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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 41 • Number 3 • April 2016 Founded in 1976 • Our 422nd 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 Marketing/Media: Jordan Anderson
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Classified Advertising: Bridget DeVane • 334.699.7837 800.669.5613 • bdevane7@hotmail.com
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Advertising Sales Representatives: Southern USA
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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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Midwest USA, Eastern Canada
NEWSFEED Lumberman Harrigan Dies
REX IS RIGHT Rex Lumber Upgrades Graceville Mill
GREEN IS GOOD Copiah Lumber Sticks To Plan
SAWMILLING HISTORY Look Back At Meadow River
MACHINERY ROW Union Grove Gets Aggressive
AT LARGE Lumber Workshops Scheduled
PRODUCT SCANNER 10 From Planers To Log Bucking
COVER: Family owned Rex Lumber upgrades its Graceville and Bristol, Fla. sawmills and has a lot of SYP production to show for it. Story begins on PAGE 12. (Jay Donnell 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 Member Verified Audit Circulation
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 International Murray Brett Aldea de las Cuevas 66, Buzon 60 03759 Benidoleig (Alicante), Spain Tel: +34 96 640 4165 • FAX: +34 96 640 4022 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 ® 2016. 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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Rich Donnell Editor-in-Chief
SOME SYP INDEPENDENTS STAY THE COURSE
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ark Twain wrote: “The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated,” or something to that effect. The same might be said of independent southern yellow pine operators. Indeed the onslaught in recent years of Canadian corporations purchasing independent SYP companies caused a serious thinning of the ranks. These were some solid independents, too (why would Canadian corporations buy anything less, right?). And if U.S. housing really busts loose, Canadian firms will reap the benefits—more than they already have—of their acquisitions of very efficient sawmills, many still operated by the former ownership and/or managerial personnel of the independents that sold them. (The real test will be when these sawmills lose their ties to the past as this older generation of former owners and managers retires and their sons and daughters won’t be filling their shoes—having taken the money and run so to speak.) Meanwhile, the reports of the death of the entire SYP independent community are greatly exaggerated. Rex Lumber is still very much alive. Owned by the McRae family, its Graceville, Fla. sawmill and technology improvements therein is the cover story of this issue. Asked about the Canadian acquisition thing, co-owner Charles McRae had a cool, straightforward comment: “People and long-term families that operate as independents, like we do, want to be in the lumber business.” Another noteworthy development at an independent occurred recently at Hood Industries. Its new president is Jay Galloway, who succeeds Don Grimm, who has retired after 13 years at the helm. Galloway previously worked at Hood for a number of years, before he became president of Tolleson Lumber for five years, before concentrating on the transportation business. A newcomer to the independent SYP community is Biewer Lumber. It’s a third generation, family owned group of companies operating two sawmills in Michigan and two in Wisconsin. Number five will be its first SYP sawmill going into construction at Newton, Miss. with production planned for early next year. Welcome to the South! We’re not stating that we are against Canadian companies buying SYP independents, or condemning the independents for selling to them. People and families have their reasons, whether it’s financial or circumstantial or generational or simply the right time, or all of the above. We just hate to see some of these people go, because we like them. Speaking of hating to see somebody go, we’re very saddened by the passing of Dwight Harrigan of Harrigan Lumber in Alabama. We remember a tour through his sawmill in Monroeville, followed by a splendid evening at his hunting lodge and a morning hunt—nearly 30 years ago. TP
Contact Rich Donnell, ph: 334-834-1170; fax 334-834-4525; e-mail: rich@hattonbrown.com TIMBER PROCESSING
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NEWSFEED
SYP INDUSTRY SUFFERS LOSS Dwight Harrigan was solid as a sawmiller, industry leader and philanthropist.
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illiam Dwight Harrigan II, a longtime producer and leader in the southern pine lumber industry, died at his home in Fulton, Ala. on February 28. He was 78. Harrigan grew up in the long-established, already legendary family lumber business at Scotch Lumber Co. in Fulton. He followed in the footsteps of his father and grandfather and became mill manager, then president and CEO, and played a key role in the expansion of the company with the addition of Scotch Plywood, then Scotch Forestry and Land Management. He also formed with his father, William (Billy), another lumber operation, Harrigan Lumber Co. in Monroeville, Ala., and became president for many years. He oversaw its startup as a Chip-N-Saw mill in 1974, and modernized it to a bandmill and sharp chain operation in the early 1990s. Harrigan Lumber sawmill continues to run today with Dwight’s son, Patrick, as president, another son, Chip, as Chairman of the Board, and a third son, Jeff, as a board member. Harrigan once told Timber Processing magazine: “My father always had a saying: ‘A sawmill has an insatiable appetite for cash money.’ He was right on that one. You’ve got to stay competitive or get out and you’ve got to spend money to stay competitive.” Harrigan’s son, Patrick, comments that while his dad had officially passed along day-to-day operations several years ago, only a couple of years ago did he “really” turn things over to his sons. “It feels a little strange knowing 6
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that I won’t get a phone call abama Forestry Assn. as well of Mobile, Bellingrath Garasking if we’ve gotten last as the recipient of its Lifetime dens, Forest History Society, month’s statement done yet,” Achievement Award. He was Georgetown Preparatory Patrick says. “This company chairman of Southern Forest School, Clarke Preparatory was his baby that he cared for Products Assn., and a director School and Monroe Acadeand grew over many years. He of Southeastern Lumber Manmy. He was inducted into the never stopped caring for it.” ufacturers Assn. He served on AISA (Alabama Independent Patrick adds that of all the the Forest Industries Council School Assn.) Hall of Fame. comments people have made of Timber Valuation and TaxHe gave humanitarian service since his father’s passing, the ation, National Forest Products and was a benefactor to Provone theme that stands out was Assn. Board and Auburn Foridence Hospital, UAB ChilDwight Harrigan’s generosiestry Advisory Committee. dren’s Hospital, USA Chilty. “He was always giving of Harrigan was born April dren’s and Women’s Hospihis time and resources to 30, 1937 in Selma, Ala. He tal, Grove Hill Memorial many causes both Hospital, Catholic local and around the Charities, Alabama nation and world,” Forestry Foundation, Patrick says. “I think Thomasville Civic that spirit is why so Center, United Way many of our employand others. He was a ees have worked for lifetime Parishioner Harrigan Lumber of Sacred Heart Co. for so long. My Catholic Parish and a father established an Christ the King environment that let Medal recipient from his employees know the Archdiocese of that they were imMobile. portant to this comHe was a Founding pany and to him perDirector of BankTrust Dwight Harrigan at his Monroeville sawmill, 1987 sonally. I hope that and Member of Alwe can continue to have that spent his childhood in Fulton, abama State Docks Advisory kind of environment for many then attended Georgetown Board. years to come.” Preparatory School in MaryHarrigan loved the outFred Stimpson, whose fam- land. After a year at the Unidoors and was an avid hunter, ily operated Gulf Lumber Co. versity of Alabama and the fisherman and conservationin Mobile, echoed those com- University of North Carolina, ist. He treasured good times ments, “Dwight Harrigan was he transferred to the Universi- spent at his hunting lodge a successful man. He will be ty of Southern Mississippi with family and friends. remembered as a man of high and graduated with a degree Harrigan was preceded in character, humble, well liked in Business in 1963. He was a death by his parents, William and respected by all who member of Delta Kappa EpDennis Harrigan and Dorine knew him. He truly cared silon fraternity. In 1963 he Reid Harrigan. He is survived about those who worked for was employed by Scotch by his beloved wife of 50 his family’s companies and Lumber Co., his family’s years, Virginia Sojourner will be remembered as one business. Harrigan; their three sons, who gave far more back than His interest in education William Dwight Harrigan III he ever took out of this world. and desire to help his fellow (Susan) of Grove Hill, Ala., He also had a keen sense of man led him to serve in many Jeffery Boyd Harrigan of humor, which is necessary if capacities and lend financial Grove Hill, John Patrick Haryou are going to survive in support to various educational rigan (Michelle) of Monour industry.” institutions. They include: roeville; and five grandchilHarrigan’s dedication to the University of Alabama, dren. forest industry led to years of Auburn University, UniversiInterment was at Magnolia volunteer service. He was ty of Southern Mississippi, Lawn Cemetery in Grove Hill TP president and treasurer of AlSpringhill College, University on March 2.
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NEWSFEED HOOD INDUSTRIES NAMES GALLOWAY AS PRESIDENT
GERMAN PELLETS HANGS IN BALANCE
Hood Industries named Jay Galloway as President on March 1, succeeding Don Grimm. Galloway worked for Hood Industries for seven years from 2000-2007 in lumber manufacturing and fiber procurement. He then became president of Tolleson Lumber in Georgia for five years and most recently has owned and managed a transportation and freight logistics company. Grimm will remain at Hood Industries until June 30 to provide transition assistance. He became president at Hood Industries in 2003. Grimm led Hood Industries during one of the country’s worst economic recessions. Hood Industries emerged as a leading manufacturer of lumber and plywood products, and one of Hood Industries last transactions under Grimm was the acquisition late last year of Joe N. Miles & Sons and its sawmills in Silver Creek, Miss. and Bogalusa, La. In addition to those two sawmills, Galloway, who is the son of former Hood president John Galloway, now oversees Hood Industries sawmills in Waynesboro, Miss. and Metcalfe, Ga., plywood mills at Wiggins and Beaumont, Miss., and numerous wood product distribution operations.
A week after an insolvency court in Germany initiated proceedings against the assets of German Pellets GmbH, one of German Pellets’ affiliate wood pellet operations in the U.S., Louisiana Pellets (also German Pellets Louisiana), commenced filings for Chapter 11 with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Western District of Louisiana. The Louisiana Pellets operation in Urania, La. was planned for two startup phases. Phase one for 500,000 tons of annual wood pellet production was substantially completed in late 2015 and put into limited production to conduct required emissions and production tests. However, according to the company, those tests revealed defective electrical work,
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which were going to require until this summer to correct. Phase two, which was supposed to bring annual production to 1 million tons, was still under construction. Louisiana Pellets defaulted under taxable finance bonds due to an inability to make a required payment of more than $4.2 million at the first of 2016, according to the company. German Pellets started up its first pellet plant in the U.S. at Woodville, Texas last July and built a handling and shipping facility at Port Arthur. Prior to the German court proceedings, German Pellets, which is privately owned, had proposed a financial restructuring that offered family equity and called for a reduced interest rate and new term on a portion of its debt payment coming due, but the German court apparently disallowed it.
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WOW
FACTOR By Jay Donnell
Nobody likes improving its sawmills as much as Rex Lumber in Florida.
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GRACEVILLE, Fla. ver the past two years Rex Lumber has been making significant improvements and upgrades to its sawmills in Graceville and
Bristol, Fla., to the tune of nearly $25 million at the Graceville mill and more than $10 million at Bristol. Part of the enhancements has involved installing machinery from one mill into the other because of a better fit for the needs of that respective mill. The goal, according to co-owner Charles McRae, is to produce 4MMBF per week on a single shift of 50-55 hours at Rex Lumber Graceville, and up to 3.5MMBF per week at Rex Lumber Bristol. That’s some serious production, and to get there Rex Lumber has enhanced production technology and material handling. But as anyone in the southern pine lumber industry knows, Rex Lumber is no stranger to throughput and upgrade.
From about 2002-2012 the company invested more than $100 million, including the installation and startup of a new high speed sawmill and planer mill in Graceville during 2001-2002. In 2009, during the worst recession possibly in U.S. lumber industry history, Rex Lumber completed a major rebuild at the Bristol sawmill, and purchased another SYP sawmill out of quasi-bankruptcy in Brookhaven, Miss. After completely rebuilding the sawmill and planer mill in 2010, Rex Lumber Brookhaven started up operations in 2011. For a quick history lesson, the McRae family’s connection to Graceville goes back to 1926, when W.D. McRae founded Rex Lumber Company there. They eventually sold the mill in
Rex Lumber pulled this Comact breakdown system out of an idled mill in Canada. 12
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1980, and shortly thereafter founded North Florida Lumber in Bristol. Then in 2001, the family purchased back the Graceville operation as Rex Lumber. Owner Finley McRae, who was Timber Processing’s Man of the Year in 2013, was by then renown for his aggressive modernization projects through good markets and bad. Nothing much has changed in that regard. A change in log size prompted most of the recent upgrading at Graceville. Rex Lumber simply couldn’t source enough small logs to feed its small log machine—a single pass Comact DDM6. The log supply had outgrown it. “A real cheap DDM sideboard machine just fell into our laps and that kind of created a tidal wave,” explains Charles McRae.
GOOD TIMING When Canfor shut down a sawmill in Quesnel, BC, its two DDM6-SB breakdown machines for medium size logs became available. Rex Lumber purchased one and installed it as part of a revamped second line. It’s still considered the small log line, but the DDM6-SB has the capacity to take a “larger” small log because it has a four saw (quad) section for making sideboards. The system can take up to a 17 in. log, but Rex Lumber feeds it mostly 7-14 in. logs. Comact assisted Rex Lumber in the upgrade of the former Canfor sawline by upgrading mechanical components and also supplied a new C1-Scan log scanner and optimizer and new PLC/controls system. Of course the installation of the new machine meant more edger boards and some possible downstream issues. Consequently Rex Lumber replaced a Comact double length infeed (DLI) large log line it had installed in 2001 with a new, heavy duty, short footprint Comact OSC (optimized sharp chain) with geometrical and vision optimization, and a profiling module as part of the chipping heads on the twin bandmill to give relief to the edger. Now, aided by a new bypass at the outfeed of the twin, more than 80% of the profiled pieces go straight to the trimmer, thus considerably removing the edger bottleneck. This line accepts up to a 20 in. log. Meanwhile, Rex Lumber moved the original DDM small log system from Graceville into the Bristol sawmill, replacing an existing small log machine. Rex Lumber also enhanced its trimmer line with a USNR Quad Cam board feeder and paddle fence, preceded by a Co-
USNR board feeder was part of improvments to the trimmer line.
Increasing log size called for adjustments in the mill.
mact double unscrambler to allow a better separation of the boards before the lug loader. This modification has reduced manual operations in the area. Prior to all of this, Rex Lumber Graceville did a sorter upgrade in the planer mill in 2014. A Comact sorter was added next to the existing one to better manage the Comact cut-in-two board system. The cut-in-two system allows the production line to maintain its constant speed even though the boards are cut in two. No more need to separate boards over two different lugs. All of the PLC and control of the sorter line has been changed to handle both kinds of boards and distribute them into their respective bins according to their position within the lug.
On the front end of the mill, Rex Lumber added a second debarker and bucking line, moving in an existing cutup system from the Bristol mill, which installed a new one. Today the mill flow goes like this. Log trucks come through the scale house and a log crane unloads trucks and moves logs into a small sort and large sort. A Hyundai wheel loader also works the wood yard. The crane loads both decks with larger logs on the new “Log Line 2” side. It has a VK Kodiak debarker with a 22 in. ring followed by a cutup station. Log Line 1 logs run through a Nicholson debarker and a bucking system. Logs run through an MDI metal detector. TIMBER PROCESSING
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Chipping off the sides on the recently installed Comact DDM6-SB system
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Front row, left to right: Jim Confer, Maintenance Planner; Sacher Dickson, Planer Mill Quality Control/Lead Man; Michelle Schaefer, HR Manager; Randy Cummings, General Manager. Back Row, left to right: Ricky Wade, Sawmill Supervisor; Chris Bauldree, Safety Manager; Jared Banta, Project Manager; Rod Peters, Operations Manager; Tommy Roland, Quality Control Supervisor
The Greenville mill operates two debarker and cutup lines.
Outfeed of Comact twin/OSC larger log breakdown
Logs that go through the DDM-SB side are scanned and go through an optimized log turner and through the quad circle saw section that lays off the sideboards, which go to edger with Baxley optimization. The remaining cant is sawn in the DDM’s seven saw vertical arbor gang section into lumber pieces, which go to an accumulation deck. Logs are scanned on the OSC and run through the chipping heads and profiler through a Comact twin bandmill. Sideboards drop to a resaw for splitting and come back around and drop into the edger. The 4 or 6 in. cant comes out of the twin and kicks over to the Comact-optimized gang saw. Everything accumulates back together into one trimmer line, which has the new modifications, with lumber running through the optimized ASM trimmer. The mill is installing a Gillingham-Best stacker to sit adjacent an existing Comact stacker. Once it’s all worked out, they think they can produce 80,000 feet an hour in the mill. The mill is installing a Deltech continuous dry kiln (CDK) this year. It will be the mill’s third CDK—the other two are USNR. The company also runs two CDKs at Bristol and two in Brookhaven. “The CDKs generally produce 50% more production using the same heat and create a much better product as far as grade out goes,” McRae notes. “We will not have any batch kilns running after this year.” In the planer mill Rex Lumber added a Dennis Miller A&M tensioning system and infeed to the planer to gain speed. They put an unscrambler in front of the planer infeed, meaning the tilt hoist never stops running since they can deep pile in front of that unscrambler. They also put an unscrambler in front of the board feeder that feeds a Comact GradExpert optimized grader to allow the planer to continue running even if the sorter stops. The planer is a Coastal 24 knife machine. The slow down system after the planer is newly upgraded from Comact. The planer mill trimmer will cut a 16 ft. into two 8 footers. The addition of a second Comact sorter running parallel with the existing sorter instantly boosted production as one of the 8 ft. cuts goes to the original sorter and the other cut tipples over to the new sorter. After the two sorters, lumber goes to one of two stackers with three banders. The Graceville mill saws primarily 2x4s and 2x6s, whereas the Bristol facility also produces some 2x8s. The addition of the DDM sideboard
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YGE guide mill
Continuous kilns drying is the norm throughout Rex Lumber sawmills.
machine enticed Rex Lumber to buy a grinder to handles all of the guides for the DDM and for the gang saw. Three filers work in the band shop and four in the circle saw shop. The carbide shop include Vollmer face grinders, side grinder and top grinder; an Armstrong press roller for tensioning; Williams and White Dish-OMatic for leveling round saws, IMW guide machines and a YGE guide mill for the DDM. The band saw shop operates an Armstrong #4 grinder, a Simonds auto bench RSMO, an Armstrong roll and chill face anvil and a Wright KKG-1 knife grinder.
BRISTOL The movement of the faster DDM6 from Graceville into the Bristol mill to replace a small log line has gained about 50% more throughput. Rex Lumber Bristol also installed a new generation Comact optimized log merchandiser (the old one going to Graceville’s new line) that allows cutting stems in an optimal way by taking into consideration the anticipated value of the pieces as well as yield. The company chose to go with a transversal bucking system featuring 4 “L” scanners equipped with 3D Pro laser heads for the quick, efficient optimization of logs once they are on the V-belt conveyor. The system enhances saw sequence, as saws position themselves while the stem moves toward them. The stem is pushed into the saws without stopping to be cut, thus reducing required sawing time. A camera detects stem presence during positioning. A second Comact sorter was added to the planer mill to enhance cut-in-two handling and a second stacker was added.
OPERATIONS In 2010 Rex Lumber bought an old rail site in Dothan, Ala. to enhance shipping. About a third of Graceville and 18
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Bristol production is moved says. “It’s basically a skilled out of Dothan to Pennsylvalabor program and you come nia, New York, Masout of it with an associate’s sachusetts, Ohio and Indidegree.” ana. “We’ve never been The Florida-based company able to touch these areas behas been approached by Canafore,” McRae explains. dian companies about the pos“That opened up a lot for sibility of selling out, but the us.” The move was prediMcRaes haven’t been interestcated by a significant hit to ed. “They’d buy us if we their Florida markets due to wanted to sell,” Finley McRae the recession. says. “They’re out there lookRex Lumber has 500 eming for any decent operation, ployees company wide, 147 but I don’t think there are at the Graceville mill. Findmany left.” ing new employees can be Charles adds: “People and an issue because of the lack long-term families that operof familiarity with any inate as independents, like we dustry from the younger do, want to be in the lumber generation. business.” In 2015, Rex Lumber esMeanwhile Finley believes tablished the Robert and the housing market will conKathryn McRae scholarship tinue its positive advancement, fund, in honor of Finley’s especially once the millennials parents, to help students stop renting apartments and (and employees) wanting to Family matters—left to right: sister Roby Bethke, brother Charles start building houses. “We’ve pursue an Associate of Sci- McRae, sister Caroline Dauzat had a good housing market in ence degree in Engineering the last two to three years,” he Technology at Chipola College. The Bristol mill. “We’ve established scholsays. “When the millennials bust loose company sponsors five scholarships out arships in order to try and get younger into the housing market, that’s going to TP of the Graceville mill and five out of the kids involved in this industry,” McRae be something.”
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FAITH
INGREEN By Jessica Johnson
Copiah Lumber is doing just fine producing green lumber.
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CRYSTAL SPRINGS, Miss. rothers John and Craig Pyron began their sawmilling careers by simply buying shortwood pulpwood for GeorgiaPacific in the mid 1980s. From there, they saw an opening to start buying tracts of timber and merchandising logs with contract cutters. In 1990, the brothers began sawing their own green lumber using a Hurdle sawmill. The mill didn’t have a chipper or a debarker, just a Hurdle circular sawmill, with a Crosby edger and a Corinth trimmer to cut grade lumber, pallet lumber and pallet cants. “Everything just sort of grew from there,” Craig says. “The good Lord has blessed us here and we’ve been working.” Copiah Lumber Co. cuts and sells strictly green lumber. Craig explains that the mill does not dry its lumber for any specific reason other than they haven’t gotten into that part of the sawmill business. “Our goal is to cut it today, load it today and ship it. We don’t have to carry lumber inventory. When you start drying lumber, it’s a totally different business model. I’m not saying we won’t ever get to that point, we just haven’t yet. If it’s not broken, don’t fix it.” Lumber is graded to National Hardwood Lumber Assn. (NHLA) grading rules. He believes in selling well edged 22
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The Cleereman-McDonough Lumber Pro traveling bandmill is a double cut system.
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Craig Pyron says that without a well run filing room, a sawmill is nothing but a bunch of machinery and some logs.
and trimmed lumber. Seventy-five percent of Copiah’s production is red oak sold as grade lumber, cross ties, switch ties, mat timbers, and board road. Pyron says that hardwood flooring, cabinet parts and molding manufacturers are strong markets for their green lumber. The sawmill has had to adapt to the market conditions. On the 72-acre mill site Copiah has two mills, dubbed Mill One and Mill Two. Having three separate headrigs allows the mill to stay flexible in what it cuts, to help meet order demand. However, over the last few years, Pyron saw
Brothers Craig, left, and John Pyron
the opportunity to ramp up production even more and meet the greater demand the company was seeing on the sales side by installing the largest Cleereman/McDonough Lumber Pro traveling headrig saw system on the market in Mill One. The 62 in. double cut saw allows the mill to handle larger logs while also increasing production capacity. “The benefit of the traveling bandmill is the HP requirements are less, reduces wear and tear on the carriage, modular design allows for faster and easier installation,” Pyron says, “the system is prewired from
the factory, sawdust conveyor comes with the mill ready to run, the hydraulic pumps and motors are smaller thus requiring less electricity to operate.” After nine months of construction inside the existing sawmill space, the Lumber Pro was up and running September 21, 2015. The Cleereman Lumber Pro can saw timbers up to 30 ft.
OPERATIONS Given the Pyrons’ background in log procurement, the sawmill relies heavily on purchased tracts of timber. John purchases about 75% of the sawmill’s total need in open-market timber. Remaining need is filled in with gatewood. Copiah predominantly cuts red oak logs, though about 15% of production is white oak. The mill will also cut a little gum, poplar, hickory and ash—pretty much any and all hardwood species are fair game for the mill with the exception of cottonwood and willow. Using Doyle scaling rules, every stem that is accepted on the wood yard is scaled and separated by species. Red and white oaks, as well as some hickory and gum, are stored under water. Logs are sawn by species dictated by pending orders. Pyron says one of the biggest advantages of having two mills going at a given time is the flexibility of TIMBER PROCESSING
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Millwright, Terry Inabnet, left, and Sawmill Manager PeeWee Smith
what can be cut. Frequently, Mill One will saw one product and Mill Two will saw something else; using a 55 bay HiTech sorter enhances this versatility. A single knuckleboom on the wood yard cuts the treelength logs to lengths for both mills. At each mill, logs pass through an HMC rosserhead debarker. Mill One features the new Cleereman Lumber Pro traveling headrig that includes a 62 in. McDonough double cut bandmill, tilted 17°, and a Cleereman LP-42 stationary carriage. Lewis Controls provided the scanning and optimization package. Downstream equipment in Mill One includes a West Plains 600 series resaw. This mill also has a Hurdle circular sawmill in it. Mill Two features a traditional headrig including a McDonough 7-8A single cut bandmill and Cleereman LP-42 carriage, with Lewis Controls scanning and optimization package. Downstream equipment in Mill Two uses a McDonough 62 in. horizontal resaw. Both mills have Pierce edgers outfitted with board savers, which Copiah runs like a three saw edger to get more yield. “We’re big on trying to upgrade the lumber that we produce,” Pyron explains. We only look at lumber one time. We have to try to upgrade and make it the best we can.” Three graders look at lumber before it passes through a Lucidyne grade mark reader and travels to a Baxley trimmer with Hi-Tech sorter and Hi-Tech stacker. All slabs and edger strips are chipped using Precision 58 in. chippers and shipped to paper mills.
MAINTENANCE Pyron says that one of the main keys to the operation is the filing room. “As far as making the saws last, not miscutting lumber, machine alignment, you have to take 24
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Thin kerf is important to Copiah; band saws run at .147.
pride in that area. That’s where it starts, in the filing room. You can have the best equipment in the world, and poor filing, you’re not sawmilling—bottom line,” he says firmly. With the price of logs today, he feels like it is instrumental to go thin kerf and increase lumber yield. Because of his heightened awareness of yield, Pyron encourages as thin kerf as possible. Copiah band saws run at .147, resaws at .135, and the Lumber Pro runs at .135. The goal with the Lumber Pro is to get the kerf down to .130. He is quick to point out though that with teeth on both sides, the 10 in. bands are tricky to file, and take a lot longer to file correctly—but when you fix one saw, you’re really fixing two. Saws on all machines are changed at lunchtime and when the mill shuts down for the day. The filing room has two fulltime filers plus a trainee and a helper. To maintain the saws, the filers use a Si-
monds leveler and an Armstrong grinder. Simonds saws and chipper knives are purchased through Corinth Mill Supply. Three people at Copiah are responsible for all maintenance needs. Typically, the entire mill will shut down early on Fridays in order to begin preventive maintenance, and it wraps up by Friday night. Pyron prefers to handle maintenance during the week, instead of on the weekends. If something goes wrong during the day, maintenance staff and operators will stay late to fix it. Copiah keeps a welder on staff to repair and rebuild machinery as needed. For electrical work, Copiah relies on Brown Electric out of Brookhaven, Miss.
EMPLOYEE RELATIONS In order to maintain a safe working environment, Copiah holds monthly safety meetings and offers a safety in-
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centive plan, rewarding operators for no lost time. “We want to do everything to control our costs,” Pyron explains. “Being unsafe costs us.” Thanks to these safety meetings, the mill has had nothing but minor cuts and bruises over the last few years. Sawmill Manager PeeWee Smith conducts the safety meetings, and a mill-wide devotion is held at the same time. Smith comments that Copiah is a great place to work because most of the operators are long-term employees and everyone clicks really well; the mill is a very clean and organized place to work with a very friendly, laid back, faith-centered atmosphere. “Craig goes out of his way to make it easier for employees to do their jobs. That means a lot to the staff,” he adds. In terms of daily responsibility, Smith takes care of everything regarding the mill, and works hand-in-hand with Pyron.
THE FUTURE The Pyron brothers, overall, are extremely happy with the current direction of their business. That does not mean, however, they aren’t slightly concerned about the future due to the state of the economy, the housing market, and the price of oil.
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McDonough horizontal resaw stays busy.
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Log procurement and the price of logs is also challenging for the operation. Craig comments, “Demand is going to be there for hardwood lumber, it might not be as great as it once was, but there is going to be cycles. At the end of the day, the hardwood lumber market is driven by supply and demand. I wish I had taken more economics when I went to college.” The peaks and valleys nature of the business has pushed Craig, who handles lumber sales, to look for non-traditional outlets, like selling byproducts. Currently, neither brother has children in the business, but they have not ruled out the possibility of one of them returning. “I hope they do, but they have to want it. You have to have a desire to sawmill.” he believes. Both brothers have hands-on experience in all areas of their facility; Craig thinks that helped them when they were growing the business from a small Hurdle circular sawmill to two full green lumber mills, and acquiring another sawmill in Georgetown, Miss. named Pearl River Lumber Co., Inc. Starting out small and growing taught the brothers how to handle markets and helped them see areas where the mill needed to be diverse. For 15 years, Copiah Lumber only sawed 4⁄4 grade lumber and pallet cants.
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Mill One and Mill Two primary breakdowns are housed in different buildings.
When the housing market fell, the market got saturated and things were changing. The Pyrons had the choice: Change with the times or let the times change Copiah. “We adapted. We have to cut what we can sell. We have some quick changeover times. With the computers on the
saws, with hydraulic sets, we can change in a matter of minutes. If you are just doing one thing, and the market doesn’t want it, you’re either going out of business or you got to change. That’s allowed us to stay here. God has truly blessed us, we’ve been here 25 years.” TP
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MOUNTAIN
STEAMER One characteristic of Meadow River’s steam-powered sawmill, rebuilt in 1924, was its expansive lumber yard.
A glance at southern West Virginia’s Meadow River Lumber Co.
M
eadow River Lumber Co., formed in Rainelle, W. Va. in 1906 by brothers Thomas and John Raine, operated what was touted as the largest hardwood sawmill in the world. It had three 9 ft. bandmills operating under one roof. In 1928, during peak production, its 500 employees produced 31MMBF of lumber and other wood products. The sawmill’s log appetite required the cutting of about 3,000 acres of timber a year. Previously, the Raine brothers had joined another lumber firm operating in Randolph Couny. In 1906 they began acquiring holdings—ultimately at least 100,000 acres—containing one of the last large stands of virgin hardwood in the country, mostly on the Meadow River drainage in western Greenbrier County. Since the mill site was 20 miles to the nearest railroad mainline, the Raines first formed the Sewell Valley Railroad Co. to construct a spur line, and this eventually evolved into the Meadow River Railroad. This spur was initially used to haul building materials into the remote area and eventually to haul the mill’s products to market. Mill construction began in 1909, and the first board was produced in September 1910. The plant included a large planer mill and 14 large dry kilns. Three miles of lumber stacks, some 40 ft. high, occupied an area that stretched for 1,300
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ft. From the early 1930s until the 1960s the mill processed various species, sawing an average of 20MMBF per year. Meadow River Lumber Co. was known for the quality of its oak flooring, which was shipped around the world. The company’s oak flooring was ordered for the Waldorf Astoria Hotel’s ballroom in New York City. The company also made many other products, including trim, door jambs, window frames, stair treads, siding, paneling, and more. Some of its most unusual products were chestnut coffins, crates for crystal glass, white ash frames for Packard
cars, maple for Ford car bodies and long ship beams for British submarine chasers. It also operated a furniture plant until World War II. In addition, the flooring plant averaged one million feet per month, and a shoe heel plant produced up to six million wooden heels (for women’s shoes) per year.
TOWN OF RAINELLE The firm created the nearby town of Rainelle and erected housing and other buildings and provided services, including water and electricity, for Rainelle’s
citizens, most of whom worked at the mill or in nearby logging camps. Company-owned houses were plastered and papered inside, painted white outside, and had indoor plumbing and electricity. The town included a school, hotel, commissary, boarding house, theater, fraternal lodge, bank and golf course. The brothers later erected a Methodist Church and parsonage for their employees and the church pastor. Built in 1914, the church building is thought to be the largest structure in the world built entirely of American Chestnut lumber. The original mill building was de-
Some remaining company dwellings are still occupied.
Meadow River discontinued rail log transport in the 1960s. TIMBER PROCESSING
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Some lumber stacks were 40 feet high.
The Raine brothers: Thomas, left, and John
stroyed by fire in 1924, but employees were set to work building a new one, which began producing lumber by March of the following year. From 1906 until 1912, Thomas Raine was president of Meadow River and Sewell Valley Railroad. In 1912 he retired and John Raine took over as president. A historic marker tells the church story. Thomas died at his home in Fairview, Pa., in 1933. Unlike many absentee lumber barons, John Raine lived in the town and took a genuine interest in the welfare of the people. Each company house had its own lawn and garden plot. Raine even provided pastures for employees who wanted to keep livestock. The company erected the first school and supplemented the salaries of teachers. John Raine stepped down as president in 1938, and died in 1940. Howard Gray, who started to work for Meadow River in 1910, succeeded him. When he died in 1961, his son, Robert, became the company’s final president.
THE LOGGING SIDE Meadow River Lumber Co. operated a system of portable camps built on railroad cars that could be moved to new timber supplies. In addition to logging its own timber, the compa32
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ny bought timber from nearby coal and land companies. Teams of horses skidded logs to the railroad until 1930, when the company switched to overhead cable skidders mounted on railroad cars. These skidders could move logs within a three quarter-mile circle to a central point for transport to the sawmill. In 1939, Meadow River broke with tradition and started logging treelength timber. The shop crew designed and built a special heavy-duty diesel loader capable of handling any length log. Meadow River Lumber is said to have operated West Virginia’s largest logging railroad, and also its last. It discontinued railroad logging in the 1960s. It operated Shay, Heisler and Climax geared steam locomotives and in the latter years also operated diesels.
practices, it later clung to obsolete and expensive logging and manufacturing methods. Also, Meadow River management was not known for its generosity. In 1939, general labor paid 25 cents an hour for the first 30 days and 30 cents after that. In 1970, general labor was $2 an hour. A lengthy strike in 1969 and another threatened for 1971 had the owners running scared.
EPITAPH Progress finally caught up with Meadow River. While it pioneered many logging
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In 1970, Meadow River’s owners sold out to Georgia-Pacific Corp. for $7 million. G-P found the old steam sawmill could not be operated at a profit and silenced the mill whistle on December 28, 1970. It razed the mill in 1975 and built a new single-band electric sawmill just outside the northern city limits of Rainelle. This mill currently employs about 50 and has an annual production capacity of 15MMBF. The old Heisler and Shay logging engines and machine shop were donated to the Cass Scenic Railroad. The power plant was dismantled and shipped to Haines, Alaska. Many of the artifacts from the mill are now in the state archives in Charleston. A shopping center, bank and armory now occupy the mill site and fast food restaurants operate on the former site of the mill’s huge lumTP ber yard.
Some of the steam-powered sawmill gear was massive.
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MACHINERYROW CUTTING TOOLS FIRM CONTINUES GROWTH Union Grove Saw and Knife, Inc. was founded in 1983 by Ed Bissell with a strong desire to become a regional tool company known for exceptional service and quality products. Today it services more than 500 customers, including the 10 accounts it began with. Its success has been accomplished by building a team of employees dedicated to serving customers and paying close attention to producing and servicing quality products in a timely manner using proven techniques. “The keys to our success have been accomplished by building a team of employees dedicated to serving our customers with old fashioned values,” Bissell states. “We are known for being competitively priced while delivering a consistently high standard of workmanship and quality products.” Union Grove’s stated mission is “Advancing the Science of Cutting Tool Technology.” It began offering more complex cutting tools and solutions with the installation of more advanced production equipment, and began working with new suppliers and industry leading experts on the development of carbide grades, saw blade geometries and other tooling enhancements dedicated to providing more value to its customer base.
To further realize that goal and to ensure the long-term success of the company, it has installed a large selection of highly specialized equipment in its Union Grove facility—the result of a partnership created by Anthony DeHart and Bissell. Both individuals have vast experience in the cutting tools industry and are seasoned entrepreneurs that recognize the need to focus your efforts and energy on your most effective use of time and talents. Bissell has a passion for being in the production environment and applying quality control at every step in the manufacturing process. DeHart enjoys helping customers and brings a strong front office skills to the table. This combination combines to form 38
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an excellent management team that truly understands the needs of the industry. The company now has more than 125 pieces of specialized equipment dedicated to servicing cutting tools. It is fully equipped to handle the secondary woodworking industry markets just as effectively as it has serviced the primary markets. It has expanded its ability to provide indexable carbide insert knives, both new and replacement, to the market at large. It offers insert knives in multiple carbide grade configurations and has coating capabilities where some improvements have been shown to be very effective. It is also offering carbide insert knives for all standard applications, ICK knives and planer knives for all standard tool bodies.
“In today’s competitive environment we understand the need to be highly organized for maximum efficiency and cost savings to remain competitive,” comments DeHart. “This is our culture and most importantly our workforce understands this with every operation that is performed. This combined with our desire to only provide the highest quality service has allowed us to remain steadfast in the marketplace regardless of the economic conditions the woodworking industry has been faced with over the past decade.” Contact DeHart at 828-217-3739 or anthony@sawandknife.com. Visit sawandknife.com. TP
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MACHINERYROW Stora Enso Orders Kalmar Forklifts Kalmar, a division of Cargotec, has received an order for nine forklift trucks from Stora Enso to be delivered during 2016. The order comprises eight Kalmar DCG160-12 medium-sized forklifts and one Kalmar ECG55-6 electric forklift. This is a continuation of the long-term relationship between Kalmar and Stora Enso, which has relied on Kalmar equipment to support its Central European sawmill operations since the early 1980s. The trucks will join the Kalmar rental fleet (totaling approximately 80 machines) at Stora Enso. They will be used at Stora Enso’s network of sawmills across Europe, which includes sites in Austria, Germany, Poland and the Czech Republic. “Kalmar is a long-term supplier to Stora Enso, which has outsourced its mobile equipment fleet to Kalmar Austria since 2004,” says Jürgen Wurzer, managing director of Kalmar Austria. “The fleet consists of approximately 12 log stackers, 30 medium-sized forklifts, 30 light forklifts and 12 back-up machines. This cooperation helps Kalmar develop the reliability and efficiency of its products and allows Stora Enso to focus on its core business.” Kalmar’s next-generation forklift trucks combine low fuel consumption and superior lifting performance with easy maintenance and excellent reliability. The ergonomic EGO cabin provides maximum visibility and comfort for operators, and features a driving seat that can be turned 180 degrees to ensure safe operation when handling heavy or bulky loads.
Arbec, Timberlink Order Carbotech Quebec-based Carbotech has received orders from Arbec Forest Products in Quebec and Timberlink in Southern Australia for their respective projects. Major modifications to the Arbec sawmill stacking line in Parent, Quebec will consist of installing Carbotech’s high-speed, dual-forked stacker and its row preparation. Carbotech will also be installing an automated stick placer system in order to optimize stacking efficiency. The equipment installation will be completed by Carbotech later this year. Carbotech will be installing two optimized trim lines at Timberlink’s Mount Gambier sawmill in early 2017, and has
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MACHINERYROW partnered with the Australian company, Acora, in order to offer a turnkey project. Acora specializes in the sale and installation of equipment for planer mills and sawmills. Carbotech will work for the second time on Australian soil in conjunction with MPM Optimization of Vancouver, Can. Specifically, the project consists of installing two parallel trim lines each including an unscrambler, a pneumatic lug loader, an Optigate positioning system and a Carbotech dual-access lineshaft trimmer.
Sweden Test Gives Edge To Valutec Technical Research Institute of Sweden (SP) presented the results from its evaluation of two different control systems for timber drying and the study clearly showed the advantages of Valutec’s Valmatics, which came out top on 19 out of 23 comparison points, according to a summary release from Valutec. The evaluation is part of a large-scale project focusing on improving energy efficiency in the sawmill industry. A total of six trial runs were conducted at two different sawmills, with the suppliers determining the parameters jointly with SP and installing their own systems. The dimensions tested were pine 31x115 mm (target moisture content 12 %), pine 50x125 mm (18%) and pine 75x150 mm (18%). The results show, among other things, that Valmatics yields around 10% higher capacity than the other control system, and that Valmatics also shows better results for central parameters for quality such as target moisture content, standard deviation of moisture content and crack length.
Waipapa Pine Picks USNR Optimization Waipapa Pine at Waipapa, New Zealand has selected USNR’s MillExpert carriage optimization system, featuring two LASAR2 scanners. In this application, the LASAR2 provides dense, accurate 3D scan data for both front and backsides of the log. This system delivers full log breakdown grade sawing, and can be configured for minimum opening faces. This order marks the 12th MillExpertLASAR carriage optimization system USNR has installed for Radiata pine mills in the region. 42
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ATLARGE
Workshops Planned In May For Atlanta The 35th Annual Lumber Quality and Process Control Workshop will be held May 9-10 in Atlanta and the 30th Annual Lumber Quality Leadership Workshop will follow May 11-12. Both events are sponsored by Lumber Quality Institute, Corvallis, Ore. This first workshop is for lumber man-
ufacturers seeking to maximize board foot and grade recovery. It provides practical information and up-to-date techniques that will help sawmill personnel to: l ensure that production and quality control is in balance so that both quality and production increase. l recognize and eliminate costly mistakes that rob a company of its maximum profitability. l fine-tune or improve an existing
quality and process control program to increase its effectiveness. l reduce moisture content variability and drying defects in the lumber drying process. l maintain an effective lumber size control program. l learn about real-time lumber size control in use in mills today. l learn how changes in kerf, target size, price, wane allowance, etc., interact to influence profitability. l get ideas from other attendees and industry speakers on how they have achieved positive results from quality and process control. The workshop is designed for first line supervisors, graders, QC personnel, maintenance and filing supervisors. The second 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 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. For more information on these workshops, contact: Lumber Quality Institute, 3575 NW Roosevelt Dr., Corvallis, OR 97330; 541-752-2751; e-mail: assistance@lumberquality.com.
Tri-State’s Kimbel Memorialized Feb. 7 John C. Kimbel, former sawmill owner and later founder of Tri-State Auction & Realty Co., Kingston, Tenn., was remembered at a February 7 service commemorating his life. Kimbel, 82, died on February 4. Kimbel spent all his life in Roane County and was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church, Kingston. Widely known across the Southern sawmill and logging community, he worked as an auctioneer for more than 35 years and was a longtime member of the National Auctioneers Assn. & Certified Appraisers Institute. He had been retired for several years. 48
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PRODUCTSCANNER10 S-Series Planer
Gilbert’s new S-Series planer is ideal for small to mid-sized lumber operations, and is designed to run at feed speeds from 100 to 1200 FPM. “This new model offers the same renowned Gilbert technology in a smaller machine,” declares Heidi Danbrook, Sales Manager Planer Div. “Many customers have expressed that they do not require a high speed planer line but they would like the higher quality finish, increased accuracy and decreased setup times that newer model planers can offer.” With the S-Series planer, Gilbert reaches out to many different types of clientele, specializing in value-added
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manufactured wood products like moulding and millwork, remanufacturing, finger jointing, cedar and small to midsized lumber operations. The S-Series uses the unique-to-Gilbert “Pull-Through” technology for high running uptime and productivity. The same Automatic Cutterhead Positioning System is installed to control all cutterheads and axes for efficient changeovers and higher grade finished lumber. Its compact design can fit very well into existing layouts. “We look forward to two successful startups of the S-Series planer this spring in Curitiba, Brazil and are very thankful to work with two new Brazilian customers,” adds Danbrook. Nearly 100 Gilbert planers have been installed worldwide.Visit gilbert-tech.com.
GEN IV Log Trimmer
The latest generation of the Price LogPro log trimmer technology combines greatly reduced capital equipment needs with an all electric drive package incorporating regeneration drive systems. These systems offer a fully optimized product solution with infinite trim lengths allow-
ing lumber mills to greatly reduce over trim waste and broaden their product mix giving them versatility for growth. This coupled with the reduced capital investment and reduced energy consumption gives lumber mills that upgrade to this technology a large advantage over conventional wood yard setups. The new LogPro merchandiser arrangement has the capacity to easily merchandise stems at a continuous rate of more than 550 FPM through the debarker and maintain a trim accuracy of +/- 1⁄4" across all bucked solutions without any day to day maintenance needed, no incline lugged chain decks to keep in time, no even ending rolls needed and no elaborate stem positioning systems. The new GEN IV LogPro electric balanced saw design allows for extremely
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PRODUCTSCANNER10
smooth operation while reducing energy consumption by half over older hydraulic designs. The new fourth generation LogPro merchandiser systems will be adequate for 99% of all sawmill applications utilizing one high speed ring debarker and capital investment will be less than half of the early first generation log trimmer systems. LogPro managers and engineers have been actively involved with the “Log Trimmer” series of high speed transverse bucking systems since its first release almost 2 decades ago. The transition of growth has brought technology from conventional “stop-n-chop” merchandising at 10-15 logs per minute to bucking stems at 40 logs per minute with full optimization. Visit logprollc.com.
CamShift Combo
The USNR Söderhamn Eriksson CamShift system combines debarking and butt-end reducing in a single, modular machine. CamShift is available with/without butt-end reducing, and with one or two debarking rotors. Available with three rotor size options, the system can accommodate feeding up to 500 FPM with two debarking rotors.
CamShift 600 offers both log-releasing tools and tool pressure adjustment during operation. The manually adjusted butt-end reducer rotor is infinitely adjustable for reduced diameters up to 22". The modular, pull-out design makes setup and tool changes a breeze. Variations accommodate minimum log length and top or buttend feeding. Visit usnr.com.
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Call Toll-Free: 1-800-669-5613
EMPLOYMENTOPPORTUNITIES Executive – Managerial – Technical - Sales
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WORN OR MISALIGNED CARRIAGE RAILS? A Proven Process
• 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
GREENWOOD KILN STICKS Importers and Distributors of Tropical Hardwood Kiln Sticks “The lowest cost per cycle” GW Industries www.gwi.us.com
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PROFESSIONALSERVICES
Contact Us Office 541.760.5086 Cell 541.760.7173 Fax 971.216.4994 www.acculine-rails.com george@acculine-rails.com
Recruiting and Staffing George Meek
Management Recruiters of Houston Northeast
Gates Copeland 281-359-7940 • fax 866-253-7032
Serving the Wood Products and Building Materials Industries For more than 21 years.
8187
Top Wood Jobs
2200
Depending on Circumstances / Needs
Austin, Texas
Michael Strickland & Associates, LLC Executive Recruiters Wood Products/Building Materials Industries Mike Strickland mike@woodproductjobs.com 601-529-2157 • www.woodproductjobs.com
NEWSFEED EQUITY FIRM PURCHASES MORBARK Stellex Capital Management has acquired in-woods chipper, recycling and sawmill machinery manufacturer Morbark. The acquisition is focused on providing growth capital and resources to significantly expand the company, according to a statement. “Our acquisition of Morbark is a great fit for us. We believe the company is well-positioned to grow in the coming years, and we are confident that the capital and resources we bring will fuel that growth,” says David Waxman, principal of Stellex. Lon Morey, Morbark CEO and son of the late founder, Norval Morey, comments, “Though always difficult to leave a family business, we felt this was the right time with the right investor 52
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who can build on the legacy my father started and I have spent my entire life dedicated to.” Morbark will remain in Winn, Mich., where it started in 1957 and which today is home to headquarters and massive manufacturing facilities. The company states, “Upon Mr. Morey’s death, the family was left to keep things going and they have been very successful with that. However, Mr. Morey’s family wants what is best for the company and the employees going forward and has decided that the best thing…is to let someone that has more resources take Morbark to the next level.” The company adds that it is not in financial trouble; on the contrary is poised to grow sales because of the suc-
cesses it has realized in recent years. The company also says the new owners have no plans to relocate the company. Stellex’s focus is on middle-market companies going through transitions, as well as special situation opportunities. While existing product lines will continue to be manufactured, emphasis on new products and new markets is expected. The plan is also for the company to improve the quality of its products and reduce warranty costs, improve information systems, and reduce inventory to free up money for investment in other technology for the plant, and overall look for better ways to manufacture its products. Current Morbark officers, President Jim Shoemaker and VP of Sales and Marketing John Foote, will continue in their positions; while Dan Ruskin will become the new CEO. TP
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WOOD PRODUCTS marketplace NORTH AMERICA ■ United States
■ Kentucky HAROLD WHITE LUMBER, INC. MANUFACTURER OF FINE APPALACHIAN HARDWOODS
(606) 784-7573 • Fax: (606) 784-2624 www.haroldwhitelumber.com
■ Florida CRACKER SAWMILL
CYPRESS AND SYP Sawmill, Drying and MillIng facility Custom Cut to Order Lumber, Cants, Specialty Beams to 44’ We will Mill Log Home logs S4S 6”x6” thru 8”x12” T&G Your wood or ours WE DO WHAT OTHERS CANNOT 20253 N.E. 20th Street Williston, Fl 32690 www.Crackersawmill.com Info@Crackersawmill.com
(352) 529-2070
■ Georgia
Ray White
Domestic & Export Sales rwhite@haroldwhitelumber.com
Green & Kiln Dried, On-Site Export Prep & Loading Complete millworks facility, molding, milling & fingerjoint line
• 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
■ Tennessee
Next closing: July 5, 2016
STACKING STICKS
■ Minnesota
AIR-O-FLOW profiled & FLAT sticks available Imported & Domestic
Beasley Forest Products, Inc. P.O. Box 788 Hazlehurst, GA 31539
FOR SALE
DHM Company - Troy, TN 38260 731-538-2722 Fax: 707-982-7689 email: kelvin@kilnsticks.com www.KILNSTICKS.com
beasleyforestproducts.com 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
■ Indiana
Buyers & Wholesalers We produce quality 4/4 - 8/4 Appalachian hardwoods
■ North Carolina Cook Brothers Lumber Co., Inc.
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
WANT TO GET YOUR AD IN OUR NEXT MARKETPLACE? Call or email Melissa McKenzie 334-834-1170 melissa@hattonbrown.com
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MAINEVENTS APRIL
SEPTEMBER
5-6—Wood Bioenergy Conference & Expo, Omni Hotel at CNN Center, Atlanta, Ga. Call 334-834-1170; visit bioenergyshow.com.
26-27—28th Annual WMI Workshop on Design, Operation and Maintenance of Saws and Knives, Holiday Inn Portland Airport, Portland, Ore. Call 925-943-5240; visit woodmachining.com.
5-7—Kentucky Forest Industries Assn. 51st annual meeting, The Brown Hotel, Louisville, Ky. Call 502-695-3979; visit kfia.org.
28-30—Timber Processing & Energy Expo, Portland Expo Center, Portland, Ore. Call 334-834-1170; visit timberprocessingandenergyexpo.com.
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MAY
6-7—Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Expo, Champlain Valley Exposition, Essex Junction, Vt. Call 315-3693078; visit northernlogger.com/content/loggers-expo. 9-10—35th Annual Lumber Quality & Process Control Workshop, Atlanta, Ga. Call 541-752-2751; visit lumberquality.com. 11-12—30th Annual Lumber Quality Leadership Workshop, Atlanta, Ga. Call 541-752-2751; visit lumberquality.com. 12-14—Western Wood Products Assn. annual meeting, The Westin Mission Hills Golf Resort & Spa, Rancho Mirage, Calif. Call 503-224-3930; visit wwpa.org. 13-14—Expo Richmond 2016, Richmond Raceway Complex, Richmond, Va. Call 804-737-5625; visit exporichmond.com. 24-28—Xylexpo 2016, Fiera Milano Rho Fairgrounds, Milan, Italy. Phone +39-02-89210200; Visit xylexpo.com/index.php/en.
JUNE 1-4—WMF 2016—The 16th International Exhibition on Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Manufacturing Equipment, China International Exhibition Center, Beijing, China. Call (852) 2516 3518; visit chinaexhibition.com.
JULY 23-26—Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Summer Conference, The Greenbrier, White Sulphur Springs, W.Va. Call 336885-8315; visit appalachianwood.org.
AUGUST 24-27—International Woodworking Fair 2016, Georgia World Congress Center, Atlanta, Ga. Call 404-693-8333; visit iwfatlanta.com.
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1-3—American Wood Protection Assn. annual meeting, Condado Plaza Hilton, San Juan, Puerto Rico. Call 205-733-4077; visit awpa.com.
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Listings are submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with contacts prior to making plans to attend.
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7-8—Panel & Engineered Lumber International Conference & Expo (PELICE), Omni Hotel at CNN Center, Atlanta, Ga. Call 334-834-1170; visit pelice-expo.com.
Easy access to current advertisers! www.timberprocessing.com/adindex.html Don’t forget to bookmark this link!
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 Acrowood Andritz Iggesund Tools Brunson Instrument Comact Equipment Cone Omega East Coast Sawmill Expo Esterer WD GmbH Evergreen Engineering Fulghum Industries Gilbert Products Holtec USA James G Murphy Limab Linck Linden Fabricating LMI Technologies Lonza Wood Protection Lucidyne Technologies Metal Detectors Mid-South Engineering Morbark MPM Engineering Muhlbock Holztrocknungsanlagen Nelson Bros Engineering Oleson Saw Technology Pipers Saw Shop Price LogPro Rema Sawco S. Hout Samuel Strapping System Sennebogen Sering Sawmill Machinery Serra Maschinenbau Gmbh Simonds International Smith Sawmill Service Springer Maschinenfabrik Taylor Machine Works Team Safe Trucking Telco Sensors U S Blades U S Metal Works Union Grove Saw & Knife USNR/Söderhamn Eriksson Ustunkarli Makine VK North America Vollmer of America Wagner Meters Woodtech Measurement Solutions
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PH.NO. 425.258.3555 813.855.6902 800.445.9405 418.227.2727 229.228.9213 804.737.5625 +49 86 71 5 03 0 888.484.4771 800.841.5980 418.275.5041 800.346.5832 800.426.3008 +46 31 58 44 00 936 676 4958 250.561.1181 604.636.1011 678.627.2463 541.753.5111 541.345.7454 501.321.2276 800.831.0042 604.574.1397 +43 7753 2296 0 888.623.2882 800.256.8259 800.845.6075 501.844.4260 888.734.2659 418.681.0291 800.667.1264 704.347.4910 360.687.2667 +49 8051 96 40 00 800.426.6226 800.598.6344 +43 4268 2581 0 662.773.3421 843.761.3999 800.253.0111 800.862.4544 800.523.5287 704.539.4442 800.289.8767 +90 232 782 13 90 877.313.1225 412.278.0655 800.581.2722 503.720.2361
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