer almost immediately. Aside from adding some additional
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staff to the maintenance team, the new line has not really altered the existing predictive maintenance program implemented in 2013.
MILL FLOW Since Southport had traditionally been a small log sawmill, the original decision in 2005 to put in a USNR close-coupled single pass breakdown with PSI merchandising line made sense. The line could handle logs from 3 in. to 16 in. utilizing a sharp chain. “But it was a challenge putting a 3 in. log on a 2.5 in. sharp chain,” Dickey admits. The dedicated machine for small logs was a great decision after 10-plus years with the sharp chain. In terms of layout, the Comact line and the USNR line are mirrors, and fold into the original USNR line after logs are processed on the Comact DDM6. Logs are sorted both in the woods and on the Southport log yard, before being placed on the 32 ft. wide loading deck. Small logs are moved via Comact wave feeder and processed through an A5 Nicholson debarker. After conveying through Comact scanners logs travel to the LogPro (now Timber Automa-
Southport handles a lot of pieces at a really fast pace—475MBF per shift.
tion) merchandizer line, with an allelectric two-saw merchandizer. Logs are processed into segments for the accumulation deck. A second Comact wave feeder feeds small log segments into the DDM6. “We thought a step
feeder might be overkill with such small diameter logs,” Dickey explains of the decision to utilize two wave feeders. Logs then enter the DDM6 with full optimization and are processed. Transfer conveyors take boards from the DDM6
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As part of the expansion, Southport also added a new SEC/BID high speed stacker with automatic stick system.
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back into the original USNR breakdown line where they are then intermixed en route to the trimmer. Dickey says on average the new machinery is putting out 475MBF per shift and capable of much more given the right log mix. Again, an impressive number considering the number of logs required and the lower average board feet per log extracted. Logs larger than 7 in. are processed on the original USNR line, which starts with a Nicholson A8 debarker, USNR scanning and bucking optimization and PSI merchandising line. Logs are then broken down on a closecoupled single pass USNR breakdown system. After accumulating and singulating logs are fed and scanned via USNR optimization. They then flow through a knuckle turner infeed preceding a set of chipping heads for opening faces and step profiling heads for sideboards before processing through a set of quad round saws. At the sideboard transfer area, sideboards drop and rejoin the flow downstream of a USNR Vertical Shape Sawing gang system (VSS). Two-sided cants are rescanned before being fed into the VSS that can both chip and saw on the curve as well as profile top and bottom faces. Lumber flow joins downstream of the VSS outfeed and the DDM6 outfeed while a Comact lug loader feeds the Baxley trimmer with Baxley scanning and optimization. A set of SCS Forest Products moisture detection pads downstream of the trimmer outfeed allow additional sorts based on moisture content. From the upgraded 64-bin Baxley sorter, lumber is stacked using the new SEC/BID high speed stacker with automatic stick system. The stacked lumber is then transferred to the yard where it is either ran as green or placed into the kilns. The three natural gas kilns added in 2012 and 2014 were supplied by American Wood Dryers and include PLC-based kiln and boiler controls from American Wood Dryers that incorporates data from an SCS Forest Products kiln moisture detection system. Green and dry lumber is broken down at the tilt hoist where sticks are collected via an SEC/BID stick recovery system. Lumber is transferred to the StetsonRoss 614 splitter head planer, across a Wagner in-line moisture meter, then a slowdown belt. Boards flow to a Baxley board dealer before entering the upgraded FinScan HD auto grading system. A paddle fence style positioning gate precedes the Baxley 1 ft. PET trimmer feeding a Baxley sorter. After stacking, a Samuel package system readies units for manual paper wrapping. TP
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PROFILING AT THE CURVE-SAW GANG USNR technology provides boost for Canfor Fulton sawmill.
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n upgrade at a southern yellow pine sawmill in Alabama has had a major impact on the mill’s productivity with the addition of profiling incorporated into the mill’s curve-sawing gang process. The mill was facing daily bottlenecks at the edger that resulted in backed up lumber decks, hours of overtime work to clear the backlog, and continual maintenance to keep the overworked components operating. The Canfor SYP mill at Fulton, Ala. started producing dimension lumber as Scotch Lumber Co., a family-owned operation dating back to the late 1800s. After a brief closure in 2009 due to economic conditions, Scotch merged with Gulf Lumber and reopened as Scotch Gulf Lumber in 2010. Then in 2013 Scotch-Gulf entered a phased purchase agreement with Canfor, with the sale complete by 2016. “I believe our mill was a perfect fit for Canfor,” says Perry Callaway, Plant Manager. “They saw the potential in the mill, its equipment and people, its strong timber base and its product mix.” The mill employs 147, and features dual log processing lines, one for small logs up to 27 in. diameter and one for large logs up to 46 in. It produces 2x4s to 2x12s, MSR (machine stress rated) lumber, #1 and #2 prime lumber, and specialty grades. The mill also produces 1x4 and 1x6 boards that are shipped green.
BOTTLENECK An ongoing bottleneck at the board edger was a major slowdown in the productivity of the entire operation. The original configuration of the mill had boards exiting the gang and being transported directly to the trimmer. A significant amount of the lumber was being tippled out after the trimmer, and routed to the edger for remanufacture. “The edger was doing all it could but was just overwhelmed with reman lumber,” Perry recalls. “We would start processing logs at 6:00 a.m. and by 9:30 we’d have to shut down the headrig and canter/bandmill because all the lumber transfer chains would be blocked up.” Adding to the productivity issues, there were also safety concerns as the lumber was crossing up on the decks and required manual straightening. The plant’s edger, trimmer and stacker operators were often 20
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The new configuration includes three scanners, completing a full cant scan in 9 ft. of travel.
required to work until 8 o’clock at night just to catch up so the mill would be ready to start up the next morning. There was also the issue of maintenance personnel constantly working on the tipples behind the trimmer. “Our reman was typically 13-14 percent, or 6,000 to 7,000 pieces per shift,” Perry says. “We were literally beating our tipples to death with so much reman lumber.” Plant management believed the potential productivity increases and cost reductions that the mill could achieve would be significant, if they could keep the line moving forward.
ACHIEVEMENTS The Canfor plant had employed equipment from USNR to upgrade its lines through the years, so it was natural for mill management to canvass USNR for a solution to the bottleneck dilemma. George Krumbine, USNR account manager, worked with the Fulton team to determine the best configuration that would improve the mill flow and increase productivity and recovery. The project team recommended retrofitting the existing curve-sawing gang with a new shape chipping canter and a shape chipping profiler, as well as improved scanning and optimization. “We considered other vendors’
solutions, but one of the main reasons we decided to go with USNR was the mechanical simplicity of the USNR approach,” Perry says. “It was pretty much what all the millwrights were used to working on every day.”
HOW IT WORKS The new solution incorporates a chipping canter and profiler ahead of the saw box. The shape chipper skews and slews as it chips off the cant’s sides via conical chip heads. Then, the four-sided cant is fed through the shape profiler eliminating much of the requirement for edging the boards. Not only does profiling reduce the need for edging, it also smooths much of the flow which vastly improves productivity. Following profiling, the existing horizontal sawbox cuts the cant into boards. The project included new scanning and optimization, as well as controls for the line. The original scanning was performed with a single lineal scan zone, as there was ample time to pass the solution onto the gang’s control system before the cant entered the machinery. Also, the original system did not require optimization for shape chipping and profiling. The new configuration includes three
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scanners along the scan belt. This allows the system to complete a full scan of the cant in only nine feet of travel, and allows time for the optimized solution to reach the PLC and set the cutting tools to implement the decision. The cants are fed horizontally onto a rollcase from both sides, coming from the large and smaller log lines. They are fed onto a scan belt where they are transported lineally through the three scan zones and to the shape chipper’s infeed. The shape chipper infeed controls the cant with three powered top press rolls that secure the cant on the chains while feeding it through the conical chip heads. The profiler infeed has two powered top press rolls to secure the cant, and two reference rolls that feedback the cant’s position to the PLC system. This allows the PLC to control the skew and slew of the profilers to carry out the optimized profile solution. Reference rolls are also included on the gang’s existing chipper arbors (just upstream of the sawbox) to allow the PLC to set the saws relative to the chipped surfaces of the cant. The gang infeed employs three powered top press rolls and a bottom feed roll to secure the cant while it is transported through the double arbor sawbox. While the new components included the latest controls technology, the existing sawbox required PLC updates.
Cutaway of the shape chipping canter
TEAM APPROACH The project team was led by Jack Few, Canfor project manager, and Kelly MacDonald, his counterpart on the USNR side. Daily meetings kept everyone updated on progress and resolved any issues as they arose. Key among the group’s priorities were adhering to an aggressive schedule and maintaining a safe working environment. “Safety was our first priority on this job as we had about 80 people working on site,” Perry says. “When the job was complete we had never needed as much as a single band-aid. The men and women at USNR are very courteous and professional in every aspect of their job. And after the project was complete, USNR has always been ready to help when we needed technical support.” Perry adds that the new system has exceeded expectations. When they started the project, they were hoping production would increase to 60MBF per hour, but they’ve blown past that goal to 62MBF. Meanwhile all the operators are happy that 15 minutes after the mill goes down at the end of a shift, all the lumber is caught up TP and they get to go home. This article appeared in USNR’s Millwide Insider magazine.
Cutaway of the shape chipping profile
Cutaway of the saws showing reference rolls TIMBER PROCESSING
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MICHAEL’S
BIGHURT By Jessica Johnson
The Florida timber industry is truly seeing the consequences of Hurricane Michael six months after the storm hit.
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ot, bark slippage and blue stain are beginning to settle in as timber salvage efforts continue in the wake of Hurricane Michael. Michael came ashore October 10, 2018, the eye crossing Mexico Beach and then moving inland and northeast, causing catastrophic or severe damage to 2.8 million acres of Florida timberland according to the Florida Forest Service. A Category 4 hurricane with winds reaching 155 MPH, Michael cut an 80-mile wide swath across 11 counties in the Florida Panhandle, where conservative estimates put timber loss in the state at $1.3 billion and total damage expenditures at $39 billion. According to the Florida Forest Service, 72 million tons of prime timber were broken or blown over—imagine 2.5 million loaded log trucks—affecting 16,000 private landowners. Florida’s estimated monetary timber loss is just less than double that reported by the Georgia Forestry Commission, which stated that 2.37 million acres of Georgia forestland sustained damage valued at $763 million. Promoting an emergency landowner assistance funding request of $583 million, the Florida Forest Service indicates 22
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the potential for significant increase in wildfires over the next 10 years. Usually, the Panhandle has 4.87 tons per acre of available fuel; post-Michael, the average is 58 tons per acre, a 10-fold increase, and in the catastrophic areas of Bay, Calhoun and Gulf counties there is more than 100 tons per acre of fuel on the ground. Wildfires aren’t the only major concern for the Panhandle. Reforestation remains uncertain for the 16,000 private landowners who make up nearly 80% of the devastated timber base, as they watch family investments, college funds, retirement funds and other generational secu-
rity rot away. Florida Forest Service notes that without guidance and financial support many of the private landowners will not clean up and will definitely not replant. During recent testimony at the Capitol in Tallahassee, Florida Forest Service Director Jim Karels told a Senate committee it could take a decade or more for Florida’s timber industry to recover. He recommended the state immediately provide $20 million to help nonindustrial private forest landowners clear fallen trees and start replanting the forests. He also recommended spending nearly $9 million for equipment and programs to
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Six months after the storm, life is still far from normal across much of the disaster area.
Not much time left for sawlog salvage before blue stain and fiber deterioration take their toll.
help reduce the fire threat.
TIMBER INDUSTRY Rex Lumber’s SYP sawmills in Graceville and Bristol, Fla. had to cut production in January due to weather and log flow. The rain has hampered the recovery effort, notes Charles McRae, coowner of Rex Lumber. “I think we have a month tops left on salvage wood,” McRae said in mid-March, referring to the rot and other timber defects. “The paper mills can probably go a few months beyond us.” Jeremy Sapp, Vice President of Sapp’s
Logging conditions are extremely tough, as the state seeks to bolster replanting efforts among non-industrial private landowners.
Land & Excavating, Inc., based in Chipley, Fla.—about 70 miles north and slightly west from where Michael’s eye came ashore—has reduced number of operating crews from five to four due to losing a few employees to the demand for equipment operators in the area for the cleanup effort. Even with fewer crews, and the te-
dious work in processing storm damaged wood, weekly production has remained stable, and has been aided by Sapp’s recent purchase and implementation of a John Deere 2554 log loader with a dangle sawhead that allows the operator to cut wood parallel to the ground. For Sapp, whose main market is Enviva’s large wood pellet mill in CottonTIMBER PROCESSING
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dale, his chip versus roundwood production has not changed—though he notes he has shifted to a higher concentration of standing timber, as opposed to timber already blown down from the storm. Enviva is reacting to fiber density changes in the storm damaged wood and is beginning to reduce the amount that they procure in microchip form. Enviva states that despite some earlier procurement challenges, the Cottondale plant’s supply is stable and the plant is running at full capacity. The company has been actively involved in recovery
efforts, which is helping local landowners clear land for replanting. For timber dealer and logger Hayes Morris, owner of Morris Timber Products based in Lynn Haven, Fla., it is a mind-boggling experience he’s still trying to wrap his mind around as every stand of timber, creek bottom, crossroad and landmark of his daily life has been blown away. Morris Timber Products made machine purchases following the storm to aid operators and bring efficiency to its peak. Morris has two Barko 595 track
shovel machines outfitted with topping saws in order to clear up standing trees that are broken. Morris has his shovel operator trying to handle cutting and pushing stumps as best as he can—with the realization that stumps are going to be one of the biggest challenges to those who decide to replant. His crew is also making heavy use of two Caterpillar 521 track cutters with 360 degree rotating sawheads, which allow operators to flip the head over and cut trees on the ground. Morris Timber Products’ three crews are operating at the same pace as before the storm, but production is down about 20%. Morris says he’s running the crews as hard as he can, and everyone is aware of the time sensitive nature of the work. As far as the eye can see the trees are either completely blown down or broken into triangle shapes. Many places look as if a buzz saw came straight through the plantation and cut everything at 12 ft. Loggers in the area assumed area sawmills were going to be choked with timber and congested, but the region’s low ground and a wet winter following the storm changed that dynamic. Across the Panhandle, most processing facilities took some time to get back on-line, taking production ramp up in increments. For example, WestRock, which operates a corrugated packaging mill in Panama City, returned to full production of containerboard during November 2018; however, given the damage to the facility, the company doesn’t expect the mill to return to full pulp production until the end of June.
FINANCIAL AID As part of Florida Governor Ron DeSantis’ state budget for fiscal year 20192020, introduced February 1, “a bold vision for hurricane recovery” has been included. DeSantis’ plan proposes spending $271 million to match federal funds for federally declared disasters—which would total $1.9 billion in federal and state assistance for those affected by Hurricane Michael. Additionally, this budget outlines $765 million to address housing and job training needs in recovery zones. It is currently unclear if this budget will pass the Florida legislature, which convened for the first time this session on March 5. A bill filed in the Florida legislature by state rep. Ramon Alexander seeks to give 12 affected counties $338 million mainly for housing. For landowners, the federal Emergency Forest Restoration Program (EFRP), subject to availability of funding, pro24
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vides payments to eligiabout a 12-year equivable owners of noninduslent of current annual retrial private forestland in movals and more than a order to carry out emer15-year equivalent in the gency measures to restore severe and catastrophic land damaged by a natudamaged areas. ral disaster. Under this Heavily impacted program, the federal govareas will experience first ernment will cost-share thinnings in 15-20 years, payments up to 75% (but increasing the available limited to $500,000 per merchantable pulpwood entity) to rehabilitate prisupply. However, the imvate forests following a pact of the initial loss of natural disaster. This inventory combined with cost-share program adthe intense harvesting in ministered by the USDA areas only moderately Jason Knight, left, with Jeremy Sapp and new John Deere 2554 log loader and Farm Service Agency damaged, or those left dangle sawhead, purchased to improve Sapp’s efficiency in storm wood. (FSA) offers assistance luckily unscathed, will with debris removal, including getting and physical losses. result in an age/class imbalance. Fordown and damaged trees out, and all site Compensation also is available to pro- est2Market believes this will help intenprep, including planting materials and ducers who purchased coverage through sify competition for available timber and labor. the Noninsured Crop Disaster Assistance result in some strain on supply that will Additionally the FSA Emergency Program, which protects non-insurable drive prices higher for years. It is possiConservation Program provides funding crops against natural disasters that result ble this will also affect the current overand technical assistance for farmers and in lower yields, crop losses, or prevented supply of sawlogs. ranchers to rehabilitate farmland damplanting. Federal government aid could also come aged by natural disasters. Producers loForest2Market, a global provider of in the form of timber sales and harvesting cated in counties that receive a primary timber prices, market data and in-depth in the Apalachicola National Forest, which or contiguous disaster designation are el- analytics for suppliers and consumers of is east of where the storm came in. Some igible for low-interest emergency loans wood raw materials, believes overall the tonnage could be flowing out by the end of TP to help them recover from production damaged timber inventory represents this year.
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FOREST LOGISTICS SUMMIT
Trucking meeting in Georgia addresses log hauling issues.
By David Abbott and Dan Shell TIFTON, Ga. embers from throughout the forest products supply chain in Georgia came together in late January in an effort to address growing concerns over the industry’s transportation sector. The Forest Logistics Summit took place at the UGA Conference Center on the University of Georgia’s Tifton campus on January 25. Hosting the event was a joint effort between the Georgia Forestry Assn., Georgia Forestry Foundation and UGA’s Warnell School of Forestry, where Dr. Joe Conrad is an assistant professor of forest operations. He estimates about 125 people attended. Conrad explains how the idea for the Summit came about: “A couple of years ago the Southeastern Wood Producers Assn. and Georgia Forestry Assn. were both hearing from their logging and trucking members that log truck insurance rates were rising rapidly and really putting a pinch on them,” the professor recalls. “They hired me to do some research and get some answers. We presented that in 2017 and it got a good reception. There were a lot of conversations going on at logging association meetings and conferences, but not all the people who really needed to be there were in the room at one time.” One who attended the recent summit was logger Darrell Passinault, whose operation is based in Elko. “There were some big ballplayers there,” he points
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Millions in timber processing investments are at risk when trucking issues affect supply chain performance.
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Georgia timber summit drew more than 150 from all industry sectors in search for solutions to forest products transportation issues.
out. “You had lobbyists from GFA, two reps of large log trucking companies, and public safety was there to talk about a few things.” Richard Schwab of Perry, Fla.’s M.A. Rigoni was among those who spoke at the summit. He adds that the bigger players in the industry, namely the mills, are “starting to feel the pinch of the trucking crisis hard.” He continues, “Rayonier in Jesup ran out of hardwood twice over Christmas. They said they used to depend on getting 4,000-5,000 tons of hardwood pulp from Florida a month, but they’re not getting it now because of trucking; because loggers can’t afford to do interstate trucking and the trucking capacity is just not there.” The summit, he says, offered everyone concerned an opportunity to have a roundtable discussion, to share ideas and, hopefully, solve some of these issues. Former state representative Chad Nimmer of Pierce Timber Co. in Blackshear feels that everyone in the industry is now on the same page, recognizing what different parts of the supply chain have been saying for years. “Now it’s impacting everyone, so everyone is paying attention now,” he says. “Not that there was ever any ill will in the past, it’s just that when you’re busy focused on your own problems, you don’t notice others’ problems. But now it is everybody’s problem. A lot of the trucking issues we face are the same ones faced by agriculture folks.” Conrad adds, “Having everyone in the same room to hear each other was really critical. The real success of the program was getting everyone together—the mill representatives, log truck owners, logging business owners and foresters. The whole wood fiber supply chain was represented, and that’s what we were going for.” Georgia Forestry Assn. President An-
dres Villegas, who was also instrumental in organizing the event, concurs: “We wanted to get as many people together as we could to talk about solutions.”
LIABILITY, TRAINING Conrad spoke during the first of four modules at the summit, this one focusing on the challenges of log truck liability insurance—no doubt a subject weighing heavily on the minds of many. The cost of accidents is what has been driving the increase in premiums, Conrad reflects; reducing the frequency and severity/expense of accidents will help bring down those rates. “Most accidents are caused by driver error, either on the part of the truck driver or, more commonly, the driver of the passenger vehicle.” Driver training, many agree, is a big
part of the answer. With that in mind, two training programs specific to log truck driving are in development—one at South Georgia Technical College in Americus, Ga. and the other at Coastal Pines Technical College in Waycross, Ga. “We think those will be very helpful in increasing the pool of available qualified drivers,” Conrad says. Many insurance companies won’t insure unless the driver is at least 25 and has two to three years of log truck driving experience—an untenable long-term policy for what should be obvious reasons. Conrad adds, “We are hoping this training can be used in lieu of the experience requirement; otherwise the situation is just going to keep getting worse as older drivers retire and we have no new drivers in the system.” TEAM Safe Trucking, he says, has a role to play both in training ➤ 30
More driver training and use of new technology are areas producers can control. TIMBER PROCESSING
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27 ➤ new drivers and in providing continuing education credits for existing drivers to improve their safety fluency. As an all-around resource for trucking safety and training, TEAM Safe Trucking’s Miranda Gowell asked those in attendance to make a commitment to Forestry Transportation Training, hand out Team Safe Trucking Driver Day information sheets and share Team Safe Trucking fleet safety messages on social media. Other resources include Team Safe Trucking train-the-trainer training webinars offered every Wednesday 10 a.m. EST and trucking safety newsletters. Gowell says the Summit was a good start for developing solutions to challenges facing the log trucking industry. “The speakers identified challenges and proposed practical solutions, and they were all inspirational in the hope and possibilities they presented,” she says. Schwab, who spoke during the second module on the subject of Opportunities to Improve Trucking Efficiency, cautions that training is just one part of the answer. “Of course we want to concentrate on training, insurers are big on that and it is important,” Schwab comments. “But we also need to talk about how and what we are paid. We need to be able to pay enough to attract better drivers.”
NO SILVER BULLETS “It wasn’t just a group of people getting on a soap box and complaining,” Nimmer says. “It was about getting together to talk as a group trying to find solutions.” Nimmer says the distinction between “problems” and “challenges” is important. “We face challenges every day and we are more apt to take those challenges on with an aggressive mindset.” According to Villegas, the event showed there’s no single “silver bullet” solution to the trucking challenge, but rather a number of smaller steps that can help. “It’s really a combination of things, from insurance to training to driver behavior and more,” he says. The first step was to identify what challenges the industry faces; as Conrad puts it, rising insurance premiums are but a symptom of the larger problem. Nimmer adds, “We’ve recognized the problem and seen it coming for years. Now it’s become an epidemic, from the average age of truck drivers to the hurdles of getting a trucking fleet insured to being able to pay competitive wages to get the best of the best drivers.” Nimmer, who served as moderator of the fourth and final module, which focused on the theme of highway safety and law enforcement, points out that forest products is a $35.9 billion a year industry in Georgia, second only to agriculture as an economic driver. “You take a couple of big blows like Hurricane Michael wiping out large portions of our timber supply, and add to that the inability of trucking companies to stay in business and move product, and people will start investing elsewhere,” he warns. “We are at a pressure point now that is putting people out of business and reducing capacity,” Conrad expounds. “We are seeing a nationwide shortage of qualified log truck drivers. And we are seeing inefficiency in driving, which is exacerbating other problems, making trucks less profitable and causing some people to cut corners on maintenance.” In the short term, Conrad believes, the biggest key is to improve trucking efficiency. “We know that long term, turnaround times cost us millions of dollars across supply chains. Some companies do a great job but others wait on the deck for hours. Mills are the same way; some have good wood yards and others consistently struggle.” ➤ 32 30
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30 ➤ The percent of loaded miles continues to be in the 40% range according to the best estimates, Conrad says. In-wood scales have been demonstrated to help, both by preventing the safety hazard of overloads and also the profitability hazard of underloaded trailers. Scales, the professor says, save loggers enough to pay for themselves in under a year, but are in use by less than 25% of log trucks in Georgia and under 10% in South Carolina, according to the most recent surveys. Conrad also points to other available technology that is still not in wide use,
namely GPS tracking and dash cams, which are useful both for driver training and as a defense against litigation. “Research shows that in most tractor trailer and passenger vehicle accidents, the passenger vehicle is at fault,” he points out. “Dash cams can show that and avoid citations.” Though he lacks hard data to back it up, from his own observations Conrad believes these systems are adopted even less frequently than scales. Several speakers recommended hiring a full-time safety manager for those
companies large enough to warrant it, or a contract consultant for smaller companies, to manage compliance with regulations and run safety training programs. Improved communication with law enforcement was identified as another possible help. In Georgia, Conrad says, the Dept. of Public Safety will come inspect shops to let companies know what they are doing well or where they may be coming up short. Though a number of companies do take advantage of this option, DPS in Georgia says it has less interaction from the forest industry than any of the other industries it regulates. Finally, Conrad says, it’s important for the industry to keep trying to get legislation passed that will benefit the industry, such as increased weight limits. “We have the lowest weight limits among timber producing nations, especially in the Southeast and in Georgia,” Conrad notes. Passinault agrees. “One of the most exciting things I liked about the summit was the talk about raising the weight limits on the interstate system.” The max weight allowed in Georgia is 84,000 lbs. with the right tag, as opposed to 88,000 in some neighboring states. “We have the same equipment as in those other states with higher limits, so I don’t quite understand that.” Conrad adds, “It’s much higher than that in other parts of the country, though granted they are hauling with more axles and different truck configurations.” Still, Conrad cautions against simply waiting for laws to change. “I think waiting on policies to save us would be making a mistake. The opportunity we have now is to improve efficiency, train drivers, and improve the condition of the trucks we put on the road.” After the summit ended, most seemed to have a positive view of it. “I thought it went well and was well attended,” Schwab says. Nimmer adds, “I’ve talked to several people and I believe there were a lot of positives that came out of that day. It was not a conversation that has ended.” Coming up with ideas, Conrad stresses, is relatively easy; implementation is the critical part. “If we identify solutions and don’t implement them then we’ve made no progress,” he says. “But we were successful in identifying many possible solutions. I truly do believe people are starting to think differently. We hope it was helpful for attendees and hope to see some of these ideas implemented.” TP This article appeared in Timber Harvesting and Southern Loggin’ Times magazines, both affiliated with Timber Processing.
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GREEN ENDSCANNING AUTOLOG Ledwidge Lumber is a family-owned business since 1943 and is one of Nova Scotia’s largest lumber producers. Their primary product is 7-9 ft. SPF lumber in 2x3, 2x4, 2x6 and 2x8 dimensions. Since their second rebuild in 1988 after the mill burned to the ground, they have been going strong producing more than 55MMBF annually. Ledwidge Lumber was being challenged with obsolete and outdated technology and turned to Autolog as we were able to provide them with an upgrade to their trimmer optimizer, along with the controls, while using their existing 1 in. scanner heads. According to Ledwidge, Autolog has never failed to provide service or support to them, even with a system that was 20 years old. When asked how they would compare the new system versus the previous one, Mark Mcgrath, General Manager at Ledwidge Lumber Co. Ltd., explained that although they only did a partial upgrade, there is a large increase in grade Ledwidge Lumber’s Autolog trimmer optimizer quality accomplished from the upgrade, a better optimization was noticed from upgrade day one and that there is a much greater confidence in the system’s reliability. “As always, we have been proud to say that we use Autolog for our lumber optimization and feel the quality is top in the industry,” says Mcgrath. Customer experience is of the utmost importance to Autolog. Our clients’ needs come first. From the initial contact to our 24/7 after-sales service and support, we approach every project with a desire to understand our customer’s need and to deliver accordingly. Mcgrath at Ledwidge Lumber highly recommends Autolog and rated the overall quality of our service as a 10 out of 10, noting “the best feature of Autolog’s system is a tie with their service and optimization.”
JOESCAN JoeScan continues to deliver on their “made for sawmills” motto. Their newest JS-50 scanner, which has been turning heads at industry conferences, is now making its way into the testing process for a variety of optimizers and equipment manufacturers across North America. “Everyone is really excited about the speed, the smaller package size, and the binocular cameras’ ability to see steep wane and eliminate flight occlusion,” says JoeScan President Joey Nelson. “The single cable power-over-ethernet is also a big hit with sawmills wanting to simplify their scanning systems.” The Vancouver, Wash. based company has also announced the first JS-50 sale to Pollard Lumber of Appling, Ga. for an upgrade to their bucking system. “This is really special for us,” Nelson adds. “Our very first scanner was installed on a bucking system over 16 years ago, and it won our Longest Running JoeScan contest because it’s still delivering great results today.” A pair of JS-50 scanners being packaged Sawmills can expect the same reliability in this latest line of JoeScans to hit the marfor delivery. ket. But where the JS-50 really shines is in its performance and ease-of-use. It’s fast, with up to 4,000 scans per second, and data densities of 60 points per inch. The JS-50 also brings an entire suite of usability features, from a unique quick mount system to the single cable interface. With applications ranging from lineal log scanning to transverse trimmer sorters, the newest JoeScan model could be the one scanner for your entire mill. Nelson sums it up nicely: “We’re confident that this is the best sawmill scanner the wood products industry has seen yet.”
LIMAB The BoardProfiler 3D system measures the block and board from any direction to provide data for optimization, dimensional and geometrical defects and shapes for cutting or sorting. The advantage of the system is its high thickness accuracy. When defining a cut decision in an optimization or sort out of tolerance the most important factor is to find where the thickness defect is. A correct and accurate cutting decision based on the thickness will result in yield improvements. In early 2015 Setra Wood Products decided to upgrade its edger to obtain a higher yield. The edger line was equipped with an older measurement system. The choice was between building a new edger or to do an upgrade. “In terms of investment cost, the decision to upgrade was pretty easy,” says Hans Liljeström, Site Manager. “With the suppliers Limab, and technical machine solutions from Höga Kusten Teknikresurs we found a competitive and interesting solution.” In the summer of 2015 Limab got the order for the measurement system, and Höga Kusten Teknikresurs for control and mechanical solutions. The requirement was 97% yield, but the target was set to 98%. Simultaneously, the demand for the production rate was set to 25 pcs/minute, with a goal of 30 pcs/minute. The installation was made in autumn 2015. ➤ 36 34
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GREEN ENDSCANNING 34 ➤ “During the takeover a verification (Harp) test was made to verify that the yield requirements were met,” says Liljeström. “We found that the requirements were achieved and that the yield was actually higher than expected.” This also applies to capacity, which is now consistently around the target of 30 pcs/minute. In 2017 Limab finalized a similar transverse edger solution for Derome in southern Sweden with the same good Harp test result at 98-99%. In 2019 two completely new edger lines with new mechanics from Höga Kusten Teknikresurs are planned for commissioning before the end of this summer. The first one is a full 3D, 6000 mm board system for a line speed of 3035 boards/min in South America. The second one is for a high speed line of 60-65 boards/min. BoardProfiler 3D-LE/LR/LC software for edgers also handles rip saws up to six Limab BoardProfiler 3D-LE for edger optimization blades and cross-cut applications. The ProfiCura sensors are developed and manufactured by Limab and use the latest laser technology to measure accurately in high speed lines. The sensors are mounted on a specially adapted measuring frame with scanning from two sides.
NELSON BROS ENGINEERING Nelson Bros. Engineering (NBE) has been specializing in scanners and optimizers for almost 30 years with the goal of making systems that are simple and simply better. Simplicity and accuracy are most important. Whether using lineal scanners or transverse scanners, NBE aims to be the innovative group that people go to when they want to do a “first of a kind” system. Or when they just want to have an easy startup. At NBE, the focus is on equipment startup and NBE’s best startups have been the scanner/optimizer/controls upgrades. These have all been weekend startups, plus the mill can usually see the improvement in overall mill recovery during the first week. For new equipment, startups are more involved and thus entail more risk. NBE’s best startups result from a shop test or an offline startup; an experienced startup team; a simple system; avoiding words like “new” and “first” and questioning statements like “no problem”; hope for success, but plan for problems. NBE believes that simplicity and accuracy is most important. Therefore the single zone lineal scanner system is best, then the multizone lineal, and lastly the transverse scanning system with positioning table.
TELCO SENSORS The SpaceScan series from Telco Sensors is a high-power, self-contained, industrial light curtain system made for the sawmill and wood products industry. Generating a dense infrared multi-beam light grid, the system offers a sensing range of 10 meters with high excess gain and 100,000 lux light immunity. The series is available in a wide array of sensing heights, ranging from just 160 mm up to 2460 mm, making it suitable for almost any application. The light curtains are housed in sturdy aluminum profiles, which are fully sealed for a waterproof IP67 rating and are designed to withstand severe vibration, shock and misalignment. Available with discrete or analog output, the SpaceScan series offers 5 mm, 10 mm, 20 mm or 40 mm beam spacing for accurate detection of even the smallest items. The SS 01 provides a discrete, solid-state relay output for reliable presence detection. Automatic sensitivity adjustment continuously maintains the ideal gain level and compensates for buildup of dust and contamination. Cross-beam/parallel-beam mode and blanking function are wire-selectable and require no external controller or Telco SpaceScan light curtain system DIP switches. The SS 02 offers both analog and discrete outputs for sizing and sorting applications. Easy setup and configuration are via free PC software interface, which allows the user complete control over output type, gain level, and blanking function, as well as the ability to configure the system to ignore smaller objects like sawdust and flying wood chips. New functions for 2019 include analog function filtering, zone detection, and an alarm output tied to signal level. The SpaceScan SS 02 offers a robust solution for measuring applications at the debarker infeed, resaw lines, planer mill, or wherever log, cant or board size or detection is needed. ➤ 40
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GREEN ENDSCANNING TIMBER AUTOMATION Recover more value from every stem by integrating Timber Automation’s scanning and optimization solutions into our industryleading merchandising system. Full-fit modeling optimizes the entire stem in less than one second to accommodate close-coupled systems. Based on parameters set by the user, the optimizer makes near end trims to eliminate lily pads and flared ends as well as far end trims to take care of overlength segments or hooked ends. The software also identifies defects between segments and optimizes the solution, allowing the bucking system to remove these with minimal waste. Timber Automation’s LogPro stem scanning and optimization Fully programmable parameters through an intuitive user interface allow you to quickly and easily make changes based on your needs. The optimizer’s solution history shows every combination that was considered along with side-by-side comparisons, so you know exactly why the optimizer chose the solution it did. Robust hardware is another key benefit of the system. The scanner heads are self-contained and low maintenance. Our fiveyear warranty is the best in the industry, giving you peace of mind should an issue arise. Simplified system integration will get you up and running faster. The scanner heads and PLC all connect through an ethernet switch, leaving a clean cabinet and no extra cards or wiring. LogPro has been the leader in innovation of high-speed merchandising systems for more than two decades. More sawmills continue to choose our log bucking system than any other. Call us today to discuss how you can increase both recovery and throughput.
USNR For more than 40 years USNR has been a leader in scanning, optimization, and process controls technologies. Today we have hundreds of systems operating on nearly every continent. Our technology is focused on value, recovery, throughput and reliability to help you effectively compete in a global marketplace. From bucking through log breakdown, our 3D scanning, modeling, and optimization capabilities incorporate algorithms from downstream processes to ensure you capture the maximum value from every piece. ● USNR’s Log Optimizer is used on more types of machinery than any other system because it provides more value than any other system. With LASAR2 or BioLuma sensors, any type of log breakdown system can be optimized. ● The Precision Geometric Log Rotation (PGLR) system is located at the log turner to monitor and correct the log rotation process in real time. The system is proven to significantly improve cutting accuracy and increase uplift and recovery by reducing rotation errors. The actual log rotation path is compared with the optimizer’s projected rotation path, to generate rotation corrections. These rotation corrections are transmitted to the PLC to correct log rotation on-the-fly as it continues through the log turner. ● Now you can edge and trim for grade and value, without replacing your current scanning system. Today’s demands for increased recovery, faster throughput, lower cost, and higher grade require more than geometric-based decisions. BioVision combines color vision technology with high-density geometric scanning to deliver the highUSNR scanning and optimization est-value optimized decisions for grade and recovery, based on detection of natural and geometric defects, and configurable grade allowances per product. With more than 100 grade scanning systems sold globally, BioVision is proven to maximize value for higher grade boards and volume for lower grade flitches. Implementing grade optimization at the earliest point in the process dramatically improves your ability to recover the greatest value from your lumber. BioVision can be applied with a bolt-on upgrade to an existing MillExpert transverse scanner, or as a new installation.
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MACHINERYROW GP Plans Upgrade At Rome Sawmill Georgia-Pacific, which recently started up a new SYP mill in Talladega, Ala., and is building two other ones in Warrenton and Albany, Ga., is also upgrading is mill in Rome, Ga. with a $30 million investment. The dimension lumber facility, which currently employs 163, will install a new planer, grader and trimmer, and a new 65 bay sorter, up from the current 26 bays. BID Group will serve as the turnkey supplier. “A capital investment such as this means Georgia-Pacific believes in this site and is committed to it for the long haul,” says Plant Manager Ken McDonald. “Our employees, our customers and the community will benefit from these improvements.” The company says preparations for new structures and equipment is beginning now, with concrete work to be under way by June. Equipment installation will begin the following month and is anticipated to be completed by Thanksgiving.
The facility will then shut down briefly to test the equipment with plans to reopen in early December.
Kalesnikoff Will Build CLT Operation Kalesnikoff Lumber Co. plans to build a multi-species mass timber manufacturing facility in South Slocan, BC. The $35 million investment will encompass construction of a 110,000 sq. ft. building, and the purchase of processing equipment and technology from Denmark-based Kallesoe Machinery and Canadian-based Conception RP. “We see mass timber as a natural and exciting innovation and next step for our company and team,” says Chris Kalesnikoff, Chief Operating Officer of Kalesnikoff Lumber. “We’ve done extensive research to ensure our new worldclass equipment will create exceptionally high-quality cross-laminated timber and glulam beams.” The facility is scheduled to open in late 2019 with a full product line by the summer of 2020, creating 50 jobs.
Collums Will Upgrade Trimmer Scanning Collums Lumber of Allendale, SC is investing in USNR’s BioVision technology at its sawmill trimmer to improve the efficiency and cost effectiveness of its process. The mill is replacing its existing laser profile scanning system with the BioLuma 2900LVG visual scanning system, to drop out boards and trim ends containing excessive knots and holes ahead of the drying and planing processes. This will reduce overall production costs and improve the quality and value of its output. The line will update its software to USNR’s latest BioVision trimmer logic.
Coming In May
PLANER MILL BONANZA
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MACHINERYROW
‘TROUBLE FREE’ MUSIC TO THEIR EARS Plaster Rock Lumber solves a log handling problem.
E
power and traction. Fawcett arle Fawcett knew that he says that this strength will be had squeezed everything put to use, too. Wood stacks in he could out of his aged the mill yard have capacity for knuckleboom loaders. It was just a day and a half of protime to move on. “When duction, while a reserve yard a you’ve made mill upgrades and mile up the road can store anyou’re putting money into your other 170,000 m3. However, operation, but you’re trying to the mill yard is about to exfeed it with some old equippand into an adjacent property, ment that’s almost impossible and a new high capacity log to find parts for anymore, you trailer is on-site to begin ferryhave to say, ‘look, we can’t just ing wood to the feed deck. keep running that way!’” Hauling fully loaded log Fawcett wears a few hats at trailers is a challenge in most the Plaster Rock Lumber Mill yards. As Fawcett says, “deoperated by Twin Rivers pending on the time of year, Paper Co. near Edmundston, this yard is a dust bowl or a New Brunswick. His duties Plaster Rock’s new Sennebogen log handler: high-cab, long-reach mud pit.” The trailer-pulling include Steam Plant Chief, capability of the 830, though, Mobile Equipment Manager and Environmental Coordinator. The distributors maintain extensive service in- will allow an increase in ready stock for the sawmill. issue of sourcing parts to keep his loadventories in all their branches, while the Running double shifts five days a week er fleet running is ingrained in everycentral warehouse at Sennebogen headalso presents challenges for the two techthing he does. quarters in Stanley, NC is well stocked nicians responsible for Plaster Rock’s moHe explains that the mill had a purpose- with every component for any green mabile equipment. Along with their various built material handler in the yard, too, for chine in the field. log loaders, the fleet also includes three a few years, but found that timely access recently acquired front-end loaders. to service parts was a problem with that OPERATION As Strongco customers, Fawcett and machine, too. Fawcett reports that his new Sennebo- his technicians were invited to attend Fawcett brought up the need for new the Sennebogen Training Center in log-loading equipment with Strongco, the gen 830 M-T log handler more than meets his production targets for his upStanley. The training facility provides local Sennebogen dealer. Strongco intrograded mill. Plaster Rock is a softwood classroom and hands-on technical induced Fawcett to some of the maintelumber mill producing 145MMBF of SFI struction, without charge, at primary nance crews servicing Sennebogen macertified dimension lumber and studs an- and advanced levels. chines in nearby yards. Fawcett appreciates the simplicity of “We visited two mills in the Bathurst nually. Byproduct softwood chips and biomass are passed along to Twin Sennebogen engineering as another timearea,” Fawcett recalls. “I watched the Sennebogens work and the maintenance Rivers’ pulp and cogeneration operations saver. In his experience, troubleshooting in Edmundston. other equipment means waiting for a facpeople told me they were trouble-free Handling the volume of 9 ft. stud tory tech to come with a computer. Senmachines and that the parts were easy wood was a new line of production for nebogen has simplified its machines with to source. We were on our way to a the mill, and this was a key driver for up- hydraulic controls that don’t require comthird yard when I decided I’d seen grading the loading equipment. Fawcett plex electronics, so an experienced equipenough—‘let’s go back and sign up the says the 830 M-T easily replaces the ment tech can troubleshoot problems paperwork.’” without the wait and without the expense Sennebogen has made access to parts a older material handler, and looks to boosting throughput further when a new of travel time. If factory support is needstrategic aspect of its engineering. ed, Strongco’s nearest technician is just a Known for the expertise in hydraulic sys- 9910 Rotobec grapple arrives. “The operators are very happy with the 830,” he half-hour away. tems for crane and material handlers, the laughs. “It’s like they stepped off a diThrough its first four months in Plasengineering team is tasked to minimize nosaur and into a Cadillac.” ter Rock, the Senneobgen log loader has the number of proprietary parts in their The M-T model of the 830 is specially given little need for Fawcett to make design. They specify standard off-thedesigned for log yards. A standard 830 those calls. As reported by the mainteshelf parts wherever possible. This way upper chassis is mounted on an undercar- nance teams Fawcett first met in customers can find what they need when Bathurst, the 830 M-T has performed doing routine hydraulic and electrical ser- riage that has been designed for heavy TP pulling stresses, with separate transmis“trouble-free.” vice from any nearby industrial supply sions on each axle for added pulling Article and photo provided by Sennebogen. house. Sennebogen also ensures that its 42
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MACHINERYROW
GP’s New Konecrane Keeps Trucks Moving
Georgia-Pacific has just completed a multi-million dollar investment in its lumber operations in Diboll, Texas. After six months of construction, the new Konecrane is in full operation high above the Diboll skyline. Stretching 80 ft. in width, 927 ft. in length, and 87 ft. in total height, the crane is living up to its expectations and making the process of unloading log trucks more efficient and safer. “It’s amazing how fast we can unload trucks with this new crane,” says Rudy Salazar, a 20-year crane operator and one of the four crane operators at Diboll Lumber. “This is the first step in the wood manufacturing process; therefore the speed and efficiency of the crane is critical and ultimately affects the mill’s overall production.” The new Konecrane unloads trucks in one bite, compared to the previous crane that had to make two passes. According to Salazar, the new crane benefits log truck drivers who can deliver their loads quickly.
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New Konecrane at Diboll takes a big bite.
Konecrane improved turnaround time.
“The task of unloading the trucks is so efficient now that drivers don’t have long wait times. Instead I’m waiting on them. For log truck drivers, time is money. As soon as I can get a truck unloaded they are able to get back to the woods and secure another load of logs.” Ricky Cain with Ricky Cain Logging LLC is one of the loggers who is noticing the positive impact the new crane is having on his operations. “The new crane definitely helps the turn times because of its speed and one bite capabilities,” Cain says. “My drivers in the past would always talk about the long wait time at Diboll, but now they are coming and going.” Cain points out that the real difference
will be felt during the summer months at the height of logging operations. Originally used as a military shipyard crane, and relocated to Diboll in the 1960’s, the previous crane unloaded about 50 trucks a day. With innovative upgrades and increased efficiency, the crane ultimately served approximately 130 trucks daily until construction began on the new crane in March 2018. As anticipated the new Konecrane is surpassing earlier productivity standards and is unloading up to 165 trucks each day. The Konecrane also boasts numerous operational improvements including automatic scales that show the operator the exact weight of a load of logs and securi-
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MACHINERYROW ty features that prohibit operators from picking up logs beyond the maximum tonnage allowed; cameras that allow the operator to have a 360 degree view of the truck that is being unloaded; increased log storage capacity; lightening protection; and LED lighting for complete visibility. There are also maintenance platforms that are easily accessible, and operators benefit from a heated and cooled cabin. “This is a significant investment in the East Texas timber industry,” says Danny Wright, Georgia-Pacific Diboll Lumber plant manager. “As one of Georgia-Pacific’s largest lumber operations, we are constantly looking for ways to enhance and grow operations in East Texas while focusing on safety and environmental excellence.”
Tenon’s Edger Line Goes For Specialty Tenon at Taupo, New Zealand sourced a new edger line with advanced technology to provide visual grading capability for its high-value shop and molding products.
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Tenon describes the operation as the country’s largest single site producer of defect-free, appearance grade radiata pine products. The output includes lumber, solid lineal moldings and clear pine boards, with the majority exported to the U.S., Europe, Asia and Australia. USNR was tasked with developing the shop optimization (cuttings algorithms) for some of the products to comply with NZS 3631 grading standards. The cuttings analysis requires substantial computing power to analyze the cuttings placement and board combinations, thus three computers work simultaneously on each piece to ensure the optimum solution to maximize value. This edger line, with its BioVision grading capability, dovetails nicely with the company’s goal to expand and grow its output and its market, and to maintain its standards for the utmost in quality products. “We’re getting an increase in log to lumber recovery, more than we initially expected,” comments Darryl Robinson, Sawmill Operations Manager at Tenon. “The system allows us to do a lot more ra-
tionalizing of products to improve efficiencies in our secondary processing. We can cut up to about 100 mm (4 in.) thick, and every shift has a different cut ranging from 5⁄4, 25 mm, 50 mm, 65 mm, 77 mm, etc. It varies all the time.” Since the completion of this project, Tenon has installed a grade trimmer optimizer to work in conjunction with the edger line.
Welch Equipment Joins Taylor Machine Taylor Machine Works, Inc. announced the addition of Welch Equipment Co., Inc. as a new authorized Taylor dealer. At the helm of this company is the Rice family who are backed by an energized and aggressive sales and marketing team that is dedicated to service and support for large equipment. Located in Denver, Col., Welch Equipment will serve Taylor customers for the state of Colorado, along with the counties of Daggett, Uintah, Duchesne and Carbon in northeast Utah. Call Welch at 303-393-8181.
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ATLARGE
Katerra Introduces Suite of New Products Katerra, a technology company that claims to be redefining the construction industry, has unveiled a suite of new products designed to create efficiency and reduce cost at each phase of the design and building process. Katerra states it is using technology to impact every aspect of the $1.3 trillion
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U.S. building construction process, from materials to energy systems to software that manages the entire process. While most buildings are currently designed, planned and constructed as one-off projects, they all have many standardized materials, labor skills, design components, and processes in common. This is where Katerra sees efficiencies and is applying technology to provide a competitive advantage.
“Progress won’t come with incremental measures—we are pursuing transformational change on a massive scale. Using the disciplines, processes and hindsight of the extraordinary gains of the last several decades in electronics manufacturing, Katerra is putting modern technology to work at all levels of the construction industry,” says Katerra Chairman and CoFounder Michael Marks. Katerra’s suite of new products includes: Building Platforms—Katerra Building Platforms are designed for manufacturing and assembly. Integrated teams standardize core building architectural and engineering systems, such as wall and floor panels, casework, and bathroom and kitchen kits, and customize the final product with a wide range of configurable design elements. This approach offers the speed and risk assurance advantages of a repeatable product, while maintaining the design freedom needed to support customers’ unique needs, geographic demands, and market variations. Advantages of Katerra’s Building Platforms include compliance with 48-states’ building and energy codes, a complete bill of materials, and an efficient process that enables a faster path to early estimates, feasibility, permitting, dry-in, and more. Apollo—This is Katerra’s software vision. Apollo is an operating platform with applications delivering persistent data so teams can better execute timely decisions as well as increasingly automate tasks. This software provides a source of persistent data with zero loss from program inception, across design, construction, and the duration of the building’s life. Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT)— CLT is a flat-panel engineered wood product that can serve as a system-based approach for floors, walls and roofs to form a high-performance, sustainable and beautiful mass timber building of virtually any type. In Q2 2019, Katerra will begin operation of a new 250,000 sq. ft. CLT manufacturing facility in Spokane, Wash., the largest capacity CLT factory in the U.S. The success and dramatic sustained growth of mass timber throughout Europe over the last 20 years reinforces and amplifies Katerra’s significant commitment to mass timber in North America. Katerra Energy System (KES)—KES is an integrated energy platform that will replace the typical electrical closets in multi-family garden-style apartment buildings, hotels, and other building types with a single-enclosure appliance. KES
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ATLARGE at its new manufacturing facility in Tracy, Calif. Furthermore, Katerra is partnering with Kinestral Technologies to integrate its Halio smart-tinting glass, which can tint and clear in less than three minutes. With world-class manufacturing capabilities and an optimized end-to-end process, Katerra Windows can be delivered from the factory to the job site in just one week. Bath Kit—Katerra has reimagined bathroom assembly by developing the Bath Kit product – designed to be assembled in less than a day by only two people. With this higher level of organization and streamlined, standard installation methods, Katerra can eliminate waste via misplaced or damaged product and reduce the amount of necessary labor. KOVA—KOVA is launching with a line of high-quality interior fixtures and finishes, available to the entire AEC industry. KOVA includes every product needed to create beautiful interior spaces, more easily and cost-effectively. KOVA’s portfolio will continue to expand over time – adding additional finish
categories and more. Many of these products are being showcased at Katerra’s K90 project just outside of Las Vegas. The 24-unit garden apartment is designed to be completed in 90 days—30-50 days less than the average project of this size.
QC Workshop Dates Announced For Atlanta The 38th Annual Lumber Quality & Process Control Workshop will be held May 20-21, 2019 in Atlanta, Ga., immediately followed by the 33rd Annual Lumber Quality Leadership Workshop May 22-23. The Annual Lumber Quality & Process Control Workshop is a must for sawmills seeking to maximize board foot and grade recovery. With newly added material, it provides practical information and up-todate techniques that will help sawmill personnel to: —ensure that production and quality control is in balance so that both quality ➤ 53 and production increase;
timberprocessing.com
includes power metering, distribution, and easy alternative energy integration. With a system built on artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data processors, KES determines the best sources to draw from, automatically shifting between power sources to find the most efficient, lowcost options. KTAC—Katerra has developed a new vision for the traditional HVAC product. With an innovative configuration of the equipment, Katerra has reduced the footprint and improved the aesthetic design, while maintaining ease of installation. KTAC elegantly integrates into the architecture, eliminating its presence as an addon product. Still a unit with cooling and heating in one compact package, KTAC fits seamlessly in the wall – with a height and depth designed specifically to fit into a framed wall panel. Windows—Katerra Windows are designed with one goal in mind: to offer premium performance at an exceptional value. Beginning Q3 2019, Katerra will produce windows that offer the latest in advanced glass and window technologies
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WOOD PRODUCTS marketplace NORTH AMERICA
■ Minnesota
■ Ohio
■ United States
Shoreline Machine Products
19301 St. Clair Ave. Cleveland, OH 44117 800-875-7637 • Fax: 800-875-6866 www.shorelineproducts.com
■ Georgia Beasley Forest Products, Inc.
Manufacturer of Quality, American Made Crane Mat Bolts
P.O. Box 788 Hazlehurst, GA 31539
Stock bolts – 7/8"-9, 1"-8, 1/4"-7 x 47 1/2
beasleyforestproducts.com
Custom Lengths upon request
Manufactures Kiln-Dried 4/4 Red and White Oak, Poplar, Ash and Cypress Contact: Linwood Truitt Phone (912) 253-9000 / Fax: (912) 375-9541 linwood.truitt@beasleyforestproducts.com
Pallet components, X-ties, Timbers and Crane Mats Contact: Ray Turner Phone (912) 253-9001 / Fax: (912) 375-9541 ray.turner@beasleyforestproducts.com
Larry Arth–Sales Contact us for a free quote today! 50 Years In Business
■ North Carolina Cook Brothers Lumber Co., Inc.
■ Tennessee
STACKING STICKS Manufacturer of Appalachian Hardwood Lumber LEONARD COOK, Sales (828) 524-4857 • cell: (828) 342-0997 residential: (828) 369-7740 P.O. Box 699 • Frankin, NC 28744 NATIONAL HARDWOOD LUMBER ASSOCIATION
Next closing: July 5, 2019
■ Kentucky HAROLD WHITE LUMBER, INC. MANUFACTURER OF FINE APPALACHIAN HARDWOODS
(606) 784-7573 • Fax: (606) 784-2624 www.haroldwhitelumber.com Buyers & Wholesalers
Ray White
Domestic & Export Sales rwhite@haroldwhitelumber.com Cell: (606) 462-0318
Green & Kiln Dried, On-Site Export Prep & Loading Complete millworks facility, molding, milling & fingerjoint line
We produce quality 4/4 - 8/4 Appalachian hardwoods • Red Oak, White Oak, Poplar •
Green Lumber: Air Dried, Kiln Dried Timbers & Crossties
• Hickory, Sycamore, Beech, Gum & Elm • Custom Cut Timbers: Long lengths and wide widths
Sales/Service: 336-746-5419
336-746-6177 (Fax) • www.kepleyfrank.com
FOR SALE
AIR-O-FLOW profiled & FLAT sticks available Imported & Domestic DHM Company - Troy, TN 38260 731-538-2722 Fax: 707-982-7689 email: kelvin@kilnsticks.com www.KILNSTICKS.com
WANT TO GET YOUR AD IN OUR NEXT MARKETPLACE? Call or email Melissa McKenzie 334-834-1170 melissa@hattonbrown.com
02/19
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Call Toll-Free: 1-800-669-5613
PROFESSIONALSERVICES WORN OR MISALIGNED CARRIAGE RAILS? A Proven Process
Contact Us Cell: 541.760.7173 Office: 770.364.0917 www.acculine-rails.com chris@acculine-rails.com
• Rails straightened & ground in-place at a fraction of the cost of rail replacement • No down time for the mill • Restores carriage rails to optimum sawing efficiency •Precision Laser Alignment • Machining and Grinding • Carriage and Bandmill Alignment 489
LUMBERWORKS Importers and Distributors of Tropical Hardwood Kiln Sticks GW Industries www.gwi.us.com
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“The lowest cost per cycle”
Dennis Krueger 866-771-5040
Jackie Paolo 866-504-9095
greenwoodimportsllc@gmail.com
jackie@gwi.us.com
CYCLONES NEW BUILD OR REPLACEMENT
Send dimensioned sketch for quick price quote
TREECO, Inc.
334-283-8381 Tallassee, AL 36078
13502
GREENWOOD KILN STICKS
hwcopelandjr@bellsouth.net
Visit us online: www.timberprocessing.com
High volume dimension mill major asset disposal sale, 240mm annual production capacity ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆ ◆
Nicholson A7 5-arm 27” ring debarker (8) USNR optimized shifting chop saws USNR Double Length with slew, skew and tilt, 4 sided canter and 6’ L&B quad band mills. Porter scanning and recent control Logix processer upgrade Salem 5’ Twin resaw Schurman model 2TA30SBE, 2"x30" reman edger w/Andritz heads and USNR feed table Schurman 4/6 SBA gang edger line bar infeed USNR 20’ right hand optimized trimmer with SEC paddle fence Hi Tech 42 bin drag chain sorter broken down for shipment, 7 tray sorter MOCO engineering right hand electric sticker stacker installed in 2014 Planer mill Newnes continuous break down hoist Yates A-100 20 knife planer. Miller electric drive conversion with new feed table and bridge installed 11-2018. AB 755 Vfds and control Logix control system USNR revolver lug loader, Wagner Moisture meter 2014 USNR Transverse High Grade Scanner with True Read grade mark reader, Multi Track fence and (2) Z-Tec ink jet grade stamp systems 2014 Ecoustic Lumber Stress grader 2014 45 bin pusher lug sorter with Win Talley
E-mail inquiries to jeff.remington@swansongroup.biz Call 541-832-1121 leave message with reception
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Call Toll-Free: 1-800-669-5613
EMPLOYMENTOPPORTUNITIES Unitemp Dry Kilns, an established dry kiln manufacturer is looking for experienced manufacturers' representatives with complimentary product lines to market and sell dry kilns and energy systems on an exclusive basis to timber processing and lumber companies in the following regions—Pacific Northwest (WA/OR/ID/MT/CA), Upper Midwest (MN/WI/Upper Michigan), and Midwest (lower MI/OH/IN).
Top Wood Jobs
SEARCH NORTH AMERICA, INC. IT'S YOUR MOVE...
FOREST PRODUCTS RECRUITING SINCE 1978
The Jobs You Want — The People You Need
Recruiting and Staffing George Meek
1615
Manufacturers’ Reps Wanted
geo@TopWoodJobs.com www.TopWoodJobs.com (360) 263-3371
WWW.SEARCHNA.COM
CONTACT CARL JANSEN AT 541-593-2777 OR Carlj@SearchNA.com
3779
Please contact Kevin Nesbitt
National Sales Manager kevin@unitempdrykilns.net 870-777-2375 13582
ATLARGE 50 ➤ —recognize and eliminate costly mistakes that rob a company of its maximum profitability; —fine-tune or improve an existing quality and process control program to increase its effectiveness; —reduce moisture content variability and drying defects in the lumber drying process; —maintain an effective lumber size control program; —learn about real-time lumber size control in use in mills today; —learn how changes in kerf, target size, price, wane allowance, etc., interact to influence profitability; —get ideas from other attendees and
industry speakers on how they have achieved positive results from quality and process control. This workshop is designed for first line supervisors, graders, and Q.C. personnel. The Annual Lumber Quality Leadership Workshop focuses on leadership in quality control and management. Attendees will have the opportunity to go beyond the basics and focus on concepts and ideas that will propel your QC programs to the next level. There are several key activities that must be accomplished for a lumber QC program to be successful: managing the quality function, statistical process control, involving employees in problem
solving, using effective leadership skills, and finding long-term solutions to problems. Attendees will have an opportunity to work with these topics and others in a small group environment. This program is designed for managers, superintendents, QC personnel, and first-line supervisors. Both workshops will provide excellent ideas for gaining hundreds of thousands of dollars in profits for sawmills of any size. Contact the Lumber Quality Institute, 1309 35th Ave. NW, Salem, OR 97304; 541-752-2751; email: assistance@lumberquality.com; visit lumberquality.com. TIMBER PROCESSING
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MAINEVENTS APRIL 2-4—Kentucky Forest Industries Assn. annual meeting, Embassy Suites, Lexington, Ky. Call 502-695-3979; visit kfia.org.
26-28—Georgia Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Westin Jekyll Island, Jekyll Island, Ga. Call 912-635-6400; visit gfagrow.org.
AUGUST
3-5—International Wood Products Assn. annual meeting, Loews Ventana Canyon, Tucson, Ariz. Call 703-820-6696; visit iwpawood.org.
20-22—Florida Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort, Sandestin, Fla. Call 850-222-5646; visit floridaforest.org.
23-25—American Forest Resource Council annual meeting, Skamania Lodge, Stevenson, Wash. Call 503-222-9505; visit amforest.org.
SEPTEMBER
30-May 3—Virginia Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Sheraton Norfolk Waterside, Norfolk, Va. Call 804-278-8733; visit vaforestry.org.
MAY 5-7—American Wood Protection Assn. annual meeting, Loews Royal Pacific Resort, Orlando, Fla. Call 205-733-4077; visit awpa.com. 17-18—Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Expo, Cross Insurance Center, Bangor, Maine. Call 315-369-3078; visit northernlogger.com. 20-21—38th Annual Lumber Quality & Process Control Workshop, Hilton Atlanta Perimeter Suites, Atlanta, Ga. Call 541752-2751; visit lumberquality.com. 22-23—33rd Annual Lumber Quality Leadership Workshop, Hilton Atlanta Perimeter Suites, Atlanta, Ga. Call 541-7522751; visit lumberquality.com. 27-31—Ligna: World Fair For The Forestry And Wood Industries, Hannover, Germany. Call +49 511 89-0; fax +49 511 8932626; visit ligna.de.
JUNE 22-25—Assn. of Consulting Foresters of America annual conference, French Lick Resort, French Lick, Ind. Call 703-548-0990; visit acf-foresters.org. 26-28—Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Expo, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga. Call 504-443-4464; visit sfpaexpo.com.
JULY 10-13—West Virginia Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Canaan Resort Conf. Center, Davis, W.Va. Call 681-265-5019; visit wvfa.org. 17-20—AWFS Fair 2019, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, NV. Visit awfsfair.org. 17-20—2019 Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Assn. Annual Conference, Boca Raton Resort & Club, Boca Raton, Fla. Call 770-631-6701; visit slma.org. 54
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APRIL 2019
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8-10—Alabama Forestry Assn. annual meeting, Perdido Beach Resort, Orange Beach, Ala. Call 334-265-8733; visit alaforestry.org. 13-14—Western Saw Filer’s Educational Association Annual Conference and Banquet, Monarch Hotel and Conference Center, Clackamas, Ore. Call 360-880-2177; email westernsawfilers@yahoo.com.
Listings are submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with contacts prior to making plans to attend.
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This issue of Timber Processing is brought to you in part by the following companies, which will gladly supply additional information about their products. ADVERTISER Andritz Iggesund Tools Autolog Calibre Equipment Carbotech International Chaco Cone Omega Corley Manufacturing Expo 2019 G F Smith Holtec USA JoeScan John King Chains Johnson & Pace Limab Linck Linden Fabricating Lucidyne Technologies Mebor Metal Detectors Mid-South Engineering Muhlbock Holztrocknungsanlagen Nelson Bros Engineering Oleson Saw Technology Pantron Automation Pipers Saw Shop Samuel Packaging Systems Group Sering Sawmill Machinery Sharp Tool Signode Packaging Systems Simonds-Burton-BGR Saws-CutTech Smith Sawmill Services Springer Maschinenfabrik GmbH Telco Sensors Timber Automation USNR Wood-Mizer Woodtech Measurement Solutions
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