MACHINERY ROW

Smith Sawmill Service Expands Operations

Left to right, Frank Curran, Michael Smith, Dustin Norris

Smith Sawmill Service, based in Timpson, Texas, announced the acquisition of Precision Saw Works, Inc. located in Polkton, NC. Founded in 1986 by Frank Curran, Precision has specialized in the repair and manufacturing of band and circle saws, and is known for exemplary service during the past 35 years.

This addition will enhance Smith Sawmill Service’s footprint on the East Coast, and will allow the company to better serve current and new customers in that region and beyond.

Smith Sawmill Service will use Precision Saw Works’ existing facility, including retention of current management and employees, to provide services for repairing and sharpening, as well as the manufacture of circle saws, band saws, and custom sawmill parts. Frank Curran, and his son, Travis, will continue to act as managers and help lead this location.

The goal is to achieve a seamless integration of both companies over the next several weeks, with no service interruption, and during that time “our customers will continue to receive the same high quality products and service that they have come to expect,” states Paul Smith, President of Smith Sawmill Service.

Paul & Debra Smith laid the foundation for this family owned company in 1990, which has been providing quality products and exemplary customer service for more than 30 years. Smith Sawmill Service is an innovator of sawmill technology, with multiple industry-related patents, always striving to increase efficiency and productivity of the wood production industry.

With the help of their son Michael Smith and General Manager Dustin Norris, the company has continued to grow and build upon the legacy of Paul and Debra Smith. The addition of an East Coast location was a natural next-step in the evolution of this company, and under the stewardship of Michael and Dustin, Smith Sawmill Service will continue to remain cutting-edge, “never forgetting the past, but with an eye always on the future.”

Precision Saw Works, Inc. will be named Smith Sawmill Service—North Carolina, and is now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Smith Sawmill Service.

IFG Mill Updating Log Turning System

Idaho Forest Group in Athol, ID is updating its log turn technology to USNR’s Precision Geometric Log Rotation (PGLR) system. The existing log turn measuring system is USNR’s predecessor to the PGLR. While it has improved the recovery it’s now time to move to the latest technology with an advanced scanning and optimization platform.

PGLR is a real-time rotation verification and correction system that significantly improves cutting accuracy and increases uplift and recovery. PGLR uses the log rotation solution and a lineal scan zone placed upstream or downstream of the turning rolls to actively monitor and correct the precise degree of turn during and after actuation.

PGLR utilizes USNR’s BioLuma 3900L sensor that delivers the highest speed UHD laser profiling for the most demanding lineal applications, perfect for bucking, log lines, shape sawing gangs and lineal edgers.

The new PGLR system is scheduled to be installed in the third quarter.

Nix Will Install Automated Grader

Nix Forest Products at Timpson, Texas is updating its planer mill with advanced technology from USNR. The mill has been relying on manual grading and is looking to improve grade recovery from its products. It is also investing to increase the efficiency of its process.

The order features USNR’s Transverse High Grader (THG) automated grading system with Deep Learning technology. This technology increases the speed and accuracy of THG’s defect detection; significantly reduces the time required for startup and commissioning of the autograding systems; and enables accurate identification of defects unique to a species, region or grade that would otherwise be difficult and time-consuming to identify using conventional methods.

In addition to the THG, the order includes a standard tilt hoist, Revolver lug loader and Multi-Track positioning fence.

Full Tilt Timber Finds Quick Answer

Walt and Nate Schuele are very satisfied with their Serra SL 130i, which was immediately ready for action after a demonstration in Nashville.

Nate Schuele, 22 years old and a fourth generation sawyer, has a new best friend: the SL130i Serra mobile sawmill. The previous one (of another brand) had to be replaced due to a motor damage.

Schuele got his first impression of Serra and the sawmills by YouTube videos. He found the videos hugely impressive and especially liked the receivers for offloading sawn lumber. For the decision he explains: “We were looking at multiple alternatives but the Serra seemed to have so many good features: larger band, thinner kerf, receivers for sawn lumber, better band wheel technology, etc.” The availability of the Serra demo machine in Nash ville convinced them, too, because it was already stateside and built.

Nate and Walt Schuele, the two owners of Full Tilt Timber Framing in Clancy, Mont., produce dimensional lumber and timbers for timber frames (around 150-200MBF annually). The Serra mill has fit into their process perfectly.

Nate Schuele comments on the mobile sawmill: “The independent loading arms are a huge improvement. The computer is actually worth using. The power toe board for moving cants back and forth, the increased number of bed rails, the band wheels that are light years ahead of anything other portable manufactures are using, the toe boards with dogs for pull -

ing cants into the bed for the mill. The dogs have a steep learning curve but once we learned how to use them, they are also much better than anything we’ve had. The operators station is also a huge improvement to walking with the head or the exposed remote operating stations we had before.”

The switch to the new machine was easy for him. Nate learned the computer and calibrating the joystick. He had no major changes, just re-learning the setup. The employees get along with the machine very well, too, and also the clients are impressed.

Nate is also happy with the Serra customer service and says: “The best customer service I’ve ever received. We are very satisfied and we want to tour the factory and thank everyone.”

Lecours Focuses On Trimmer Line

Close on the heels of investing to increase sorting capacity in its sawmill, Lecours Lumber in Calstock, Ont. is making further investments in its trimmer line. This latest order will advance the mill’s focus on high speed processing.

The order begins with a radius back unscrambler fitted with speed-up chains to smooth the flow at the top of the unscrambler, ElectraTong lug loader with MillTrak lumber flow control, Multi-Track fence, Dual Articulating Smart Gate, Bio Luma 2900L sensors mounted in the existing scan frame, updated USNR optimization platform with the latest version release, USNR’s WinTally sorter management system, and a completely updated trim line PLC controls package. The existing lineshaft trimmer will be updated with eccentric spacers, new saw ladders and a new lineshaft designed for higher speed performance.

Hasslacher Purchases Valutec TC Kilns

Hasslacher Group, a leading producer of glulam and cross-laminated timber, is investing in TC (cross circulation) continuous kilns from Valutec. Hasslacher becomes the first in Austria to own the Valutec TC kiln.

“We want to increase the drying capacity at our sawmills in Preding and Sachsenburg and saw that TC kilns were right for us. They offer a combination of high capacity and flexibility, without compromising on quality,” says Michael Fercher, CTO at Hasslacher Group, which has seven sawmills in three countries.

Five years ago Hasslacher Group became the first company in Austria to use Valutec’s OTC (optimized two stage) continuous kiln technology, when they invested in two OTC continuous kilns for their sawmill in Sachsenburg. The following year yet another order for the same type of continuous kiln for their sawmill followed.

“We are attracted by Valutec’s continuous kiln technology. It is superior from a capacity perspective. Adding to that, it delivers high quality and requires less material handling than traditional batch kilns, at the same time as its continuous operation is gentler on the boiler,” Fercher adds.

During the past year, the new generation TC kilns from Valutec have been sold to sawmills around the world and

the company has reached new markets.

The TC continuous kilns for delivery to Hasslacher Group have eight drying zones and will solely be used to dry siding boards. Maximum annual capacity is approximately 75,000 m3 (31.8MMBF) per kiln. The kilns are built from stainless steel and are equipped with pressure frames for minimal deformation of the uppermost layer of lumber, heat recovery system and the Valmatics 4.0 control system.

The new kilns and the control system upgrades are planned to begin in the fall.

Smart Mill Names Regional Director

Smart Mill has named Mike Morris as the new Regional Director for the U.S. market. Morris will be responsible for supporting Smart Mill’s business partners for all sales & services and contribute to product development.

Morris counts more than 25 years of experience in the lumber industry where he has served as a field director and in product sales and technical services.

Morris will be based in the Texas office and can be reached at 1-903-2770877 or mike.morris@smartmill.ca

WMF Shanghai Stays On Schedule

WMF will stay the course September 3-6.

Despite the worldwide pandemic and travel restrictions, Shanghai International Furniture Machinery & Woodworking Machinery Fair (WMF) will be held at the National Exhibition and Convention Center in Hongqiao, Shanghai on this September 3-6 as scheduled.

Along with CNFMA (China National Forestry Machinery Assn.) as one of the organizers of WMF, China’s leading woodworking machinery associations Qingdao Woodworking Machinery Assn. and Foshan Shunde Lunjiao Woodworking Machinery Chamber of Commerce are long-term partners. WMF states it is the only woodworking machinery fair of its kind in China supported by EUMABOIS (European Federation of Woodworking Machinery Manufacturers).

Since 2018, WMF has been collocating with CIFF (Shanghai) at the National Exhibition and Convention Center every year. A large variety of items including finished furniture products, woodworking machinery and components will be displayed, demonstrating the strength of a one-stop exhibiting and trading platform connecting upstream and downstream in the industry chain. In 2021, WMF further upgrades its online and offline services and allows visitors to access exhibitors .

Facing the dramatic market changes in the post-pandemic era with the growth of digitalization and innovation, WMF also

advances with the times by promoting intelligent development and application of the industry, advocating the industry to grasp the new market demand and seize new opportunities. In response to the rising needs of “industrial automation,” “going green” and “upgrading & transformation,” WMF provides multiple theme zones connecting the industry chain, which covers a full range of manufacturing solutions from first processing to finishing technology. There will be a wide spectrum of concurrent events covering the latest hot topics and trends in the industry.

Many of the last year’s premium exhibitors are planning to participate in this year’s show such as Homag China Golden Field, Biesse Trading, Nanxing Machinery, China Foma Group, Yalian Machinery, Qingdao Godn Mechanical, Shang Gong Group, Leuco Precision Tooling and Tianjin Laminuo Woodworking.

Visit woodworkfair.com/WMF21/idx/eng/home

Doosan Announces Top 2020 Dealers

Doosan Infracore North America, LLC announced its topperforming dealers of 2020. The top 10 dealers are among more than 160 Doosan equipment dealers in North America.

Doosan annually recognizes its heavy equipment dealers that have excelled in providing top-level performance in sales, parts and service to the customers in their respective markets. The top 10 Doosan dealers of 2020 include the following enterprises (headquarters in parenthesis): —Barry Equipment Co. (Webster, Mass.), fourth consecutive year

—Bobcat of Mandan Inc (Mandan, ND), third consecutive year —Brown’s Industrial Sales (Lloyd minster, Alberta) —CG Equipment (Guelph, Ontario), second consecutive year —Coastal Machinery (Pensacola, Fla.), second consecutive year —Equipment East, LLC. (Dracut, Mass.) fourth consecutive year —G. Stone Commercial Div. (Middlebury, Vermont) —Hartington Farm Services Ltd. (Hartington, Ontario) —Theco Inc. (Big Lake, Minn.) —Wilson Equipment (Central Point, Ore.), third consecutive year

“There are four dealers joining this list for the first time, which is reflective of their hard work growing the Doosan brand in their regions,” says Todd Roecker, Doosan Director of Dealer Management and Marketing.

Top-performing dealers are offered a selection of several incentives that they may choose from, which will improve their profitability when selling and servicing Doosan equipment. In addition, Doosan North American leadership may look to these dealers for valuable input regarding Doosan initiatives and direction as they represent the dealer network.

Kepley-Frank Installs Carriage System

Cleereman Industries and Cleereman Controls recently installed a new Cleereman LP-42 linear carriage with Cleereman optimized carriage controls and a Cleereman sawyer booth at Kepley-Frank Hardwood Co., Inc. in Lexington, NC. KepleyFrank also installed a new Cleereman 100 HP hydrostatic carriage drive and a Cleereman dual cable tensioner

Kepley-Frank has a second Cleereman LP-42 linear carriage and Cleereman optimized carriage controls on order that will be installed in August. This second line will include a new modular track frame with carriage drive and sawyer’s cab.

Kepley-Frank, in its three sawmills, cuts more than 15MMBF a year of fine Appalachian hardwood lumber in 4⁄4 through 8⁄4 thicknesses in mostly red and white oak

K-F mill manager Tracy Smith with Cleereman setup.

and poplar as well as ash and maple. The company is also a significant crossties producer. Also, through its concentration yard business, Kepley-Frank processes millions of board feet of lumber per year.

Cleereman Controls has now sold more than 50 controls systems in its first two years of existence. Vice President Paul Cleereman states, “As always we would like to thank all our loyal customers for their continued support in both Cleereman Industries and Cleereman Controls.”

BID Will Upgrade Carolina Facility

BID Group will invest more than $2.5 million in technology at its South Carolina operations in St. George. The acquisition of a Correa Axia-70, a large-sized computer numerical control (CNC) traveling column milling machine, will allow the facility to perform various machining operations on large mechanical parts (up to 20 ft. long and 8 ft. high).

“This investment will enable us to meet our client needs for large mechanical parts and significantly reduce and control delivery lead time,” comments Simon Grondin, Senior Vice President, Manufacturing, BID Group. “The recent addition of a welding robot and the upcoming installation of the Axia-70 is possible thanks to the recent expansion of the building in St. George.”

In connection with a recently announced investment in Vanderhoof (British Colum bia), this project is part of BID Group’s global investment plan to modernize and enhance production capabilities at its manufacturing facilities.

The Axia-70 is expected to be in operation this September. This model is also equipped with a rotary table that allows boring operations and the execution of work on different sides of the part by indexing the rotary table. In addition, there is a 120 tools magazine, with an automatic tool changer, to increase the man u facturing speed of the parts. The acquisition of the Axia-70 will create three jobs.