Millwide Insider 1-2013

INSIDER Millwide

THE MAGAZINE FROM USNR | ISSUE 1 - 2013

EDGER LINE FLEXIBILITY

EACOM Timber tools up with a new edger line for its Nairn Centre mill

RECORD BREAKING RESULTS Limington Lumber updates its edger line with MillExpert™ optimization

YOUR EDGER LINE EXPERTS USNR outlines its expertise with transverse edger line designs

Millwide

INSIDER ISSUE 1 - 2013

SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel.: 250.833.3028 subscriptions@usnr.com EDITOR Colleen Schonheiter colleen.schonheiter@usnr.com CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Sonia Perrine sonia.perrine@usnr.com

USNR: Edger experts USNR’s exper tise in edger technology comes as a result of decades of ongoing development with hundreds of installations worldwide. Our board edgers are based on designs from industry giants, Schurman and Newnes/McGehee.

Feature-rich optimization is available with either the solid MillExper t™ or Newnes Sawmill Suite platforms. Scanning can be accomplished with a variety of state-of-the-ar t sensors including the new BioLuma™ 2900 series. And they are all backed by USNR’s 24/7 suppor t network. No other supplier can offer you this much value and this much flexibility.

USNR PARTS & SERVICE 7/24 Service: 800.BUY.USNR Tel.: 360.225.8267 Fax: 360.225.7146 Mon. - Fri. 5:00 am - 5:00 pm PT www.usnr.com USNR LOCATIONS Woodland, WA Headquar ters

EACOM Timber, a major Eastern Canadian lumber producer, selected USNR to supply a new edger line at its Nairn Centre, Ontario mill.

After looking at other solutions the company made its selection because, “USNR manufactures the best edger process in Nor th America.” And the results are right on the money!

Limington Lumber was in the market to upgrade its outdated edger line with new technology that would help it recover more value and improve throughput. USNR’s MillExper t optimization system is helping the mill achieve record breaking results.

USNR’s transverse edger infeeds offer precise positioning per formance at very high piece counts. Two styles of positioning infeeds are available, designed to keep maintenance to a minimum and make operation efficient and practical. And our transverse edger sawboxes are available with options to customize the machine center to meet the requirements of your lumber market.

360.225.8267 Parksville, BC

Eugene, OR

250.954.1566

541.485.7127

Plessisville, QC

Jacksonville, FL

819.362.8768

904.354.2301

Salmon Arm, BC

Painesville, OH

250.832.7116

440.352.9381

© 2013, U.S. Natural Resources, Inc. All rights reserved.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 1981 Schurman Way, Woodland, WA 98674.

Canada Post: Return Undeliverable Canadian

If you are looking to improve your game with new edger technology, come see the exper ts at USNR.

Addresses to: USNR c/o Colleen Schonheiter, 3550 - 45th Street Southeast, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 4N2

Sincerely, Colleen Schonheiter Editor

EACOM Timber Corporation

Gaining an edge on the competition NEW EDGER LINE EXPANDS GLOBAL MARKET CAPABILITY EACOM Timber, a major lumber producer based in Eastern Canada, recently invested in its Nairn Centre, Ontario mill to install a new optimized board edger line. This project aligns with the company’s strategic direction to take advantage of the longawaited upswing that has begun in the forest products industry.

EACOM Timber has 5 sawmills located in Ontario and 3 based in Quebec, Canada. From its Eastern spruce and pine logs it processes dimensional lumber and shop products for the construction industry, as well as specialty export products geared to the UK and European markets. The Nairn Centre mill’s capacity is in the range of 150mmbf annually.

The mill wanted to replace an old 2-saw edger line that was not able to keep up with the capacity of the primary equipment, and missing recovery opportunity due to the outdated scanning technology and inhibited with only 2-saw capability. Mel Lemky, Vice-President of Manufacturing for all of EACOM’s Ontario mills, said of the existing edger line, “It was probably the first style of optimized edger in existence. The line was inadequate in terms of recovery and too slow to keep up with the demand put on it.” USNR was vendor of choice for the new line because in Mel’s words, “USNR manufactures the best edger process in North America.”

New edger line The new edger line receives material from a 4-sided canter line and trimmer re-edge feeding the edger infeed from the lumber line side; an outside re-entry feeds the line from the clearline side. A radius back unscrambler is first in the new supply and is fitted with speed up chains at the top to assist in singulating the boards ahead of the lug loader. A MillTrak lumber flow management camera is mounted above the lug loader area, and ensures a smooth flow of material. An even ending transfer aligns the boards and flitches to lumberline prior to entering the scanner. A Super-G2 (SG2) charger positioning table positively picks each flitch and advances it onto the feed chain to rapidly accelerate it into the edger.

The edger is equipped with 3 saws on a top arbor, and a top reman chipper head. It is designed to edge 1” through 4” material with shifting, guided saws. The shifting reman chipper head is vertically adjustable via a linear positioner. The outfeed is a standard USNR edger picker design that transfers edged material to a slow down belt.

Mel explained that EACOM chose the reman head option and 3-saw arbor for the edger because the company has a strong export market for a variety of specialty product sizes. “We wanted the 3-saw edger to improve on the value we could get out of the flitches. Three saws offers us the capability to

When EACOM contracted with USNR to provide a new state-ofthe-art edger line for its Nairn Centre mill, it expected to be well satisfied with the outcome.

Now several months later it reports that recovery, throughput and product flexibility are “right on the money”.

“USNR manufactures the best edger process in North America.”

– Mel Lemky, Eacom Timber

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“Having 3 saws offers us the capability to get 2 boards out of some of the flitches.

And better scanning and optimization also helps us recover more lumber per flitch.”

A radius back unscrambler is first in the new supply and is fitted with speed up chains at the top to assist in singulating the boards ahead of the lug loader.

get 2 boards out of some of the flitches. And better scanning and optimization also helps us recover more lumber per flitch.”

Mel went on to say that when the mill does a run of a specific export product it generates a lot of edger material because of the mill’s log size diet.

“So we get the one piece of product that we are

looking for, and then everything else coming out of that log has to be re-edged because typically it has too much wane. It used to be if we went after any specific product we backed up the mill immediately due to the outdated and slow edger line. With the new line, we just recently finished an export product run and the mill was never backed up. The system scans the specialty product, and if it doesn’t make minimum grade the top head will reman it down to a North American product. Now we are able to resize that product right there instead of having to deal with it at the planer.”

“The system scans the specialty product, and if it doesn’t make minimum grade the top head will reman it down to a North American product. Now we are able to resize that product right there instead of having to deal with it at the planer.”

Scanning & optimization

The SG2 charger positioning table positively picks each flitch and advances it onto the feed chain then rapidly accelerates it into the edger sawbox.

EDGER INFEED

MILLTRAK

SCANNER

UNSCRAMBLER SPEED UP CHAINS

FLOW

Temposonics

TM

MTS BOSCH

BTA

SCAN TRANSFER

SGII INFEED TABLE

EVEN ENDING TRANSFER

LUG LOADER

SCANNER

Mel said they chose the combination of BioLuma 2900L sensors and the Newnes Sawmill Suite optimization platform because it offers the latest technological advances, and should afford the longest lifespan before having to consider an upgrade. He went on to say, “We’ve had very good results out of the edger system at Timmins that we operated with the Newnes software, so we were expecting similar results.”

The new scan frame is outfitted with 18 BioLuma 2900L laser profile sensors. These state-of-the-art full-coverage sensors are USNR’s latest release. For applications that don’t require grade classifications, the BioLuma 2900L provides revolutionary results in 3D modeling with far more detail than any other scanning platform currently on the market today.

This results in the optimizer MILLTRAKproviding solutions that maximize the fiber for the highest recovery possible.

The system includes the fastest high density UNSCRAMBLER scanning system and a single optimization computer.

SPEED UP CHAINS

FLOW

A MillTrak lumber flow management system camera (above) is mounted above the lug loader area, ensuring a smooth flow of material. This unique system outperforms photo-eyes and limit switches, and allows significantly-reduced operator intervention in areas of EDGER the mill where it is employed.

WITH TOP Temposonics

TM

MTS

BOSCH

BTA

ROLL

OUTFEED EDGINGS BELT

PICKERS

TRANSFER SGIISCAN INFEED TABLE

SGII INFEED TABLE REMAN HEAD

EVEN ENDING TRANSFER

LUG LOADER

FLOW

EDGER OUTFEED 9

OUTFEED BELT WITH SLOW DOWN ROLL

CLEARING ROLL

OUTFEED EDGINGS BELT

PICKERS

EDGER WITH TOP REMAN HEAD

FLOW

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SGII INFEED TABLE

A second computer is included for analysis and as a backup to the main processor. An interface screen on the mill floor allows operators to access the system from a convenient location, while the computers remain secure in a controlled environment inside the computer room.

The edger optimizer is based on the Newnes Sawmill Suite software platform. The optimizer is proven to improve recovery and increase uptime with simplified calibrations, improved diagnostics, and supportable hardware. Proven algorithms provide the most valuable cut solution utilizing product set-up information as input by the mill user, board measurements from the sensors and available operator inputs.

Challenges Mel explained the difficulties the mill overcame during the execution of this project. “We had a limited amount of time for the installation, and we actually started up the mill before the edger was ready to run. During that time we took the material destined for edging and stored it until the new edger installation was complete, and then we metered it back in during the normal operation of the sawmill.

That was by far the biggest challenge because we didn’t want to have a lot of downtime.” He went on to say that the mill was only shut down for one week, and the edger was ready to run a week later.

“The performance test actually exceeded the requirements of the contract. Our target was about 40 pieces per minute, or an average of about 1200 pcs./hour.”

Turnkey The contract charged USNR with supplying the project on a turnkey basis. This included the following in addition to supply and installation of the equipment. ► ►Engineering and installation of the equipment sub-structure ► ►Mechanical equipment installation ► ►Electrical installation ► ►Dismantling of existing equipment ► ►Modifications to existing walkways, platforms and handrails and stairs ► ►Equipment guarding and barriers to meet OSHA standards ► ►The supply and installation of debris, sawdust, chips and tailing containment ► ►The supply and installation of hydraulics, saw lube, water and pneumatic tie-ins ► ►Surface cleaning and painting of all installation welds and exposed steel

The tight schedule called for a maximum of 7 days from the start of demolition to installation completion. John Jacques, USNR project manager, reiterated that the tight timeline for installation and commissioning was the major challenging aspect for this project. He said, “Turnkey projects can be challenging in the way that you are always having to react to issues that arise, and react in such a way that you do not impact the cost or the schedule. There are many actions taking place at any one time, and it can be challenging to balance out the priorities of things that have to happen in a certain order.”

Results “right on the money” Mel is very pleased with the outcome of the project and the performance of the new edger line. “The

“We were expecting to get a solid recovery increase because we could then adjust our primary cutting equipment to maximize the capability of the new edger line, and we did.

We’re at about 101% of our target recovery, so the numbers were right on the money.”

EACOM’S WINNING COMBINATION When EACOM Timber went looking for an advanced solution to replace its aging edger optimization system, it knew it wanted something that would be capable of meeting the demand for a wide range of dimension and specialty products. It wanted to produce the right products and product combinations right there in the sawmill.

EACOM selected the BioLuma 2900L because it is the most advanced transverse sensor in the industry.

It is unmatched in overall performance.

EACOM was familiar with the Newnes Sawmill Suite optimization platform (see also page 6).

They knew it was a solid performer, with a host of features to provide the product flexibility and system capability they were looking for.

This winning combination is just what EACOM needed to improve its bottom line with significant increases to recovery and throughput.

► ►HD laser profiles with true

► ►Depth of field: 8” (203mm)

differential measurements ► ►Profile density: 0.30” (8mm) ► ►Scan rate: 2500 Hz

► ►Thickness accuracy: +/- .015” (.38mm) ► ►Laser class: lllb visible ► ►Gig-e (gigabit ethernet) interface

BIOLUMA 2900L Industry’s most advanced HD Laser Profile Sensor

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performance test actually exceeded the requirements of the contract. Our target was about 40 pieces per minute, or an average of about 1200 pcs./hour. Some days we get up to 1500 pcs./hour, but we can have heavy surges so it varies quite a bit.”

Mel went on to say that the mill’s goal was to be able to handle the piece count, and to improve recovery between 10-12 points. “We were expecting to get a solid recovery increase because we could then adjust our primary cutting equipment to maximize the capability of the new edger line, and we did. We’re at about 101% of our target recovery, so the numbers were right on the money.”

Mel also expressed, “The project was carried off just about flawlessly. That doesn’t mean there were no surprises, but the surprises were dealt with properly and immediately.”

Mel is well satisfied with the level of support EACOM has received from USNR. “Within the company, our Timmins mill is largely a USNR mill now, and that level of support has always been very good. USNR has provided better support than other vendors.”

“Our Timmins mill is largely a USNR mill now, and that level of support has always been very good. USNR has provided better support than other vendors.”

installed so we minimize downtime. Then I source the equipment they need to achieve the mill’s target goals. It’s my responsibility to give the mills and mill managers the tools to achieve the goals the company holds them accountable to.”

Formed in 2008 during the bottoming out of the forest products market, EACOM Timber is strategically investing to retool the mill operations it acquired with the purchase of Domtar Forest Products Division in 2010.

Team effort Personnel from EACOM that were involved in the project include the following. Pierre Bows was Project Coordinator and is also the Nairn Centre Site Superintendent. He was responsible for the organization and execution of the project from the mill’s side. Harrison Wicks, Mill Manager, was involved in overseeing the project. Mel explained his role as VP of manufacturing for EACOM’s Ontario mills. “I consult with the mill managers and crew, outline goals and discuss what type of equipment we need, how it will be laid out and how to have it

NEWNES SAWMILL SUITE EDGER OPTIMIZATION Some of the significant Newnes Sawmill Suite edger optimizer features that EACOM will be able to employ include the following advanced attributes: ► ►Fixed width / random width (shop) logic ► ►Multiple board edging (up to 7 pieces) ► ►Multiple board cut-n-two for the trimmer ► ►Edger / trimmer rip-board ► ►Saw and grade run-out limits / edge crush handling / flared butt handling

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► ►Re-centering for maximum face / balancing of edge wane logic ► ►Compound wane control / square board (trim) drop-out evaluation ► ►Up to 240 products (thickness by width combinations), 28 separate

nominal lengths ► ►Up to 8 product groupings (by species or visual grade classification) ► ►Operator taper inputs for grade boundary indication ►► Support for top reducer head, chipping side heads, various infeed configurations

Limington Lumber

Successful M6 upgrade ™ with USNR MillExpert EDGER OPTIMIZATION UPGRADE YIELDS RECORD BREAKING PRODUCTION Many mills today face a dilemma when trying to decide whether a replacement or upgrade to an existing edger or trimmer scanning and optimization system is the better choice for the best return on investment. USNR has a solution for both scenarios, and in many cases we can utilize the existing scanning technology and feed that into today’s powerful optimization systems.

Limington Lumber is located at East Baldwin, Maine. In 2001 the mill invested in many modifications, one of which was an edger optimization system. Now more than a decade later and with many technological advances on the market, the mill knew that more potential was available and decided it was necessary to pursue updating the system.

Challenges Win Smith, president of the Limington Lumber Co., contacted USNR’s Bob Pope to discuss his concerns. The old optimization computer system was not able to fully analyze the data it received from the scanner in the time available – up to 3.4 seconds average for each flitch. With production increasing and solutions timing out, he knew that opportunity was being missed. The slow analysis rate of the optimizer created a bottle neck at the edger, and this resulted in extra work for the operator. Win was also worried about the obsolescence of the optimization system’s hardware.

“We’ve seen a 10% piece count increase through the edger. The edger is no longer the bottleneck. We made the right decision.”

Win and his team considered the alternatives presented to them, and decided that a new USNR MillExpert optimization platform with an Allen Bradley ControlLogix PLC upgrade would solve the issues the mill was experiencing. It would allow them to keep their existing scanning system with its Dynavision M6 sensors, achieve much needed improvement to recovery and throughput, and resolve the obsolescence issue.

USNR replaced the existing optimizer with the industry leading MillExpert edger optimization system, and left in place the existing and supportable M6 technology, scan frame and cabling.

Win Smith is more than pleased with the outcome of the upgrade, which included new computer hardware that removed the obscelence concerns he had with the old optimization system.

Results Win Smith was more than pleased with the outcome of the upgrade. He said that the decision processing is much improved and the downstream processes are no longer waiting for the edger. He also noted record production in the mill, “We’ve seen a 10% piece

count increase through the edger. The edger is no longer the bottleneck. We made the right decision.”

Win also mentioned being very pleased with the startup and overall performance of the line.

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end-wane, skip, etc.), pricing, priorities, cosmetic balancing, re-man, etc. for every piece on a productby-product basis. Even though it may still make the same 2x6-12’ as the old system, the board will be better centered in the good wood, with more control over how the wane is distributed. This improves the overall appearance of the lumber and reduces downgrade due to wane at the planer mill.

It’s 100% supportable

The MillExpert optimization system at Limington Lumber is able to use all of the data collected from the existing M6 scanner heads. And with much faster processing speed the system delivers on the promise of increased throughput and recovery.

M6 upgrade benefits

No more ‘reboot, and hope’

As of press time, twenty mills have now chosen this upgrade from USNR for their transverse edger or trimmer lines. Mills typically achieve 80% of the benefits without replacing the scanning system, and save about 1/3 the cost of a full replacement.

Following are results you can expect to achieve.

Customers have complained that they will start getting ‘no solutions’ and bad scans that seem to be related to data dropout. They stop and try recalibrating but the problem remains. Replace it with USNR’s MillExpert optimization system. It’s modern and standard, and proven to be a reliable package in hundreds of installations.

When USNR upgrades your M6 system it will be 100% supportable, and it will cut better lumber running the newest optimization technology. It comes with a full 3-year warranty! Then, when you are ready swap out your 4” density M6 sensors for the new 1/3-inch density BioLuma™ 2900L sensors. Your optimization system will already be upgraded with the best solution engine on the market, and backed by the largest supplier with the broadest support network in the industry.

If your system isn’t producing the way you need it to, consider the Limington Lumber experience. Contact USNR today and let’s discuss the best solution for your operation, and your money!

► ►Dramatically faster solution times, 100,000+

permutations per piece ► ►Overall better edging and trimming solutions ► ►ALL the features of a new MillExpert optimizer,

and lumber that’s better centered for less wane ► ►Better diagnostics for troubleshooting, off-line

simulation for ‘what if’ analysis ► ►Total product control; product-by-product, grade-

by-grade parameters

Troubleshooting The MillExpert scanner interface has been reinvented. The updated diagnostics show raw data, board data, and laser data and so on, in graphical format instead of a spreadsheet with endless, confusing numbers. Still have a problem? USNR can support you over the internet in real-time, while we talk through what we’re doing on the phone.

► ►New optimization hardware: only sensors, cables

and scan frame retained ► ►Modern, familiar Windows-based software, commercial grade computers ► ►Service 24/7, with the largest, most experienced support staff in the industry

Better edging with less overall wane The old optimization systems use single processor computers, using up precious processing time just transferring data. MillExpert uses a quad core, dual processor-based commercial grade computer. This computer is 20-40 times more powerful than the old solution computer, and is capable of evaluating tens of thousands more possible solution permutations to maximize both fiber recovery and improve overall appearance. For example, instead of trying only 3 skew angles with 0.25” offsets now you can evaluate 7-13 skew angles with 0.05” offsets. The result is better use of available fiber, and improved centering of the solution within the ‘good wood’.

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Simple MillExpert is a single application for trimmers, edgers, sharp chains, curve sawing gangs, carriages, etc. Once you are familiar with any MillExpert system you can easily work with all MillExpert optimizer systems. The new calibration procedure is point-nclick easy, with graphical screens that clearly show the results.

Image Processing In the process of using the M6 scan data to build the 3D board model, the same image filtering techniques and modern algorithms are used on the M6 data as is used on our state-of-the-art scanning systems. This yields better images of the lumber, even though the data is coming from the same M6 scanning heads.

More Control The old optimizer system is limited to defining many parameters (such as wane) only by width and thickness groups, using archaic tables. MillExpert does not have such limitations. You can set wane (compound or simple, visible or board-in-board,

OTHER SATISFIED CUSTOMERS “The MillExpert platform does a great job for us, it gives us tighter control of wane on the boards, and also gives us alternative options on how we edge lumber. It gives us alternatives our previous system couldn’t offer.”

– Thomas Battle, Battle Lumber “Since we were able to upgrade and reuse our scan frame and our sensors, it made it very feasible and a whole lot quicker payback on the investment.

We’re trimming better, and we’re trimming smarter. The lumber coming out of the mill is better quality than what we were getting before.”

– John Grigsby, H.G. Toler

Transverse infeeds to feed your hungry edger USNR’s transverse edger infeeds offer precise positioning performance at very high piece counts.

Two styles of positioning infeeds are available, designed to keep maintenance to a minimum and make operation efficient and practical. Most machine adjustments, plumbing and wiring is easily accessible along the maintenance sides.

Common features ► ►Fast, accurate and reliable positioning ► ►Proven piece counts to nearly 60 pcs./min. ► ►Gentle handling ► ►Significantly low maintenance

USNR’s unique ability to offer completely integrated systems from a single supplier, long term and ongoing support, continuous upgrade path and performance-enhancing improvements are what sets USNR apart. Contact us today at 800.BUY.USNR or info@usnr.com.

Super-G2 infeed This model gets its name from individually controlled G-frames that pick and position material onto the centerline feed chain. The SG2 infeed gently and accurately positions flitches at high cycle rates. Top and bottom clamping maintains accuracy on hard-to-handle thin, irregular or curve sawn pieces. Highly developed control logic provides smart, rapid operation.

Precision hold down rolls with adjustable alignment, feed chain running on Endura nylon chainbeds and overall rigid frame construction are attributes of this design. Alternate or multiple chargers adapt to the material being fed. Just-in-time charger stroking is governed by piece width and length. Hold down rolls maintain the position of the piece while feeding.

With the SG2 Infeed, individually controlled G-frames rapidly but gently pick and position material onto the centerline feed chain.

Just-in-time charger stroking is governed by piece width and length.

Maximizer infeed With USNR’s Maximizer infeed, hydraulic positioners push boards onto hydraulically actuated staging ramps. Wane crush is a non-issue with the sophisticated air cushion cylinders on the positioners and optimization solution modeling. Staging ramps and holddown rolls ensure accurate positioning before material is fed into the edger. The low mass design of the pop-up style positioner head allows fast positioning, and with dual positioners customers can achieve the highest piece counts possible with a transverse configuration.

The Maximizer Infeed features pop-up style positioner heads; with dual positioners (shown) customers can achieve the highest piece counts possible with a transverse configuration.

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Transverse edger sawbox USNR’s transverse edger sawbox designs offer high throughput and recovery, with minimal maintenance.

There are an abundance of features and options available that will improve your process. You can opt for a top reman head, and it can be mounted in front or behind the saws. Your unit can be outfitted with or without side chipping heads. The arbor can be direct drive or vee-belt driven. The press rolls can be free-turning or powered. The chain bed track running up to the saws can be of hardened steel or precision nylon. Flitch stability can be maintained going into the saws via an anvil or outrigger bed roll headshaft. These are just some of the variations you

Standard board edger design (no top reman head)

have to choose from when you select USNR for your next edger project.

► ►Up to 350 HP motor on the arbor; up to 250 HP on

the top head ► ►Optional top head assembly with a top anvil and

Common features ► ►Designed to edge 1” through 4” thickness ► ►Accommodates up to 6 guided saws shifting on 6”

diameter splined top arbor ► ►Three-/four-saw machines designed with a

36”/42” wide opening with a sawing envelope configured for centerline feed ► ►Guide lubrication: air/water/oil mist system ► ►Optional spline sleeve arbor to allow change-out of sleeve only

chip chute, shifts up/down by means of a linear positioner utilizing a parallelogram design to keep the anvil horizontal and in contact with the board ► ►The width of the head can be up to 18”, and the number of knives is speed dependent up to 8 ► ►Tip up shifter tip sets ► ►Belt-driven feed works ► ►Chain bed continuous from infeed table bed chain to the saws ► ►Heavy-duty construction, 1-1/4” steel side plates ► ►Side and top saw doors for easy access ► ►Entire frame is fully assembled, stress relieved then line bored ► ►Edger comes pre-plumbed and pre-wired, with all guards provided Contact us today to discuss the challenges you have with your existing edger system and let us help you find the best solution.

Board edger design with optional top reman head ► ►Reman head can be direct drive or vee-belt driven ► ►Top head assembly arranged for 20” / 22”

diameter segments ► ►Optional heavy duty chrome plated anvil mounted

below chipper head ► ►Top head press roll mounted directly behind anvil

to aid in feeding short boards

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F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber – MultiTrack Fence & Trim/Sort upgrade

The MillExpert/LASAR combination has been selected by Allegheny Wood Products of Marble, PA for its headrig carriage. The new supply will include the LASAR 3D scanning system combined with the MillExpert optimization platform. Also included is new computer hardware, controller cabinet, sawyer’s console and handles. This project replaces the YieldMaster+ (photocell scanning system) that has been running continuously in this mill since it was installed in 1995.

The mill located at Columbia Falls, Montana, has ordered a new Multi-Track Fence. The mill will also upgrade its optimization and controls system for the trim/sort line with the WinTally™ sorter management system and a WinTally ticket system. The existing ControlLogix PLC system will be upgraded to accommodate the new supply. The existing trimmer optimization system will also be upgraded to the MillExpert platform, while retaining the existing DynaVision B8 scanner heads.

Ball Lumber – Log Bucking Optimization

Idaho Forest Group – Planer Mill Trimmer Line Modernization

Ball Lumber Co, Inc., at Millers Tavern, Virginia has invested in a new USNR MillWide™ Log Bucking Optimization system. With more features, capabilities and scanning options than any other system in the industry, USNR’s bucking optimizer combines dense 3D scan data with the power of today’s high-speed computers to let you get the maximum value from every stem.

The Idaho Forest mill at Laclede, Idaho is investing to modernize its planer mill with new trimmer line equipment from USNR. The Laclede mill manufactures dimensional lumber as well as shop and specialty products from Douglas fir, white fir, Ponderosa pine and cedar.

The new equipment supply includes a backlog table feeding a Revolver Lug Loader, Multi-Track Fence, multi-saw trimmer fitted with a flying P.E.T. saw for precise product length control, overhead frame and clamps for cut-n-two, and associated lumber transfers. A MillTrak lumber flow monitoring system will control the lug loader backlog to ensure smooth and continuous flow. These improvements will assist the Laclede mill to achieve significant improvement to throughput for its operation.

Deer Park Lumber – G3 Carriage Optimization Upgrade Deer Park Lumber located at Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania has ordered an optimization upgrade for its junior carriage. The existing YieldMaster G3 Stereo Scan system will be upgraded with new software and computer hardware, and the existing scan bar and DynaVision L4 scan heads will be re-used.

This upgrade is in addition to an earlier similar upgrade to the mill’s large log carriage line. The project will result in improved sensor accuracy and optics for improved value and recovery.

EACOM Timber – Complete sawmill rebuild EACOM Timber has contracted with USNR to design, manufacture and install a complete sawmill rebuild for its site at Timmins, Ontario that was heavily damaged by fire in January 2012. This major project will be done on a turnkey basis, and follows closely on the heels of USNR’s successful board edger turnkey project at EACOM’s Nairn Centre, Ontario mill.

The scope of the Timmins rebuild includes buildings, shops, services, conveyors and transfers necessary for the reconfigured log sorting and debarker areas, and upgraded edger, trimmer and bin sorter. A significant part of the rebuild will be the installation of a new high recovery USNR log breakdown system that includes an optimized log infeed, Quad Arbor Saw Box and double arbor vertical shape saw.

Idaho Forest Group – Bin Sorter, Tray Sorter Lumber Handling The company is also investing in its mill at Lewiston, Idaho with lumber handling equipment to update its bin sorter and tray sorter lines. Included in the wide array of equipment to be supplied will be a Revolver Lug Loader, 2 Multi-Track Fences, a multi-saw trimmer, and a shifting Precision End Trim (P.E.T.) saw. The mill will also receive 2 MillTrak™ lumber flow management systems and ControlLogix controls for both sort lines.

Roy O Martin Lumber Company – 6-Deck Jet Veneer Dryer The Roy O Martin company has purchased its fourth Coe dryer and second 6-deck veneer dryer for the Chopin, Louisiana facility. The company’s first 6-deck jet dryer (and first in the southeast region) was purchased a year ago and recently commissioned. This dryer replaces the last of the European dryers furnished when the plant was built.

All four dryers are equipped with the energysaving and exhaust-limiting Automatic Dryer Exhaust Control (ADEC) system. Since the first Coe dryer installation in 2007, this powerful

dryer feature has significantly lowered the plant’s energy and exhaust treatment cost.

This latest dryer is hot oil heated and comprises 18 heated and 3 cooling sections.

Like its recently installed predecessor, this latest dryer will be erected fully and then towed into place. Towing the fully-erected dryer into location reduces the outage time required when dismantling an existing dryer and erecting a new dryer on the old dryer foundation.

When this new dryer is put into service later this year, the combined capacity of both 6-deck dryers will be more than double the combined capacity of the earlier installed 18-section 4-deck (2007) and 20-section 4-deck (2009) dryers. USNR is proud to have been selected by this industry leader as its dryer supplier.

Swanson Group – Transverse High Grader (THG) The Swanson Group operation at Glendale, Oregon is investing to update its planer mill with a full-featured THG system as well as Revolver Lug Loader, Multi-Track Fence, WinTally™ sorter management system, True-Read™ XL Grade Mark Reader, Grade Projector system, and associated trim line lumber transfers. The controls system for the line will also be updated to the ControlLogix platform.

The THG utilizes time-tested technology derived from the Lineal High Grader (LHG) image analysis and optimization software, combined with the best sensor available today. The BioLuma 2900LVG+ sensors collect ultra-high resolution images and precise geometric and grain angle measurements along the entire four surfaces of the boards.

These improvements will assist the Glendale operation to achieve significant uplift to the value and grade distribution of its products, and improvements to throughput and recovery.

NEW PROJECTS

Allegheny Wood Products – MillExpert/LASAR G3 Carriage Opt.

Timber Products – G3 Carriage Optimization Upgrade The Timber Products hardwood mill located at Munising, Michigan is upgrading its carriage optimization system. The existing YieldMaster Stereo Scan system will be upgraded with new software and computer hardware, and the existing scan bar and DynaVision L4 scan heads will be re-used. The project will result in improved sensor accuracy and optics for improved value and recovery.

ISSUE 1 - 2013 | Millwide INSIDER 11

PO Box 310 Woodland, WA 98674

PROFILE

Millwide INSIDER is printed on recycled paper.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Kelly Jackman is USNR

Kelly Jackman is a 20-year veteran with USNR, having star ted his career here in 1992 with a B.S. in Mechanical Eng. from Por tland State University.

Kelly says he enjoys the challenges his role affords him

in the ongoing development of existing and new products.

Projects that stand out in his mind include the first vir tual pivot horizontal shape saw (HSS) gang that was installed in Australia, and the first ver tical shape saw (VSS) gang that was installed in Alabama. “Both projects were a challenge because they involved brand new products.

It was exhilarating to see the fruits of our labor proven out in

the mill environment.” He went on to say the star tup teams and customers worked hard toward a common goal, and the result was unqualified success.

When time permits Kelly enjoys the outdoors. ”I like to go fishing for salmon/steelhead here in the Pacific NW. I also enjoy snowmobiling and skiing.”

Kelly also spares some of his free time to play and coach soccer and basketball.

FEB. 13–15 Montreal Wood

MAR. 13–15 Small Log Conference

MAY 6–10 Ligna

Montreal, Quebec

Coeur d’Alene, Idaho

Hannover, Germany

MAR. 11–13 HMA

APR. 3–5 COFI

JUNE 5–7 SFPA EXPO

Charleston, South Carolina

Prince George, BC

Atlanta, Georgia

team leader for secondary breakdown machines, based at Woodland, WA.