Insider
THE MAGAZINE FROM USNR | ISSUE 39
The team that built the 100th Multi-Track Fence. Read more inside (p 18), and see our machine on display at the Timber Processing and Energy Expo in Por tland, OR, Sept. 28-30.
USNR JACKSONVILLE; NEW MODERN FACILITY EXPANDS CAPACITY, CAPABILITY
TENON’S BIOVISION EDGER IMPROVES RECOVERY, BROADENS MARKET
COASTLAND RETOOLS VENEER DRYER; ECONOMIC EFFICIENT OPERATION
CONTENTS
Millwide Insider ISSUE 39
Investing in success It takes courage to put one’s livelihood at risk to make an investment that we hope will pay off. But if we want to stay competitive, if we want to provide better products and services to appeal to our customers, we can’t hold back progress. In this issue we talk about investments our customers have made, as well as investments USNR has made, that are paying off with continued success.
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USNR JACKSONVILLE
SUBSCRIPTIONS Tel.: 250.833.3028 subscriptions@usnr.com EDITOR Colleen Schonheiter colleen.schonheiter@usnr.com
USNR
It’s been several months since USNR opened its newest facility at Jacksonville, Florida, and production is in full swing. It’s an impor tant milestone for USNR, and its proof positive of USNR’s commitment to invest in suppor ting this industry. Check out the photo gallery and learn more about our latest pride and joy!
Woodland, WA: +1.360.225.8267 Mon. - Fri. 5:00 am - 5:00 pm PT 24/7 Service: +1.360.225.8267 www.usnr.com SÖDERHAMN ERIKSSON Söderhamn, SE: +46.270.746.00 Mariannelund: +46.496.218.00 Mon. - Fri. 07:30 - 16:30 CET
TENON MANUFACTURING Tenon produces high value, appearance grade products for a growing market. The high cost of its raw material pushed it to find solutions
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to maximize value recovery in its process. It
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had confidence in the USNR team to make that
1981 Schurman Way, Woodland, WA 98674.
happen, and today it’s achieved more than it had
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hoped for with an expanded product base.
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3550 - 45th Street Southeast,
NORRA SKOGSÄGARNA Norra Timber in Sweden was looking to increase its throughput and reduce manpower through newer technology. After visiting other mills it concluded that Söderhamn Eriksson’s Catech 4000 edger line was the high production solution it was looking for. After an impressive star t-up the line is proving the veracity of that choice.
COASTLAND WOOD INDUSTRIES Coastland had planned to expand its veneer drying capacity when it invested in its peeling process. It acquired a used dryer from a closed plant and contracted with USNR to retrofit the unit to build in the efficiency and productivity it was counting on for its growth strategy.
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Salmon Arm, BC V1E 1X1
USNR Jacksonville
Mazak Optiplex 4020 Fiber Laser: operator side of the machine
We’ve expanded! NEW MODERN FACILITY IS A BIG STEP FORWARD; IMPROVES PROCESS, CAPACITY, CAPABILITY It’s been several months since USNR opened its newest facility at Jacksonville, Florida, and production is in full swing. It is a monumental feat when a whole manufacturing site is relocated to a new facility. This is an impor tant milestone for USNR, and it is also a testament to the Jacksonville area, the business climate in the region and the talent pool of people who are employed at this USNR facility.
In addition to the time and disruption to move people and equipment, there was a whole lot of planning, engineering, construction, hiring contractors and sub-contractors, meetings, approvals, and more that went into the successful completion of a project of this scope. Now that the “paint has dried” on this project, we are more than impressed with our new Jacksonville digs.
The new facility is a game-changer – we have been given the opportunity to rethink every one of our processes and set everything up to optimize our operations.
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USNR Jacksonville
USNR JACKSONVILLE – WE’VE EXPANDED!
Mazak Optiplex Fiber Laser: This view is from the pallet feeding side of the machine
Mazak Optiplex Fiber Laser: operator side of the machine
With all of this new capability, we are now in a great position to support much more of USNR’s very broad product line, both new equipment and replacement parts, right here in Florida.
The Jacksonville facility grew from one of the oldest in the USNR family of companies, the Moore Dry Kiln Company, which was founded by civil war veteran Lafayette Moore in 1897. From 1914 until 2015 the Moore Dry Kiln Company and subsequently USNR, manufactured lumber dry kilns, plywood veneer dryers, sawmill machinery, and other industrial products at a site close to downtown Jacksonville. The old site had manufacturing, engineering, administration and warehousing spread out over a number of buildings. In the spring of 2016 a new state-of-the-art manufacturing complex was opened at a new location, fulfilling the increasing demand for capacity.
Panoramic view of the shop floor at the new Jacksonville plant shortly after move-in
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Troy Johnson, General Manager over the Jacksonville operation, commented, “Our old site served the company for more than 100 years, but it was holding us back. The new facility is a game-changer – we have been given the opportunity to rethink every one of our processes and set everything up to optimize our operations. We are seeing steady improvements in our productivity and quality control.” Troy also noted, “With all of this new capability, we are now in a great position to support much more of USNR’s very broad product line, both new equipment and replacement parts, right here in Florida.”
Along with the building and site improvements, USNR also invested in a number of new machine tools and other equipment to significantly expand the plant’s manufacturing capabilities. The new plant uses state of the art equipment and technology for raw material preparation, machining, fabrication, painting, and assembly. The new plant also features double the crane-served area, and more than double the useful manufacturing space as compared with the old plant.
USNR Jacksonville
The site comprises 10 acres of land, more than 150,000 sq.ft. of flexible manufacturing and warehousing space, and a large office complex for the company’s Jacksonville-based sales, engineering, project management, service, and operations personnel. The offices also include a new training center, with facilities to host customers and provide technical training.
Accurshear, 12’ CNC shear: For high precision shearing of sheet metal
Appreciative employees All of the USNR Jacksonville personnel are proud of their new facility. Following are comments from a few individuals who really enjoy coming to work at this new modern plant. Alan Robbins, Senior Account Manager, commented, “I’ve been with USNR for over 32 years, and I’ve worked in estimating, engineering, project management and sales. I have always enjoyed my work, felt good about what we do and the products we deliver to our customers. Our new facility is commensurate with that feeling and with USNR’s status in the industry.” He continued, “The office and shop floor are now visually connected via a wall of glass. It connects engineering and product management, and really facilitates interaction between and among our various teams. It’s a huge positive for communication and collaboration.”
Goff structural bead blaster: This is a surface preparation machine to remove all rust, scale and other surface defects off linear steel
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USNR Jacksonville
USNR JACKSONVILLE – WE’VE EXPANDED!
A small group of Jacksonville employees in front of the new plant
This investment reinforces our commitment to providing world-class products to the wood processing industry.
Watch video footage featuring the new Jacksonville facility: https://vimeo.com/169561817
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Keith Fulmer, 18-year USNR veteran and Parts Sales Manager for the Jacksonville facility, said, “The work flow at this new facility is much smoother as we are all under one roof. It allows us to collaborate in person much more frequently; before much communication was done by phone or email. This allows all departments to work much more closely with one another. It increases our knowledge and appreciation for the type of work each department performs, and really facilitates a sense of team.” He also commented, “For our customers, it provides a much larger space to manufacture and stock the parts our southeastern customers need, so we can get critical spares out to them in a timely manner.” Cindy Schafer has been with USNR for over 40 years, currently Parts Coordinator at the Jacksonville plant. “I can’t begin to say how great it is to come to work at this new facility; it feels like winning the lottery! It is just a wonderful place to be. It is really a great asset to the Jacksonville region.”
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Strategic location “We’ve long recognized that Jacksonville is a strategic location as a logistics hub close to many of our important customers in the Southeastern United States. We’ve also developed a highly skilled workforce for this region that is second-to-none,” commented George Van Hoomissen, President and CEO of USNR / Söderhamn Eriksson. “This investment reinforces our commitment to providing world-class products to the wood processing industry.” USNR is proud that our latest investment not only greatly improves the working conditions for our team at Jacksonville, but will also enhance the quality and timeliness of our equipment and parts delivery.
Renewed Customer Focus
Q& A MI – What company attributes attracted you join to the USNR team?
CW – Coming from the mill side of the business, I’ve been able to witness USNR’s aggressive and very successful growth in the wood products equipment space. I have experienced first-hand the high level of commitment that USNR has to standing behind its products and ultimately providing the best equipment solutions available to its customers. Becoming part of an industry leading organization and working directly with a diverse group of highly intellectual and extremely committed professionals, is what attracted me to join the USNR team.
CHUCK WERT: NEW SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT FOR USNR USNR is pleased to announce the appointment of Chuck Wert as Senior Vice President, with responsibility for aftermarket customer support, including spare and replacement parts, technical service, and training. Chuck comes to USNR after 18 successful years with the Swanson Group, one of the largest independent lumber and plywood producers in the Western United States. Chuck served in a number of executive leadership roles at Swanson, including, most recently, as the Chief Operating Officer. Prior to joining Swanson, Chuck ran a millwork plant in Bend, Oregon for three years, and spent 8 years in public accounting, during which time he earned his CPA certificate. Chuck is a graduate of Linfield College, where he majored in Accounting, minored in Computer Science, and played varsity football.
MI – What are the experiences and accomplishments from your previous career that you will rely on in your new role? CW – While at Swanson Group I was responsible for the oversight of all the operations including log procurement, manufacturing, capital projects, sales and finance. I established the strategic direction and vision for the overall business and was accountable for its ultimate success. I was involved at the senior level in an array of mission critical initiatives directly within the sawmill and plywood operating facilities. These experiences, coupled with the fact that I truly understand what it is like to be on the customer side of the capital install equation, will help guide our approach to creating the best possible service, training and parts support experience for USNR’s customers.
MI – What will be your primary focus over the next 6-12 months? CW – My primary focus initially will be to learn the business and get to know the people that have been instrumental to its success. I will concentrate on how the Parts, Service and Training functions can be seamlessly woven together to ensure that our customers achieve the greatest value possible from their USNR equipment. We have incredible industry expertise in all three areas and it will be our mission to ensure that our customers always recognize and appreciate USNR as a critical business partner that is absolutely committed to helping them achieve the optimum productivity, yield and uptime from their equipment.
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Tenon Manufacturing
Broader markets TENON IMPROVES RECOVERY, EFFICIENCY WITH EDGER BIOVISION The cost of doing business seems to always be on the rise, making it incumbent on successful businesses to mitigate those increases with measures that can improve their bottom line. Often this means implementing new technology. This was the reality for Tenon at Taupo, New Zealand when they sourced a new edger line from USNR. Today their needs for improved recovery and throughput have been more than satisfied with their technology choice.
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The end result is a new machine center that was constructed and precommissioned off line, and that resulted in a rapid start up.
We’re getting an increase in log to lumber recovery, more than we initially expected, so we’re really pleased with that. Also the system allows us to do a lot more rationalizing of products to improve efficiencies in our secondary processing.
The Taupo operation employs 290 people and comprises a complete sawmill, dry kilns, planer mill, and secondary processing plants. The site processes Prune Butt logs into appearance grade products including lumber, solid lineal mouldings and clear pine boards. The majority of the output from the Taupo plant is exported to the USA, Europe, Asia and Australia. All products produced are FSC®-certified and graded to exacting standards to ensure high recoveries and superior appearance. Darryl Robinson, Sawmill Operations Manager for Tenon, explained their situation. “We buy high value prune logs on the open market, and we recognized that we needed to extract more value and recovery out of those logs.” He continued, “We selected USNR because we believed the BioVision system could fulfill our requirements. We have a great maintenance team here with a lot of knowledge, and we’ve had experience with the USNR team from Eugene, Oregon (formerly Inovec). We knew they could deliver on what we wanted.” Tenon has its roots in the Fletcher Group (Fletcher Challenge) in the 1960’s. It was also known as Crown Zellerbach in some regions. The company owned multiple sawmills within the central north island of New Zealand. Gradually all were sold off except the Taupo operation. Today the parent company, Tenon Limited, is a wood products processing, marketing and distribution business, focusing on the high
This edger infeed table offers gentle handling and precise positioning, even with difficult types of material. Pop-up style positioner heads push boards onto hydraulically actuated staging ramps.
The startup team, left to right: Ryan Scott (USNR); Kurstin Te Mete, Tenon Project Engineer; Kaki Waenga, Tenon Project Manager; Adrian Livesey, Tenon Project Engineer; Jeff Tomlinson and Paul Kangas (USNR); Dave Jones, Tenon Production Optimization and Programming. value moulding and millwork markets in the United States. The company primarily markets its high value products in North America via National Home Centers and the Pro Dealer network.
The supply The new edger line is fed by a headrig carriage and horizontal resaw. Logs are a mix of sizes ranging in diameter from 35cm to 950cm. The supply begins with a radius back unscrambler feeding a turn/pass station and lug loader that is monitored from above utilizing USNR’s MillTrak system for flow and backlog control. The boards pass through the transverse scanner and on to the Maximizer positioning
infeed table where they are rapidly fed into the 5-saw edger sawbox. The edged boards exit the process via USNR’s Flying-V Tailer, with tailings separated to a waste belt below. MillTrak is a vision based lumber flow management system that optimizes the lumber flow during processing. It is proven to out-perform photo eyes and proximity detection systems, as it effectively smooths the flow, straightens skewed boards, and controls backlog. Besides lug loader backlog, applications include cant hook deck sequencing, adaptive hook timing based on product width and skew, stacker layer sequencing, and more.
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TENON MANUFACTURING – BROADER MARKETS
As flitches are transported through the scan zone the image and applicable defect data is displayed on the user interface screen.
The MillTrak system camera is mounted above the lumber transfer to provide a clear view of the lumber to be monitored. In this location it is less susceptible to dust and moisture. MillTrak operates by creating a virtual array of presence detection points along the lumber conveyor. As boards travel through the detection area, the system recognizes the presence or absence of lumber as well as width, length, and skew. The Maximizer edger positioning infeed features pop-up style positioner heads to push boards onto hydraulically actuated staging ramps. The low mass design of the pop-up style positioner head allows fast positioning. This infeed table offers precise positioning, even with difficult types of material (curve sawn, small sizes), and gentle handling. The sawbox selected for this application utilizes 5 saws and a shifting straight
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edge with hold-over shoe. This allows the mill to process splits with one saw, and no edgings. Darryl commented, “We basically run slower than what the machine is capable of running. When we run wide boards we want to be absolutely sure the solution recovers the highest value. We can cut up to about 100 mm (4”) thick, and every shift has a different cut ranging from 5/4, 25mm, 50mm, 65mm, 77mm, etc. It varies all the time, and that was the idea for choosing the 5-saw machine.”
Data collection The sensor the Tenon team chose with the BioVision system is the BioLuma 2900LVG. This sensor is a powerhouse for collecting high density data from geometric measurements and visual characteristics, to grain angle measurements. It is the only sensor on the market to integrate this range of technology within a single
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sensor housing. It is, without a doubt, the best sensor on the market for the job of collecting the vast amounts of data required for accurate and precise defect recognition and analysis on green lumber. BioLuma 2900LVG specifications: Scan
rate: 2500 Hz
Measurement GrainMap
field: 8” / 200 mm
density: 0.3” / 8 mm x 500 Hz
HD
color resolution: 0.02” / 0.5 mm
HD
laser profile spacing: 0.3” / 8 mm
Thickness Laser
accuracy: ± 0.015” / 0.38 mm
class: IIIb – visible laser
Interface:
Gig-E (Gigabit Ethernet)
Temperature:
32-120 degrees F / 0-50 degrees C, non-condensing
Input
power: 48 VDC, 0.5A
The layout – Tenon and Skookum connection Designing the layout for the system didn’t come easily. Kaki Waenga, Tenon Project Manager, noted, "The concept changed several times. Tenon's project engineering team working with operations personnel, reviewed a number of layouts with Skookum Technology. We initially tried to insert the new Edger line within our existing building footprint." The final design came from the Tenon project team, situating the Edger next to the existing production line, which proved to be a very strategic move and paid large dividends in time management and commissioning. That’s where USNR’s agent on the ground in New Zealand, Skookum Technology, came in. Skookum’s General Manager, Geoff Strang, relates, “Skookum assisted with the original project feasibility study, and worked with Tenon over a period of time specifying and determining the best layout for the new edger line." Geoff noted that Skookum has enjoyed a long business relationship with Tenon, dating back to the original Fletcher sawmill.
The board edger was a game-changer for us. It’s changed the bottleneck in the sawmill. We can put more wood out of our facility, we’ve increased our throughput, now we’ve got to look at the rest of the mill and speed that up to balance mill flow.
Working together, Tenon and Skookum provided the project engineering for the construction design of the building. Tenon is fortunate to have a skilled engineering team that completed the construction of the building and carried out the installation of the USNR Edger. The onsite Tenon engineering team along with local contractor JB Maintenance and Design, completed the equipment that was outside USNR’s scope of supply.” This included mechanical / electrical transfer systems along with fully automated PLC machine control. The end result is a new machine center that was constructed and precommissioned off line, and that resulted in a rapid start up.
Positive per formance Darryl related the benefits that Tenon has achieved. “We’re getting an increase in log to lumber recovery, more than we initially expected, so we’re really pleased with that. Also the system allows us to do a lot more rationalizing of products to improve
efficiencies in our secondary processing.” He also noted the project delivered all the benefits outlined in the original scope and was delivered on time. Beyond designing the layout, Darryl says, “Everything else went great. The board edger was a game-changer for us. It’s changed the bottleneck in the sawmill. We can put more wood out of our facility, we’ve increased our throughput, now we’ve got to look at the rest of the mill and speed that up to balance mill flow.”
GRADING FOR SHOP The Edger BioVision system is tasked with primarily detecting wane, knots, resin and bark pockets. The main challenge for USNR was developing the shop optimization (cuttings algorithms) for some of the products to comply with NZS 3631 grading standards. The cuttings analysis requires a lot of computing power to analyze all the possible combinations, thus 3 computers work simultaneously on each piece to ensure the optimum solution to maximize value. Bob Arnold, USNR Sawmill Grading System Manager, explains, “To ensure the best solution possible we opted for multiple optimizers. Each one does a subset of the total solution skew attempts, and contributes the value of the solution at each of those skews. The main optimizer then assesses all the solutions put forward and decides which provides the most value, then sends the machine set to the PLC to implement the solution at the edger.” A precursor to the Tenon system was the Edger BioVision system developed for Evergreen Forest, USNR’s first system grading for shop and moulding on Ponderosa Pine. Bob said, “For Evergreen we developed the multioptimization computer strategy to allow solution generation for optimization using cuttings analysis.”
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TENON MANUFACTURING – BROADER MARKETS
We can cut up to about 100 mm (4”) thick, and every shift has a different cut ranging from 5/4, 25mm, 50mm, 65mm, 77mm, etc. It varies all the time, and that was the idea for choosing the 5-saw machine.
Notable contributions Several Tenon personnel traveled to USNR’s facility at Eugene, OR for focused training, then came back and trained other personnel. Darryl commented, “We run
24/7 so we’ve got to cover our bases inhouse. We trained the technical personnel and then they trained the other staff.” Darryl commended the Tenon personnel involved with the project. “The whole team was really outstanding. The success of the project was due to the hard working team that unselfishly put in long hours to keep the project on time and within budget.” He noted the following individuals; Kaki Waenga, Site Maintenance/Engineering and Project Manager; Adrian Livesey, Kurstin Te Mete and Gerhard Jansen, Project Engineering for Automation, Optimization and Electronics; Colin MacRae, Electrical Installation Manager; Dave Jones, Production Optimization and Programing; and Jason Ngauma, SOP Training and Safety. He also commended the Tenon
electrical team and the contractors who worked on the project. Tenon describes the operation as the country’s largest single site producer of defect-free, appearance grade radiata pine products. It supplies growing markets in the United States, Europe, Asia and Australia. This new edger line, with its BioVision grading capability, dovetails nicely with the company’s goal to expand and grow its output and its market, and to maintain its standards for the utmost in quality products.
The BioVision optimized decision shows a 2-board solution; 1. is a #3 Shop 5/4 x RW, 150 mm wide x 3.6 m long. 2. is a #2 Shop 5/4 x 145 mm wide x 3.6 m long. The interface also shows such details as saw positions, recovery volume and value, list of cuttings from each board, etc.
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Norra Skogsägarna
Johan Fredriksson, machine engineer and product developer at Norra Timber
Catech Edger REFERENCES DECISIVE FOR CHOOSING EDGER SYSTEM Norra Timber of Sweden recently installed a new Catech 4000 edger line from SĂśderhamn Eriksson to improve its output and reduce its reliance on manpower. After a very smooth startup the operation is turning out edged boards at a rapid pace, secure in the knowledge that its new technology will make it competitive for years to come.
The new Catech edger line can handle 60 pieces per minute which corresponds to a sawing capacity of some 25 logs per minute.
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NORRA SKOGSÄGARNA – CATECH EDGER
The new Catech edger line at Norra Timber is one of two edger lines running in parallel. It is capable of processing 60 boards/min.
Norra Skogsägarna (Nor thern Forest Owners) is a private association in nor thern Sweden composed of 16,355 forest owners. Its roots date back to the 1930s. The association’s aim has always been to safeguard private forest ownership rights. At the time the association was created, trees were felled by hand and hauled off with horses and timber carts. Technological development has been sweeping, while the forests have also undergone change. Modern forestry has doubled the annual output. During the 1930s, average saw timber volume amounted to 2047 cubic feet per hectare (2.5 acres) and today to 4165 cubic feet in the coastal regions. Typical for northern timber is that it grows slowly in
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the cool climate. It takes 100 to 120 years for it to be ready for harvest, compared to 60 to 80 years in southern Sweden. The slow growth results in dense, quality timber sought after by North Africa, Japan and Great Britain among other countries, as well as the domestic market. Norra Skogsägarna offers a range of forest-related services to its members, and also has an industrial sector called Norra Timber (Northern Timber) comprising two
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The installation went smoothly. It took essentially just three production days from the first piece until we were able to run 45 pieces per minute.
sawmills, two planer mills and one pole production facility. The association is thus an independent player with full control over all stages of the manufacturing process from raw materials to finished goods, with an annual output of about 182 MMBF (430 000 cbm).
World speed record One of Norra Timber’s sawmills is Sävar Sågverk which has 90 year-round employees and saws 83 MMBF (195 000 cbm) of pine and spruce annually. The present upgrading of the saw line is designed to increase feed speed and value recovery, as well as shorten log gaps. Sävar wants nothing less than to set a world speed record for bandsaws!
Johan Fredriksson, machine engineer and product developer at Norra Timber, explains. “We had two edger optimizer lines that were slow and became bottlenecks in the line. So we decided to replace the oldest one that was from 1985 with a new edger system from Söderhamn Eriksson to increase capacity. The new edger line, a Catech 4000, can handle 60 pieces per minute, which together with the remaining edger system, corresponds to a sawing capacity of some 25 logs per minute.” Johan stresses the importance of the new edger system’s high degree of automation, requiring only remote monitoring. “We didn’t want one operator just for the edger line as the old one required, because it’s
located in a separate part of the building. The investment was meant to reduce the required manpower.”
References decisive In its quest for the perfect edger system, Sävar visited the Bergene Holm sawmill in Nidarå, Norway, which too had invested in a Catech 4000. “We spent a whole day there, studying their edger line and talking to the people, and we were really impressed by what we saw and heard. This determined our choice. Also our close cooperation with Söderhamn Eriksson for almost 40 years helped, of course, to put our trust in their technology and competence. They are known for their expertise in bandsawing
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NORRA SKOGSÄGARNA – CATECH EDGER
The Catech infeed at Norra Timber, above, begins with boards traversing up an unscrambler before being scanned transversely.
The investment has meant that we could increase sawing speed significantly for saw patterns with four boards and cant heights of 100-150 mm, which includes the major part of our timber.
After processing, edged boards exit onto a slow down belt and landing table before proceeding on to the trimmer.
down one of them for servicing, we can still keep up production.”
Made-to-measure, tongue & groove, lengthgraded
Johan Fredriksson advises on how to prepare for a project like this one:
Custom dry grades
Find out what capacity you’ll need and what manpower will be required for the projected production. The answers will reveal what kind of automation and output you require. Start thinking and planning in good time, at least a year ahead. Study reference plants. This was a decisive step for the mill.
and edging and are the driving force behind developments when it comes to speed and capacity. It’s important for us to get more and more efficient while at the same time maximizing value recovery.”
Smooth installation The new edger line was installed in September 2015. Johan Fredriksson comments, ”The installation went smoothly. It took essentially just three production days from the first piece until we were able to run 45 pieces per minute. The investment has meant that we could increase sawing speed significantly for saw patterns with four boards and cant heights of 100-150 mm, which includes the major part of our timber. We are able to send the boards to either of the two edger lines now that they are working in parallel. Even if we shut
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Sävar Sågverk facts Annual output: About 83 MMBF (195 000 cbm) produced by a bandsaw line taking all log dimensions Raw materials: About 60% pine and 40% spruce
The operations are quality- and ecocertified according to ISO 9001, ISO 14001 and PEFC.
Lumber products Exterior paneling Planed construction grade lumber Dimensional lumber Strength-graded lumber
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Custom assortments
For more information, please visit www.usnr.com.
High Speed All-Electric Lug Loading USNR’s ElectraTong Lug Loader provides excellent board control. It excels in random thickness applications and handles feather edge material well, even at high speeds up to 250 LPM. Unlike other claw style machines on the market, it features allelectric actuation, with no hydraulics, no air, and no rubber bands. The all-electric design allows for easy configuration, tuning, and flexible operation including timing points, force and position control, and diagnostics. The system is controlled with a MillTrak backlog sensor. Contact us to learn more.
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Millwide. Worldwide.
www.usnr.com
Multi-Track Fence
• Most accurate fence on the market • Fastest fence for your trimmer pitch • All electric design for low cost operation
100 sold since 2010! YOU MADE IT YOUR #1 CHOICE AMONG ALL OTHERS In July 2010 we told you about our newest design, a trimmer positioning fence that incorporates the best features of any fence on the market. We recently sold our 100th machine and are proud to say this machine has more than lived up to its hype.
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From BC to Quebec, Texas to Florida, Washington to South Carolina, Uruguay to New Zealand and Sweden, customers are raving about the Multi-Track Fence, its accuracy, its speed and agility, and its economical electric operation. Customers routinely remark how accurate it is, and we believe it is the most accurate fence ever designed. One customer alone has purchased 27 Multi-Track Fences to date for multiple mills in both Canada and the US. The 100th unit will be delivered to a customer in Western North America in October, 2016.
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Inspired design What is the secret of our fence’s global success? Our fence’s inspired design incorporates the best features and eliminates the failings of many other designs. The Multi-Track Fence uses moving board bumpers to position the boards, and this allows several lug spaces for boards to come to the bumpers and settle into a fixed setback location prior to leaving the positioning system to be trimmed. The result is highly accurate, infinite board positioning, and often higher speeds.
Multi-Track Fence
The all-electric design eliminates system leakage and maintenance associated with air or hydraulics actuation. Operating costs are reduced with less maintenance required and lower energy consumption.
How it works Similar to a railway switchyard, the rotary bumpers are directed down one of multiple tracks. The switchgear, actuated by electrical solenoids, quickly and smoothly directs the bumper cam into the appropriate track. Hardened cam followers attached to the bumper run along the precision trackways.
Patented design
Accurate The rotating chain track is well guided to control moving bumpers through the entire loop. The bumpers retract on precision slideways, maintaining position accuracy. The tracks are set 1.5” (3.8cm) apart, giving the initial setback position. The final infinite position adjustment (to achieve the 0.1” / 0.25cm accuracy) is made with precision actuators mounted on a hinged section of trackway.
Fast The Multi-Track Fence offers the fastest speed for your trimmer’s pitch. Typically there is no need for additional transition transfers between the fence and the trimmer; the fence is designed to most closely match the trimmer pitch. The bumpers are light-weight to reduce rotating mass. This allows faster operating speeds and wider lug spacing. This is also the secret to maintaining the position accuracy into the trimmer.
Speeds to over 250 LPM; 200 on full
dimension applications
Similar to a railway switchyard, the rotary bumpers are directed down one of multiple tracks.
Electric design reduces operating costs No fussy brakes internal to moving board
bumpers Easy access to all components for
maintenance Designed for retrofit into existing 3-stage
fence locations (9’-0” / 2.74 m min. roll)
Come see our fence in action at the Timber Processing & Energy Expo, Portland, Oregon, Sept. 28-30.
Easily maintained Actuation is all electric – no hydraulics to maintain, and more economical to operate. Trackways are mounted over the lumber for excellent debris management, and the track table lifts for easy access and maintenance.
The final infinite position adjustment is with precision actuators mounted on a hinged section of trackway.
Features Available in 12” and 24” (30 and 60 cm)
setbacks; push or pull back configurations Infinite fence bumper resolution; accuracy
guaranteed +/- 0.1” (2.5mm)
Watch a video of our Multi-Track Fence http://www.usnr.com/Pages/prod.aspx? ProductId=MultiTrackFenceSM
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Coastland Wood Industries
Efficiency powerhouse RETOOLED VENEER DRYER MAKES ITS MARK WITH ECONOMIC, EFFICIENT OPERATION Coastland Wood Industries wanted to obtain a state-of-the-art drying system when it contracted with USNR to outfit its newly-acquired dryer with the most efficient technology available. Cognizant of stringent environmental standards, the economics of fuel costs and market forces, it achieved exactly what it was planning for!
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In January 2014, Coastland contracted with USNR for the retrofit of a used Coe Model M72 veneer dryer it had purchased from closed Tackama Forest Products, located at For t Nelson, BC. Coastland had installed a new lathe in the Nanaimo peeling plant in 2013, and par t of the plan for that expansion included expanding the drying capacity at Delta. Manager Dave Powers noted that the “bones” of the dryer at For t Nelson were good, so they decided it made sense to relocate and retrofit it for Delta.
It’s doing everything I envisioned it would do. We’re hitting the production numbers that I expected, and it’s giving me efficient, balanced drying.
Coastland Wood Industries, based on Vancouver Island at Nanaimo, BC, manufactures Douglas Fir veneer and roundwood cores. The company operates four facilities along the coast of British Columbia, Canada. The Nanaimo facility sorts logs and produces veneer and cores, while the Menzies Bay facility at Campbell River, and the Howe Sound facility both weigh, sort, scale, store and barge the logs to the processing site. The company’s drying facility located at Delta, dries and grades the veneer, and operates as the company’s distribution center where green veneer is either shipped direct, or dried before shipping to market. Coastland processes its logs into veneer sheets of 1/10”, 1/8” and 1/7” thicknesses. The major market for Coastland’s dry veneer is the LVL industry, but it also feeds the hardwood and softwood plywood segments. Until recently, the company’s Delta drying facility operated 3 dryers; 2 are longitudinal design, fueled by natural gas, and one is a re-dryer. As part of his research prior to acquiring the Tackama dryer, Dave had been to visit his colleague Doug Webb, manager of Thompson River Veneer Products (TRVP), in Kamloops, BC. The TRVP operation is also a veneer drying facility, operating a Coe dryer that was equipped with Automatic Dryer Exhaust Control (ADEC), Cooler Pressure Balance, and other advanced features. Dave was impressed with the dryer’s efficiency and cost-effective operation, and decided that was what he needed for the Delta facility. Dave commented, “ADEC is new to the Coastland operation. The other 2 dryers we have are longitudinal dryers, and this one is the first jet tube dryer we’ve installed. I was interested in the efficiencies of the jet tube design, which is the newest dryer design out there, as well as the efficiency of the ADEC system. My goal was to install state-of-the-art drying technology. We just ended up putting it on an older unit.” Coastland was not unfamiliar with USNR’s Coe equipment line; the Coastland Nanaimo peeling facility utilizes two Coe veneer lathes. In addition to the dryer, Coastland also relocated a Coe 10-bin dry veneer stacker from the closed Fort Nelson operation.
Above: The wet end seal section is part of the Automatic Dryer Exhaust Control system (ADEC) added to the infeed of the dryer.
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COASTLAND WOOD INDUSTRIES – EFFICIENCY POWERHOUSE
ADEC - BENEFITS
USNR’s Coe veneer dryer includes a finely tuned control system with several outstanding and proprietary features that make it unique. USNR’s contract for this dryer project comprised erecting a wet end seal section that is integral to the ADEC system, as well as a Cooler Pressure Balance control system. The ADEC system requires a single point discharge into a customersupplied pollution control system for dryer emissions control. The ADEC system automatically controls the total dryer exhaust volume. This allows it to maximize thermal efficiency of the dryer, keeping heated air inside the unit and exhausting the volume of fugitive emissions.
Here’s how ADEC works
Significant More
increase in volume of dried veneer 8-10%
uniform dry veneer moisture distribution
Higher
quality veneer
Reduced
exhaust volume 10-15%
Thermal
energy reduction 5-10%
Reduced
hydrocarbon build-up
Reduction
of in plant emissions
A wet end seal section is situated at the feed end of the dryer, and fitted with an exhaust fan. The fan discharges to the ADEC’s exhaust stack, metering exhaust flow from the seal section. Special entry and discharge stop-offs control the flow of heated dryer air into the seal section, and control fugitive emissions from discharging back into the dryer. A small gas burner is located at the seal’s exhaust duct, and provides a temperature boost to the exhaust flow, minimizing pitch buildup in the seal section. A control loop is established between the ADEC fan and the PLC. The PLC receives signals from a thermocouple located at the wet end seal section, and also from a thermocouple located at the dryer’s feed section that senses ambient plant air temperature. The numeric difference between the sensor readings indicates the exhaust airflow from the dryer into the seal
I know the dryer is efficient, and overall my gas usage is down. It is more efficient than the longitudinal dryers, for sure. This illustration shows air flow control with Cooler Pressure Balance.
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section, and a temperature set point is established. When the temperature rises above the set point the PLC increases the ADEC fan speed, reducing the flow from the dryer into the seal section. When the temperature falls below the set point the PLC slows the ADEC fan, allowing more dryer air to flow into the seal section. This continually modulates the exhaust flow to prevent fugitive emissions and allowing excess heat to escape from the dryer.
Balanced cooling Cooler Pressure Balance minimizes heated dryer air from entering the cooling section, and vice versa. This not only improves efficiency by reducing heat loss, but helps reduce pitch buildup inside the drying and cooling sections. The PLC system controls the operation of the dryer’s main fans, drive tower, zone temperatures, ADEC single point exhaust, Cooler Pressure Balance, veneer temperature, and the dryer feeder and unloader. To accomplish the cooler pressure balance control the first cooling section (attached directly to the last heated dryer section) is specially modified as both a pressure seal and a cooler. Stop-offs are mounted between the dryer rolls to mechanically seal the first cooler section from the last dryer section. In addition to its main cooling fan, the discharge vent is fitted with a large exhaust fan and modulating damper. Pressure sensing manifolds are mounted on each side of the stop-offs between the last dryer section and the first cooler section, connected via a pipe to pressure transducers. The pressure transducers continuously monitor the differential pressure between the heated dryer and the cooler seal section. The signal from the transducer is processed in the dryer’s PLC with a near zero set point, which modulates both the damper and the speed of the exhaust fan. The effect of this control is to maintain a near zero pressure differential between the enclosed dryer and the cooler section, minimizing heated dryer air from entering the cooler and cooler air from entering the dryer.
Efficiency achieved!
Ongoing improvements
Commenting on how satisfied he is with the dryer’s operation, Dave says, “I know the dryer is efficient, and overall my gas usage is down. It is more efficient than the longitudinal dryers, for sure.”
Coastland is an innovative company, interested in implementing new technology to improve the business. Dave noted that he is continually striving to improve the Delta drying facility’s productivity and cost-effectiveness, and he’s optimistic that the market will respond to the new improvements. He says the plywood market in Canada and the US is stable, and it is increasing in a balanced manner. The recent investments Coastland has made will allow the company to grow its business accordingly.
Dave went on to explain, “I can tell by the damper position on the dryer that we are putting less flow out into the atmosphere. It typically runs at about 20-30% (open). That demonstrates the efficiency of the dryer. Depending on the design of your dryer and its damper controls, those exhaust ports may be open and all your heat is going out the stack. This design actually has a damper on that one exhaust port. It’s keeping the steam and heat inside the dryer, and only exhausting to about 30%.” Balancing the exhaust output with Coastland’s pollution abatement system was one challenge that was dealt with through painstaking tweaks to the ADEC fans. The other challenge was interfacing the ADEC components to the existing dryer that took engineering, construction and start-up efforts. Dave is satisfied with the results, “It’s doing everything I envisioned it would do. We’re hitting the production numbers that I expected, and it’s giving me efficient, balanced drying.”
Watch animation that demonstrates how the Automatic Dryer Exhaust Control (ADEC) system operates: https://vimeo.com/167311261
Watch animation that demonstrates how USNR’s Veneer Dryer with Balanced Cooling control operates: https://vimeo.com/167317606
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Russian Delegates Tour
Hosting new friends RUSSIAN DELEGATES TOUR NORTH AMERICAN TECHNOLOGY From time-to-time USNR is afforded the opportunity to tour groups of customers from all regions of the globe. This is one aspect of our business that is particularly rewarding, as we get to see our designs and our successes through new eyes. It gives us a renewed appreciation for the talented team of hardworking individuals that make up our company’s greatest resource. In April 2016 USNR was very happy to host a delegation of representatives from some of Russia’s major logging and wood processing companies. While in North America the group visited British Columbia, Canada and Oregon, U.S. to become familiar with up-todate wood processing technologies designed by USNR / Söderhamn Eriksson.
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The purpose of this trip was to impart a good understanding of USNR’s designs including specific equipment characteristics and advantages, and to overcome the old stereotypes that were established in this sector in the Soviet times, when the Russian market was dominated by European wood processing
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We noted that the designs and technologies of USNR / Söderhamn Eriksson can now probably surpass other reputable manufacturers.
North America Tour
techniques. The host team was given the opportunity to demonstrate USNR’s extensive capabilities that run the gamut of solid wood processing technology, through a tour of several North American mills as well as USNR facilities. The trip involved mill managers and technical specialists from four Russian companies located in a variety of regions including Russia North-West, Siberia and Transbaikal, and included such largescale mills, as IKEA-Tikhvin, Roskitinvest, Cherepovetsles and Baikal Forest Company. Prior to their arrival to North America the delegates were familiar with Europeandesigned equipment, and all had visited mills in Russia and Europe operating European technologies. Few had seen USNR equipment, nor were they familiar with the North American approach to sawmilling. To many delegates the North American sawmilling technologies became a revelation, particularly the production capacities and grade scanning and optimization technology, and they noted the differences in processing philosophies from what they were familiar with.
Members of the delegation and USNR representatives.
The delegation’s praise was unanimous for the USNR team and for the invaluable insight acquired through the experience. The visitors were also pleased for the opportunity to become familiar with North American culture, the scenic beauty of the regions toured, and the hospitality they enjoyed everywhere they went. Beyond the benefit of simply meeting USNR’s technical specialists was the opportunity for the lively exchange of ideas, challenges, solutions and anecdotes that made the discussions dynamic.
Russian delegation is visiting sawmill in Washington state.
Mr. Alexey Sukharev, Head of the Cherepovetsles Holding Company’s Strategic Planning Department, commented, “The trip was very interesting. We noted that the designs and technologies of USNR / Söderhamn Eriksson can now probably surpass other reputable manufacturers. We had never seen the solutions that your company is offering, comparing any other manufacturers.”
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New Projects Balcas Timber – Major Optimization, PLC Upgrade The Balcas Timber operation at Enniskillen, Northern Ireland, is outfittng its complete sawmill line with new optimization and controls systems. The order comprises new scanning and optimization for the entire sawmill complex, originally installed by CAE Newnes in 1999. The Double Length Infeed (DLI) and lineal Curve Saw Gang optimization is being based on the MillExpert platform, with Smart TriCam scanning. A Precision Geometric Log Rotation (PGLR) system will monitor and control the log rotation process in real time to increase recovery by correcting log rotation error. The lineal RoboGuide Edgers will be updated with the latest Newnes Sawmill Suite optimization platform, and LPL scanner heads will replace the obsolete Hydra sensors. The Trimmer line will also receive updated Sawmill Suite optimization, and will utilize new BioLuma 2900L laser profile sensors. The bin sorter will receive the latest WinTally sorter management and control system. The complete line from DLI through Bandmills, Gang, Edgers, and Trim/ Sort/Stack lines will be updated with ControlLogix PLC controls.
Hankins Lumber – Reskin Dry Kiln
Limington Lumber – Kiln Boss Upgrade
Hankins Lumber at Elliott, Mississippi is repaneling its existing track kiln. The kiln is 88’ long and direct fuel fired. The retrofit will include new panels and doors.
Limington Lumber at East Baldwin, Maine recently updated its 7 package kilns with USNR’s Kiln Boss computer control. The Kiln Boss system tracks custom drying schedules, alerts you to trouble or system changes. It reduces energy usage by more precisely controlling the process and drying schedule time.
Fiskarhedens Trävaru AB – Optimized Log Turner, Infeed
Jordan Forest – NSS Edger BioVision
To increase accuracy at the log infeed on its saw line, Fiskarhedens Trävaru AB is investing in new 3D scanning, log turning and log infeed equipment from Söderhamn Eriksson / USNR.
Jordan Forest Products at Barnesville, GA is updating its transverse Edger line with BioLuma 2900LVG sensors and the latest Sawmill Suite Optimization.
Fiskarheden is one of Sweden’s largest sawmills. Its annual sawing capacity is 340,000 m3 lumber, with 125 employees. Its existing saw line comprises three bandmill breakdown centers and two optimized edger lines from Söderhamn Eriksson. The new equipment is scheduled for delivery early July 2016.
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The new system will afford Jordan full green mill grading capability. The BioLuma 2900LVG sensors offer 0.3” GrainMap™ (grain angle) density measurements, 0.02” color vision resolution, and 0.3” true differential laser profile density measurements. The Sawmill Suite Optimization platform utilizes the scan data to very accurately detect and classify defects such as knots, skip, splits, holes, wane, warp and more.
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Sierra Pacific - 2 Optimized VSS systems, Resaw
Wilkins, Kaiser & Olsen – Horizontal Shape Saw (HSS)
The Sierra Pacific mill at Shelton, WA has ordered two Vertical Shape Saw lines and a Horizontal Resaw system. The equipment is designed to accommodate 4-6” thick Douglas fir and hemlock, and the shape saw systems are equipped with profiling heads.
A new 6” Horizontal Shape Saw is on order for Wilkins, Kaiser & Olsen (WKO) of Carson, WA. The material fed to the machine will be 4” to 6” thick Pine, Fir and Hemlock. The sawbox is a single arbor design, with provision for future doublearbor conversion. A chipper module at the infeed will profile each piece, alleviating the requirement for edging.
The MillExpert Cant Optimization system gathers its data from the Smart TriCam lineal scanning system. The system is scheduled to be commissioned in the fall of 2016.
Waipapa Pine – MillExper t/ LASAR Carriage Optimization Waipapa Pine at Waipapa, New Zealand is updating its carriage line with USNR’s MillExpert Carriage Optimization system paired with LASAR sensors.
COMPLIMENTARY SUBSCRIPTION For your complimentary subscription to USNR’s Millwide Insider magazine e-mail subscriptions@usnr.com or go to www.usnr.com/Newsletters
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PO Box 310 Woodland, WA 98674
Millwide Insider is printed on recycled paper.
Profile Carl Thomas is International Sales Manager for USNR, based at Kelowna, BC. In this role Carl heads up USNR’s solid wood internationl sales efforts in cooperation with the Söderhamn Eriksson international sales efforts, headed by Christian Winlöf. Carl holds a BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Victoria, BC. He began his career in the forest products industry with Perceptron in 2001 as a field service technician. He worked his way up from field service through optimization project management, and then into onsite project
UPCOMING EVENTS
management before moving into sales in 2007. Initially Carl was focused on servicing accounts in Canada but has moved into the international arena in recent years. Carl comments, “I really enjoy working with customers from all over the world. Each region is unique and presents its own challenges. Collaborating with international clients means I’m always learning, and that keeps things interesting.” Carl and wife, Monica, enjoy raising their young daughter in the beautiful Okanagan Valley region of British Columbia. In his free time, Carl enjoys golfing and downhill skiing.
4–7 OCT. OLMA
5–7 OCT. NHLA
19–22 OCT. SLMA
Sudbury, Ontario
Fort Worth, Texas
Williamsburg, Virginia
24–27 OCT. Lesdrevmash
2–3 NOV. InterSaw/InterScie
Moscow, Russia
Montreal, Québec