THE MAGAZINE FROM USNR | ISSUE 3-2014
PUKEPINE SAWMILLS TAKES THG TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL
BÉGIN & BÉGIN GOES FULL LOG BREAKDOWN MODE WITH NEW CARRIAGE LINE
AWARD WINNING TECHNOLOGY FOR YOUR VENEER DRYER
CONTENTS
Millwide Insider ISSUE 3 - 2014
Showing off USNR’s record for developing leading-edge concepts is proven out by the number of new products and technologies that are taking the industry by storm. In a few shor t years we’ve introduced a gamut of designs in the realms of mechanical, electronic and optimization that our order book indicates customers are hungry for. And industry events like the upcoming Timber Processing & Energy Expo in Por tland, OR afford us the oppor tunity to showcase our work. We hope to see you at this year’s show.
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PUKEPINE SAWMILLS New Zealand’s Pukepine Sawmills selected USNR to transform the manual grading line in its green mill with a Transverse High Grader (THG™) system. Typically used with kiln-dried, planed lumber, the USNR team applied the THG’s technology to this new challenge. The results are better than Pukepine expected!
SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel.: 250.833.3028 subscriptions@usnr.com EDITOR Colleen Schonheiter colleen.schonheiter@usnr.com CONTRIBUTING EDITOR Sonia Perrine sonia.perrine@usnr.com
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
BÉGIN & BÉGIN Quebec hardwood producer Bégin & Bégin recently installed a new USNR carriage with MillExper t optimization and LASAR™ scanning. The new line has significantly increased the capability to recover value and flexibility in product output, while increasing throughput in the process.
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www.usnr.com
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USNR LOCATIONS Woodland, WA Headquar ters 360.225.8267
VENEER DRYER TECHNOLOGY The USNR veneer dryers of today are a new breed from what has gone before. Years of research, engineering, and time and effor t have paid off with systems that are energy efficient, low in maintenance and produce some of the best veneer available in the marketplace.
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
© 2014, U.S. Natural Resources, Inc. All rights reserved.
USNR at TP&EE USNR’s display at the upcoming Timber Processing & Energy Expo that will take place in October in Por tland, Oregon, promises to be another doozy. We highlight what you’ll see when you visit our booth #405. If you’re at the show, be sure to stop by!
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POSTMASTER: Send address changes to 1981 Schurman Way, Woodland, WA 98674. Canada Post: Return Undeliverable Canadian Addresses to: USNR c/o Colleen Schonheiter, 3550 - 45th Street Southeast, Salmon Arm, BC V1E 1X1
This hybrid green grading system is based on USNR’s Transverse High Grader (THG) for hardware and scanning technologies. The optimization software has been configured to accommodate green vs. dry, and planed vs. un-planed wood. Left to right; Dusty Burchfield, Tim Fisher, Trevor Wendt, Arne Nordstrand, Alan Knokey, Pete Volk, Tim Davis, Bryan Wolowiecki
Green grading, down-under style HYBRID GRADE SCANNING SYSTEM FOR GREEN MILL APPLICATION Mills the world over are enjoying brisk markets, and scrambling to stay ahead of the curve with improved processes. Pukepine Sawmills is one of those operations that is proceeding with vigorous plans to update its technology and improve its throughput and value recovery. With several projects underway, it selected USNR to install a unique green grading line that is beating targets for return on investment. www.usnr.com | ISSUE 3 - 2014 | Millwide Insider
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PUKEPINE SAWMILLS – GREEN GRADING, DOWN-UNDER STYLE
Pukepine’s management didn’t mind being the first to try a new concept. They understood that it can sometimes take time to achieve full results from a new design, but believed the benefits would prove its wor th. They have a strong history with USNR and were confident they would receive good value for their investment. With several months run time under their belt, the results are exceeding their expectations. Pukepine Sawmills, located at Te Puke, New Zealand, is owned and operated by the Tanner family; Ken Tanner is CEO, joined by his sons Jeff (general manager) and Paul (engineering and maintenance). The operation comprises green and dry mills, lumber kilns, a wood treating plant, a secondary processing plant that produces finger-joint and moulding materials, and a paint plant. Pukepine employs 120 on a single shift.
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The sawmill produces 50% structural timber products for the New Zealand and Australian markets, and 50% high quality appearancegrade products for New Zealand, Australia, North America and all of Europe. The mill’s capacity is 100,000 m3 annually, up from 65,000 m3 with recent improvements. David Sandford is a consultant who works with the Tanners, assisting and advising on day-to-day operations as well as management of capital investment projects.
Millwide Insider | ISSUE 3 - 2014 | www.usnr.com
As such, he worked closely with Jeff and Paul Tanner to manage this project. He said, “We selected USNR for this project based on a good working relationship in the past with previous projects, and we were keen to continue building that relationship.” He went on to disclose, “We hoped to have a one-year payback on the project based on conversion and grade recovery. We haven’t gone a full year yet, but we are on course to exceed those expectations.”
Par tnering with USNR The sawmill’s headrig carriage utilizes USNR’s MillExpert optimization. The Newnes-McGehee (now USNR) gang and edger were previously relocated from a North American mill, and employ the Newnes Sawmill Suite (NSS) software platform. Trimming comprised a manual grading, valley trimmer line that was very limited on capacity, with room for only one grader on the line. Constrained by both trim line layout and technical capability, David said, “Our goal was to increase capacity and improve grade recovery.” The project starts with a lugged transfer (Pukepine supplied) feeding the precision belted scanner transfer. This trimmer optimization system is comprised of a new scan frame fitted with 22 BioLuma™ 2900LVG+ sensors. Next in the line, a new Multi-Track Fence utilizes 13 paddles to position lumber on the positioning transfer for trimming. From here, the equipment was supplied by Pukepine. Positioned lumber is fed to the multi-saw trimmer, and select trimmed boards are rerouted at the smart tipple gate.
Uniquely Pukepine
We hoped to have a one-year payback. We haven’t gone a full year yet, but we are on course to exceed those expectations.
There are several aspects of this automated grading line that are unique to Pukepine. Firstly, this configuration is atypical from the standard green grading systems in that the sensors are mounted offaxis to provide 4-sided scanning with only 2 rows of sensors (1 each, top and bottom). This configuration is typical for the Transverse High Grader (THG) system used for automated grading in dry, planed applications. Most green grading BioVision lines require only top and bottom faces to be scanned, where the sensors are mounted above and below in a true differential scanning arrangement. With the types of defects encountered in Radiata pine, and the grades that Pukepine’s products specified, the 4-sided scanning arrangement was required.
correctly classify these characteristics for the products Pukepine is producing. For this application, Pukepine selected BioLuma 2900LVG+ sensors that collect and integrate high resolution laser profile data (0.3”/8mm x 2500 Hz), high density color vision data (0.01”/0.25mm), as well as GrainMap™ data (0.3”/8mm x 500 Hz) from all 4 surfaces of the board. GrainMap grain angle measurement provides more comprehensive defect analysis, and allows the optimizer to detect and classify defects that do not offer significant visual contrast. This system provides 3D modeling with far more detail than any other scanning system on the market today. Another aspect of this green grading system that is unique is the utilization of an end grain scanner that is commonly used with the THG for dry mill grade scanning. A BioLuma 2900V vision sensor is mounted in the lumber line end of the scan frame where its field of view is horizontal, and it scans the ends of the boards as they pass by. The end grain scanner provides valuable data by locating the board relative to the pith in its “parental” log. The optimizer uses this information about pith location in determining knot projection and connectivity within the piece. Because this is a green line, a cleanup saw is positioned ahead of the scanner to present a freshly sawn, square end of the board for end grain scanning.
Grading challenges This green grading system is based on USNR’s THG. The hardware and scanning technologies required are the same, whereas the primary difference is in the software that is configured to detect and classify characteristics in green vs. dry, and in un-planed vs. planed wood.
Radiata pine has some properties that are not common in North American species, such as needle fleck (bird’s eye), that required additional optimization coding to detect and
When grading green vs. dry wood, some defects change color once they are dried, and this can positively or negatively impact the capability of the grading system to accurately detect and classify those defects. As well, planed lumber allows more subtle use of the system’s GrainMap feature, as the surface is smoother and more uniform. Planing also creates a
www.usnr.com | ISSUE 3 - 2014 | Millwide Insider
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PUKEPINE SAWMILLS – GREEN GRADING, DOWN-UNDER STYLE
LINE LAYOUT
cleaner surface free from most grease and machining marks, making it easier for the system’s range of technologies to detect minute variations in the wood.
Multi-Track Fence
Grade scanner
PLAN VIEW
TO MULTI-SAW TRIMMER
Clean-up saw location
FLOW
Facing these challenges means making adjustments in the code and training the system to accurately recognize those variations, then correctly classify them within the parameters of specified products. Training the system equates to teaching it to classify each characteristic based on accumulated data that has been fed to the optimizer through scanning a large quantity of boards. Training sets are created for each defect type and for each species that is to be run. The classifier retains this database of characteristics, and compares the scan data to each of these as it develops a solution. For some characteristics such as stain, the system is tuned to identify areas of interest that are then passed to the classifier to
MEETING THE CHALLENGE The characteristics that the Pukepine system is required to correctly detect and classify include the following: ELEVATION VIEW
G eometric, wane, shallow face and edge
wane (saddle-back), skip, crook and twist P laned bark graded as wane
N eedle fleck (bird’s eye)
Splits/shake
Tear out from chip heads
Slope of grain
M atch line within 1mm (from the gang
R ate of growth
K not location, classification and
measurement, end-zone knot exclusion D ecayed/unsound knot B ark encasement/bark encased knots B lue and heart-stain H igh resin content Pitch pockets
pith
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Millwide Insider | ISSUE 3 - 2014 | www.usnr.com
high resin content
bark pocket
needle fleck
intergrown knot
The screen above shows the classifier at work, using the data collected from the variety of technologies to compare characteristics of the detected “area of interest” to accurately classify it as a face knot. Each defect is classified based on accumulated data that has been fed to the optimizer through scanning a large quantity of boards with a wide variety of defects. compare the data against its database and correctly classify that particular feature. Another challenge that is overcome with experience is the natural variations that occur with different species of wood. While Radiata Pine is similar in its properties to Southern Yellow Pine, there tends to be less contrast between knots and the surrounding wood fiber in Radiata Pine. This demands the utmost in capability from the grading system. It requires minute GrainMap measurements, ultrahigh resolution color imaging, and highly dense end grain data combined through DataFusion® to compare and verify all the data inputs before a solution is generated.
Additional projects The mill’s upgraded its existing NSS transverse cant optimization system to version 7.2, and the operating system to Windows 7. This addressed any obsolescence concerns from the previous version which dated back over 15 years. The new system also offers much more computing power. David commented, “This version is a lot more robust; we’re very happy with it.”
Utilizing the data captured by the end grain scanner, the optimizer is able to identify the piece’s relative location within its parental log. This assists in detecting the pith for accurate knot sizing and connectivity.
Regarding the new Multi-Track Fence, David related that the mill wanted to be prepared for future increases in speed and throughput. “The Multi-Track Fence is
www.usnr.com | ISSUE 3 - 2014 | Millwide Insider
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PUKEPINE SAWMILLS – GREEN GRADING, DOWN-UNDER STYLE
The BioLuma 2900LVG sensors collect and integrate high resolution laser profile data (0.3”/8mm x 2500 Hz), high density color vision data (0.01”/0.25mm), as well as GrainMap™ data (0.3”/8mm x 500 Hz) from all 4 surfaces of the board. Bright LED lighting illuminates the surfaces of the wood for the HD vision cameras to capture minute defects.
probably overkill for our needs, but we were thinking ahead. We’re very satisfied with the fence’s operation.”
Better than expected With the new grading line operating for several months, David says, “It is exceeding our expectations.” He didn’t want to disclose any specifics other than to say that he projects it will take Pukepine about a year to determine exactly how far the system has exceeded their goals. He went on to relate that, over and above the increase in value recovery the system is providing, it now sets the stage for further capital improvements at the site. “This project has been based on recovery and grade improvement. And now it also allows us to increase production considerably. We’re in the middle of adding more kiln and boiler capacity, and that allows the sawmill to produce more.” David was pleased with the way the project progressed overall. He said that in spite of the short timeline, USNR met the timeline and the project was installed during the mill’s 2013 Christmas break. “The grading system commissioned up very well over about 5 months with this being the first 4-sided green scanning system; the technicians did a good job!”
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Giving credit David gives much credit to Stephen Wardrop, USNR’s technician who started up and commissioned the BioVision system, and to William Cleland, Pukepine’s optimization technician who works on all the mill’s optimization systems. He said that William traveled to USNR’s Salmon Arm, BC facility for a week’s training on the system prior to installation, then worked closely with Stephen during the start-up and commissioning phases. Other USNR personnel who worked closely with Pukepine’s team were Nadim Karmali, project manager, Steve Woods and Natalie Peles, software designers, and Shayne Cameron, service technician. He also gave credit to Pukepine’s in-house electricians, maintenance team, engineers and construction crew who handled the disassembly of the old line and installation of the new equipment. And he related that the trim line’s configuration and layout had to be reworked significantly to
Millwide Insider | ISSUE 3 - 2014 | www.usnr.com
This project has been based on recovery and grade improvement. And now it also allows us to increase production considerably.
accommodate the new processes. He also gave credit to Tui Technology that handled the controls for the project.
Looking ahead With 4 new kilns and boiler upgrades currently in the works, the Pukepine team is looking ahead with anticipation of continued strong markets. With the investments they’ve already put into place Pukepine is ready to take on fresh challenges.
Millwide. Worldwide.
Bégin & Bégin
Breaking it down NEW HARDWOOD CARRIAGE LINE SCANS LOGS FRONT & BACK; IMPROVES VALUE AND PRODUCTION Achieving an increase in production and flexibility in its recovery were the primary goals for investing in a new optimized carriage line for Bégin & Bégin inc. at LotsRenversés, Quebec. The mill’s outdated line was not up to the task of meeting the company’s goals for higher
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Millwide Insider | ISSUE 3 - 2014 | www.usnr.com
production, and it knew it was losing out on both value and volume recovery. The company approached USNR to supply a new carriage line that would allow it to maintain its strong position in the market, and expand its product base to attract new business.
B&B has been in business since 1925, and plays a leading role in the industry in its region. The mill comprises 50,000 sq. ft. of production area where it operates four profit centers; a chips plant equipped with a USNR 96” chipper, a second line for sawing pre-cut pallet stock, a third for processing large-diameter and high value logs to supply the furniture and flooring market, and a cut-to-size plant for producing moldings and millwork. Output includes a wide variety of hardwood products ranging from wood chips to flooring, molding and millwork, to pallet stock and railway ties. Frédéric Dubé is the general manager at Bégin & Bégin (B&B). He related that the operation processes primarily maple and yellow birch to National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) grade standards.
Investing wisely B&B selected USNR to supply the new carriage line based on past successful projects. In 2011 USNR installed a new 96” chipper, and prior to that a vertical resaw system that is located downstream and fed from the carriage. B&B appreciates the quality of the USNR equipment and the excellent service it received during the installation and subsequent support of these capital investments.
The 3-knee carriage handles high value logs up to 36” diameter, with output processed by the USNR vertical resaw and a combination gang/edger. The new carriage has had a big impact on the capability of the line. The old carriage system had front scanning only, and with outdated optimization the only solution available was based on minimum opening face (MOF). The new system with MillExpert optimization significantly expands this capability to include full log breakdown grade sawing solutions generated from dense 3D modeling via data collected from front and back side LASAR sensors. The MillExpert system generates not only the initial breakdown, but utilizes logic from downstream processes to generate a solution that will be used to further breakdown the piece into boards. For B&B, throughput was another issue with the old carriage system as the knee speed was slow (8-10” per second). The new USNR 42” carriage offers features that improve throughput, including 3 on-board hydraulic chain turners, 3 board ejectors, a new 100 hp electric drive, and knee speed of up to 20” per second. And the new ControlLogix PLC control system offers additional flexibility.
We only had one scanner before so we had to scan it once, turn it and then scan for the second side. Now we scan the log once and we're done.
Seeing both sides B&B opted for both front and back side scanning with LASAR™ sensors, collecting dense scan data from up to 300 degrees of coverage around the circumference of the log. Some customers install systems with front scanning only, and while this configuration does a good job of calculating the log’s shape it cannot compete with the addition of tens of thousands of data points that a back side camera provides. Seeing the whole log allows more accurate product fits on the front and back of the log, leading to enhanced recovery.
FRONT & BACK SCANNING WITH LASAR SENSORS Scans
a full 3D image of the entire stem in one place, even very crooked and swept stems
Allows
Provides
The
Log
Flexible
Models
Immune
“dead-on” opening faces with true, best opening face solutions lengths detected to ½” with no need to move the carriage to scan the full log length log diameters within 0.125” with single point resolution of 0.036”
Offers
superior detection of sweep, taper, ovality and defects
pre-positioning of the carriage knees to accept the next log for faster throughput wide field of view and depth of field means the whole log is in view; no critical knee positions required for large logs scanner mounting, on building columns or simple steel tubing to ambient light
Reliable
and low maintenance sensors; no daily cleaning or scraping pitch off the lenses
Multiple,
adjustable scan zones ensure maximum coverage and scan density on every log size
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BÉGIN & BÉGIN – BREAKING IT DOWN
Front LASAR's field of view
Front LASAR sensor
Operator's cab
Log infeed
FLOW
Field of view
Two LASAR sensors are mounted above the log infeed, and are positioned to scan the front and back side of each log once it is loaded on the carriage. With both front and back side scanning the LASAR sensors collect dense data from 300 degrees circumference of the log, allowing the MillExpert optimizer to generate a dense 3D model for highly accurate log breakdown solutions. The yellow area on the illustration at left depicts the field of view of the LASAR sensors.
CARRIAGE LINE PLAN VIEW
Carriage
Back LASAR sensor
Power ful combination The MillExpert optimization platform utilizes data collected from USNR’s renowned LASAR sensors. LASAR’s unique and powerful design allows just 2 sensors to scan both the front and back sides of a log simultaneously, capturing data from up to 300 degrees of the log instantly, without moving it through a scan zone. And because there’s no guess work on the back side, you
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achieve proper taper, cant centering, and sweep. This adds up to more accurate log volumes, better solutions and higher profits. It’s the only system capable of full log breakdown grade sawing and can also be configured for MOF (minimum opening face) solutions. The system provides detailed breakdown rules that can be set for each species and fiber class, along with other options including configurable
Millwide Insider | ISSUE 3 - 2014 | www.usnr.com
face cut orders, configurable minimum opening face sizes and lengths, half taper, full taper, and no taper options. The system provides complete reporting information on production and performance.
Optimization capability The MillExpert optimization system at the carriage is capable to model downstream breakdown solutions to maximize value and
volume recovery. Once the log is scanned, MillExpert fits cut blocks into the log according to the cutting scenarios defined by the carriage breakdown parameters. These parameters are assigned by the mill in accordance with NHLA grade rules, and each scenario specifies a set of allowable cutting and optimization options for logs assigned to that fiber class. For each scenario, MillExpert then determines which combination of cuts from the faces and center block would yield the highest value combination. The cut blocks will then be processed into boards downstream at the resaw and combination gang/edger. B&B has realized several benefits from this investment. Frédéric related, “With the old system we only had one breakdown option, and that was minimum opening face (MOF). With the new line we have added another option which is full log breakdown. This gives us a more optimum breakdown solution for the boards that are produced.” He also reiterated that he is pleased with the benefit that comes with both front and back
worked closely with the USNR team during installation and commissioning.
With the new line we have added another option which is full log breakdown. This gives us a more optimum breakdown solution for the boards that are produced.
side scanning. “We only had one scanner before so we had to scan it once, turn it and then scan for the second side. Now we scan the log once and we’re done.” In addition to collecting far more data for greater accuracy, this configuration contributes greatly to higher throughput.
B&B is dedicated to providing excellent value with its products, and prides itself on creating local jobs, sourcing from regional suppliers, and marketing its products to customers in the region. The discerning team at B&B is now well equipped to meet the needs of its customers with an optimized carriage line that allows it to be flexible in the products it produces, increase its output and recover greater value in its process.
Watch the carriage line in action: http://vimeo. com/105999197
As part of the implementation of the new carriage line, a team from B&B travelled to USNR’s facility at Plessisville, QC for training. Frédéric also gives credit to Jacques Beaulieu, mill manager, who
The screen below illustrates the power of the new MillExpert optimization system combined with front and back side scanning with LASAR sensors. The full log breakdown feature modeling downstream processes, generates a much more valuable solution than the previous system (MOF only) was capable of achieving.
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Veneer Dryer Technology
Science behind the design INDUSTRY'S MOST ADVANCED VENEER DRYER SYSTEM At the 2012 Timber Processing & Energy Expo, educational technology sessions were presented by exper ts who work in their field daily. The following information was presented by Tim Fisher, Business Development Manager for USNR’s Veneer/ Plywood business. Tim discussed the history and development of
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several technology advances in veneer drying. Processors who have applied these technologies are reaping the benefits of reduced operational costs and greater efficiency, improved product quality and reduced emissions. USNR recently won an award for its veneer dryer innovation.
Millwide Insider | ISSUE 3 - 2014 | www.usnr.com
ADEC development Exhausting dryers at the lowest temperature point during the process dramatically improves the thermal efficiency of the dryer. This concept has evolved since its inception. Because the lowest temperature point (wet end of the process) also equates to a high level of moisture evaporation, a wet end seal section located at the infeed to the main dryer section is one of the key design elements. This single point exhaust (SPE) feature allows the system to pull all
Results of adding an ADEC system to your dryer 10-15%
Exhaust flow reduction
5-10%
Thermal energy reduction
8-10%
Productivity increase
Key design elements
Achieve greater benefit with Cooler Pressure Balance
A secondary heating system in the wet end seal (WES) section maintains a high temperature as the gasses are mixed, thus ensuring that the volatile organic compound-laden gases (VOCs) remain in gaseous form as they are exhausted from the dryer. This also alleviates pitch build up. Temperature data gathered at the top of the WES section, the point of air intake from the dryer section, and the point of ambient air intake from the plant, allows the ADEC system to precisely control the amount of heating of the air mixture inside the WES section prior to exhaust. This is key to maximizing thermal efficiency.
Improves
control of dried veneer temperature
Reduces
VOCs in the cooler vent
Reduces
pitch build-up in dryer / cooler
sections Further
improves thermal efficiency
Another key element to optimizing dryer operation is the control of the cooler exhaust volume, to minimize the flow of heated air from the dryer into the cooler section, or cooler air into the hot dryer.
WHAT IS ADEC, AND HOW DOES IT WORK? Maximize productivity
Minimize exhaust volume
Reduce hydrocarbon build-up
Maximize veneer quality
Reduce thermal energy requirements
Improve working environment
Exhaust flow
Ambient plant air
Hot dryer air
Veneer flow WET END SEAL
DRYER
ADEC allows automatic control of the total dryer exhaust volume, and maximizes the thermal efficiency of the process. Based on set values, ADEC uses the temperature differential between the ambient plant air and the wet end seal section to adjust the main dryer exhaust damper. This, in turn, exhausts more or less air volume from
COOLING SECTIONS the dryer section. The exhausted air is then directed through a duct to the plant’s pollution abatement equipment. The temperature differential is also a true indication of the exhaust requirement of the dryer. When the wet end seal temperature rises above a control set point, it indicates that
pressure (air volume caused by evaporation of water from the veneer) is increasing in the dryer, and vice versa. ADEC continually adjusts the exhaust flow to prevent fugitive emissions and over-exhausting the dryer, while also maximizing the absolute humidity within the dryer.
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Veneer Dryer Technology
the process air from the dryer to one region to be exhausted. This patented concept has been coined Automatic Dryer Exhaust Control (ADEC). Dryers equipped with the ADEC system have been proven to increase productivity, reduce thermal energy requirements and reduce exhaust flow.
SCIENCE BEHIND THE DESIGN
Veneer Dryer Technology
DRYER ENERGY USAGE Energy losses to environment (waste)
Energy losses to environment (waste)
Energy needed to heat veneer and extract water
Energy needed to heat veneer and extract water
WITHOUT ADEC
WITH ADEC
With ADEC, heat that would otherwise be lost to the environment is recaptured and used to perform productive work, resulting in a more energy efficient process. ADEC reduces the amount of waste energy for a typical installation by 25%.
The main dryer control screen (below) shows the status of the various dryer control design elements that work together to maximize productivity, minimize thermal energy usage, and minimize pitch build-up and maintenance requirements.
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This patented Cooler Pressure Balance (CPB) system further helps to maximize thermal efficiency, minimizes pitch buildup which reduces maintenance and cleaning, and allows for automatic veneer temperature control into the dry veneer stacking process. Pressure sensing manifolds accurately measure the pressure in the last heated dryer section and first cooling section. Any pressure difference commands a change in the cooling section exhaust fan speed. The effect is a near zero pressure differential between the dryer and the first cooler section. USNR holds the exclusive patents for these developments. To learn more about optimizing your veneer drying process with our systems, please contact us at 800.BUY.USNR, +360.225.8267 or info@usnr.com.
USNR at TP&EE
Advancing the industry USNR’S INNOVATIVE DESIGNS ON DISPLAY As those who have attended events like the upcoming Timber Processing & Energy Expo will tell you, USNR’s booth always garners a LOT of activity as we roll out our industry-leading innovations. In the past 5 years alone USNR has introduced a barage of new products, technologies and configuration designs that are sweeping the marketplace. Come on out and see what we have for you this time around!
4-sided canter renaissance! At center stage we showcase components from our latest 4-sided canting log breakdown design that has generated several orders recently. After scanning, the positioning infeed section positions the log and deposits it onto a sharp top chain. With this 4-sided canter design, the chain has lift and tilt capability to appropriately position the log to create the desired opening face with the fixed bottom chip head.
The side rolls position the log horizontally prior to placing it onto the chain. The chain and spiked feedrolls feed the log through the side heads. Creating side faces first allows us to grip those chipped faces with vertical feedrolls. A vertical feedroll module (VFM) is situated between the side heads and top/bottom heads. The VFM also lifts and tilts with the chain to properly feed the log into the top and bottom canter. The VFM is equipped with shifting carriages
positioned on each side to set to the width of the cant, and fitted with 3 feedrolls on each side; the center one is fixed, while the leading and trailing rolls articulate with air cylinders. This feature allows for missed face logic to be employed. The canter heads can be either conical or drum heads. Next, the square block rides a skid bar into a fixed VFM, is profiled then secured with another fixed VFM, and then processed by a quad arbor sawbox to remove side boards.
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USNR at TP&EE
Next, the cant is transferred to a sharp top chain side board separator to allow the side boards to be separated off for processing. The profilers each have 4 stepped heads that create 8 separate side board notches. The heads slide up and down on vertical splined arbors. Four shifting profiler heads feature 2 on each side. The carriage tilts to accommodate skewing the side boards. With this design, from start to finish once the log is scanned and turned it is held securely throughout the process with no turning required!
ElectraTong The industry’s first all-electric tong-style lug loader – the ElectraTong™ – will be showcased in our booth. This lug loader offers excellent board control at high speeds, and excels in random thickness applications.
Multi-Track Fence USNR will once again display our popular Multi-Track Fence, which has been taking the industry by storm since its launch in 2010, with over 70 installations world wide.
Counter-Flow Kiln with MyMill Kiln Control USNR’s Counter-Flow™ Kiln is also very popular in North America, and our booth will feature a working model that will be controlled by the innovative MyMill™ system. MyMill enables mill personnel to control and monitor mill equipment using mobile devices, like iPads and iPods, with all the functionality typically available through a stationary HMI screen, and at a fraction of the cost. With 18 MyMill systems sold globally, it’s catching on as a time-and-money-saving solution for streamlining mill operations.
Transverse High Grader: Green and Dry Applications Our Transverse High Grader (THG™) will demonstrate its capability for detecting and classifying a multitude of defects for fully automated planer mill grading. This unit will perform double-duty by demonstrating its capability to also grade lumber in the green mill environment. Be sure to stop by and visit us in booth #405 at this year’s event. It will take place at the Portland, OR Expo Center from October 15-17, 2014.
LEARN HOW YOU CAN IMPROVE YOUR MILL’S OPERATION Joe joined USNR in 1979 after six years in the US Navy as an Electronics Technician. His experience with USNR is in the manufacturing and service departments. He is a specialist in edgers, gangs, bandmills, planers and chipper systems.
USNR’s own Joe Shields will lead one of the workshop programs offered during the show. Joe has more than 40 years of experience in the troubleshooting of electrical, electronic and mechanical systems.
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Millwide Insider | ISSUE 3 - 2014 | www.usnr.com
Joe has been instrumental in the development of formulas used for designing the proper application of saws and chippers. He assembled and designed the alignment methods for the first Multi-Line Scanner (measures the board to be cut) for USNR. Alignments and system diagnostics has become his main focus for service trips around the world. Joe works with the service and engineering departments in developing product improvements that reduce maintenance and downtime. Joe’s program will help participants understand the key criteria that impact
accuracy during sawing, positioning, feeding or scanning. It will cover troubleshooting procedures and key maintenance criteria, and what Joe calls the Six-Step Troubleshooting Procedure that he uses on a daily basis. Discover how sometimes unexpected issues can have a huge impact on processing accuracy. As an example, a mill was having an ongoing issue with mis-match in their gang. Eventually it was discovered that the aluminum saw guides were ordered in groups to spread the expense out over several months. Thus the top and bottom guides were not manufactured in the same batches. This was the cause of the miss-match. You can attend this workshop on Thursday, October 16, 9:15 to 9:45 a.m.
NEW PROJECTS Inter for – ControlLogix and Planer mill upgrades
R. Booe – MillExper t/LASAR Carriage Optimization
Two Interfor mills (formerly Tolleson Lumber) will be receiving operational improvements with upgrades ordered for the operations at Perry and Preston, Georgia.
The R. Booe & Son Hardwood mill at Center Point, Indiana has ordered a MillExpert/ LASAR™ carriage optimization system for its 4-knee HMC carriage.
The sawmill curve sawing gang lines at both sites will be updated to the ControlLogix PLC platform.
The powerful combination of MillExpert optimization and LASAR sensors is well proven, with more and more wood processors choosing this duo for whatever brand of carriage they operate.
The Preston mill’s planer line will also update its WinTally™sorter management system to the latest version release. New dual-articulating tipple arms will be installed that will open and close faster, allowing the mill to speed up the line. Also, new cut-n-two clamp arms will be installed to further improve operation.
JP Price – Counter-Flow Kiln, Green Burner A new Counter-Flow Kiln with 6-grate Green Burner will soon be installed at JP Price Sawmill at Monticello, Arkansas. The Kiln Boss system will also be installed to control the kiln operation.
Tenon – BioVision Edger Line Tenon Limited is investing in a new optimized Edger line for its major manufacturing plant at Taupo, NZ that will include automated grading of its green mill products derived from high value, Radiata Pine prune logs. Tenon is a global producer based in New Zealand. Its focus is on a wide range of solid wood, appearancegrade products for its core markets in the USA, Europe, Australia, NZ and Asia. EQUIPMENT SUPPLY: The new equipment will include a radius back unscrambler, lug loader, scanner transfer, Maximizer edger infeed table, 5-shifting-saw edger, and flying V-style outfeed.
The mill has opted for a MillTrak™ lumber flow management system to control the flow at the edger infeed. MillTrak is visionbased, whereby a camera is mounted above the transfer to maximize the efficiency of transporting material through your mill during processing. The line’s PLC control system will be based on the ControlLogix platform. BIOVISION EDGER: The mill is investing in a BioVision™ system for its new Edger line, allowing the mill to maximize its potential for grade and value recovery in its products. Edger BioVision provides value through re-manufacture or rip based on the ultimate grade of the piece. For example, a #3 appearance due to knots can be edged to #3 wane, maximizing recovery. Likewise a low grade, wide piece may be worth more if ripped into two narrower boards, one of them being high grade. Edger BioVision grading at the sawmill allows for better decisions at an early stage in the process, before the boards are edged or trimmed. Tenon joins a growing list of customers in this region that are adding USNR’s advanced, vision-based grading technology to their lines.
COMPLIMENTARY SUBSCRIPTION For your complimentary subscription to USNR’s Millwide Insider magazine e-mail subscriptions@usnr.com or go to www.usnr.com/about/news
www.usnr.com | ISSUE 3 - 2014 | Millwide Insider 19
PO Box 310 Woodland, WA 98674
Millwide Insider is printed on recycled paper.
Profile Pete Volk is a Sales Engineer for USNR press products. He is based at Woodland, WA. Pete’s history with press lines is extensive, dating back to 1983 when Coe Manufacturing purchased Washington Iron Works (WIW) and acquired the press lines. In the ensuing years he worked as machine shop foreman (Seattle, WA and Painesville, OH), field service engineer, general foreman and manufacturing manager, leading to his current role with USNR, started in 2009.
UPCOMING EVENTS
Pete says he particularly enjoys the opportunity to work with customers, and promote the WIW press line. He was deeply involved in the Continental Tire retread tire press project featured in a previous issue of this magazine, and in many other press projects over the years. Pete has also spent much time volunteering with the Boy Scouts of America programs, serving on district and council committees. He and wife, Lynes, enjoy outdoor activities like hunting and fishing, and their two Golden Retriever dogs.
SEPT. 26–27 InterSaw
OCT. 15–17 TP&EE
OCT. 20–23 LESDREVMASH
Montreal, QC
Portland, OR
Moscow, Russia
NOV. 8–10 APA-EWTA Info Fair San Antonio, TX