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NHLA Membership Forging Ahead to the Furture
NHLA MEMBERSHIP:
Forging Ahead to the Future
By AMANDA BOUTWELL
McDonough Manufacturing Co. is leading the charge with a new resaw system that’s advancing resaw technology and capabilities. Matt Tietz, VP/Owner of McDonough Manufacturing Co., told NHLA that they have recently begun work on a new “AutoMAXX” resaw system, saying, “It is a revolutionary machine that reimagines what a resaw can do.”
Basically, the AUTOMAXX system combines physical controls with a visual operator interface. It has high-quality digital imaging and is optimized to maximize yield of grade and input. It is completely automated for turning, fence sets, gap control, and feeding, which allows the operator to focus on cutting decisions and grade. This system increases yield of your highest-grade products and offers increased line counts at equivalent feed speeds. Tietz continues, “Because it only requires one grader/operator, it will help with labor issues and saw fatigue while increasing saw capacity.”
Lumber treatment and wood preservation is another segment of the industry offering new ideas. In today’s environment of lumber shortages, higher and fluctuating prices, and supply chain issues, many lumber producers are looking inward to mill upgrades, new mills, and how to gain as much control of their own supply chain as possible.
NHLA member American Wood Technology (AWT) specializes in providing the latest advanced wood treatment equipment for all kinds of businesses. Claus Staalner with AWT told NHLA, “We get a lot of calls these days from mill owners asking about treating their own lumber. Even the smaller mills are now considering investing in treatment plants to treat their own lumber, eliminating one step in the supply chain to serve their clients better, secure supplies, and expand their business.”
Staalner also discussed seeing renewed interest in Thermo modification, particularly for siding. Thermo modification is one of the latest trends in the wood conservation field. Thermo modification is useful for various products: outdoor furniture, cladding, decking, siding, flooring, and cabinetry. Claus said, “I imagine pricing on woods like Cedar is now at levels that Thermo treated Poplar is beginning to make a lot of economic sense. AWT is one of the oldest suppliers
FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, the hardwood lumber industry has been an essential part of day-to-day life. The methods used to turn timber into lumber have changed over the years to make the process more efficient. Over the last four decades alone, machinery like automatic edgers and resaws have been used to increase grade yield, helping hardwood companies battle shrinking profit margins. In 2022, several new products and services have been created to help hardwood companies succeed.
SCREENSHOT OF MICKEY GROUP SOFTWARE
In order to design a product that fit the market, Mickey's Chief Technology Officer, Weston Stewart-Tennes (right) visited hardwood mills like Tigerton Lumber Company, in Tigerton, WI."
of Thermo plants and has the most significant number of plants installed worldwide. This technology has come into its own recently, spurring new innovations. With today’s plants, you can control the process in a much more straightforward way. As a result, you see less acidity and better-quality modified lumber than ever before.” welcomed a new member, Mickey Group, Inc. Mickey Group is a technology company building a brand new, first-of-its-kind online platform that simplifies buying and selling lumber in the United States.
“Our goal is to make buying lumber as easy as ordering paper towels on Amazon,” said Alex Rabens, Co-founder and CEO of Mickey Group. “Lumber suppliers from all over the country can price their inventory of hardwood – regardless of shape or size – and receive orders directly from buyers with an immediate pay-out (faster than they can email their weekly stock list). Both suppliers and buyers benefit from Mickey’s ability to dispatch trucks to the supplier and fulfill the completed order to the buyer’s location – all through a completely digital process.”
“Mickey Group is providing a much-needed technology boost for the entire forest product ecosystem,” said Alex Meyers, COO of Mickey Group. “This new platform is a completely different way to do business. For example, a customer who orders lumber on Mickey sees real-time inventory and the absolute lowest price for that product available anywhere in America. Mickey handles the entire transaction for you. So, if there are issues on the supplier side or with transportation or delivery, Mickey Group, Inc.’s experienced and knowledgeable team knows how to handle the situation. Mickey Group, Inc. lets suppliers focus on bringing more lumber to market and buyers concentrate on order supplies by the truckload.”
As technology develops in the lumber industry, businesses should examine their risk exposures, particularly their cyber risk. Erin Selfe,
Vice President of IT for Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company, reminds us, “Over the last three years, the business world has seen a major rise in cyberattacks, most notably ransomware attacks. While innovative technologies may help streamline operations, ensuring your business is still properly protected from cyber threats is essential.”
Selfe continues, “According to the University of Maryland, there are 2,244 cyberattacks per day, and 43 percent of small- and medium-sized businesses don’t have a cybersecurity defense plan. In the lumber industry, malware, ransomware, and phishing threats have slowed operations at the supply chain level, bringing normal business operations to a standstill – even for businesses not directly targeted by a cyberattack. As cyber risks continue to rise in lumber while we implement new technology, what steps can businesses take to protect themselves?”
Below, Erin provides some bullet points on how to protect your business.
1. BUILD A CYBER PLAN: All businesses should have a cyber incident response plan in place. This plan should be regularly tested among staff to ensure the whole team is prepared for a cyberattack
2. TRAIN STAFF: New hires and longtime staff should participate in regular cyber training sessions. Training can demonstrate what typical cyberattacks look like so employees know what tactics cyber criminals may employ to trick them and gain access to company systems. Training should also educate team members about best practices for managing and reporting potential cyber threats. Ensure all staff members follow basic security practices, including using multi-factor authentication and regularly resetting passwords. 3. SECURE CYBER INSURANCE: Cyberattacks are bound to hit many businesses even with the best mitigation practices. Securing a cyber policy can cover your business and ensure operations can continue even in the wake of significant threats. Reach out to your insurer to confirm your business is adequately protected from cyber threats with a cyber policy. Additionally, talk to your insurer about your cyber risks. They may have resources to support policyholders to build out their cyber incident response plans.
4. TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOUR TAX DOLLARS: There are many free resources to protect your large or small business. Visit the Shields Up resources available from the Cybersecurity & Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to learn more. www.cisa.gov/shields-up
Considering all the new technologies NHLA members provide, it is a great time to be a part of the lumber industry!
Join us at the NHLA Annual Convention & Exhibit Showcase, September 21-23 at the Huntington Convention Center in Cleveland, Ohio. While you are there, don’t forget to visit the Exhibit Showcase, where you can personally talk with McDonough Manufacturing (booth 318), American Wood Technology (booth 331), Mickey Group, Inc (booth 629), Pennsylvania Lumbermens Mutual Insurance Company (booth 513), and many more.
Visit www.nhla.com/convention2022/exhibit to see all exhibiting companies.
