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December 2005 |
FEATURES
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Zickgraf Hardwoods benefits from Balanced Kiln Design It’s been about a year since Zickgraf Hardwoods installed three new USNR Mega-Kilns at the Franklin, NC facility, and the kilns continue to provide high levels of uniformity in both moisture content and stress relief in the finished lumber. Vice President of Purchasing, Ernie Pait says “The kilns provide a very good airflow. The wood dries evenly and the moisture content is very even. It’s an excellent set-up.” This success can be attributed to the Balanced System Design which incorporates multi-zone Kiln Boss controls along with special conditioning equipment. The main circulating fans are center-mounted, above the lumber load with heat exchangers evenly positioned on either side. As a result, a high degree of uniformity is maintained even though each unit holds almost 250,000 board feet of raw material! The “predryer-sized” project uses the economy of scale to dry lumber from green all the way to target moisture content, at a lower cost per board foot than a conventional "predryer-kiln" combination. “When we unloaded the kilns for the very first time, we did extensive measuring of moisture with a moisture meter and we were really surprised and pleased with how tight the moisture range was in the kiln” Pait stated. Drying times at Zickgraf have improved since the installation, due in part to a mechanism that controls how hot the steam gets inside the steam line. If the steam gets too hot, water will spray to cool down the load. “Being able to control the steam has allowed us to do a better job of conditioning our lumber. We are now able to condition our lumber in shorter amount of time. It’s very efficient,” Pait said. Zickgraf Hardwoods incorporated some new options in their kilns including USNR’s Bi-Fold doors and heavy duty Fin-Pipe. The doors are located on the front and back sides of the kiln to allow entry into each of the chambers. “The bi-fold doors make for easy access. They slide up and down very easily, and we don’t have to fight with hangers. They're very smooth” said Pait. He also mentioned an additional advantage of bi-fold doors allows employees to unload two kilns at one time. The standard heavy-duty fin-pipe has been reinforced with a higher fin-density and aluminized coating to increase efficiency and durability. Pait has been so pleased with the USNR kilns and their fin-pipe/coil banks, that he’s even installed USNR’s fin pipe/coil banks in some of Zickgraf’s off-brand kilns. USNR’s dry kiln engineering and manufacturing center grew out of the old Moore Dry Kiln Co., founded in 1897. Today, USNR supplies lumber dryers and drying system including computerized kiln control systems, hardwood package kilns, multi-zone high temperature softwood track kilns and green wood waste burner systems. |
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT John Reed is NW Mechanical Sales Account Executive for USNR in Woodland, WA. With 25 years of experience in the sawmill industry, John's extensive knowledge of Primary and Secondary Breakdown systems is well respected in the industry. In particular, he specializes in High Speed Extended Length Infeeds, Endo Feeding Sharp Chains, Bandmills, as well as Curve and Shape Sawing systems. John spent five years in a Technician's Apprenticeship focusing on Mechanical Engineering in the United Kingdom, where he gained experience in heavy manufacturing before working five years in the Nuclear Power industry in Montreal, Canada. John's current position focuses on sales and technical support in USNR's Woodland, WA facility. |
PRODUCT FEATURE
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NEW AND REBUILT DEBARKER ROTORS USNR offers the complete line of rotors for Cambio type debarkers in the following sizes: 14”, 18”, 24/25”, 26” and 30”. These heavy duty rotors offer increased flexibility, and are designed to accommodate the various types of tool tensioning systems including Hydraulic, Spider and Air Bag systems. Whether it is a new or rebuilt rotor, every stage of preparation, machining, assembly and testing is done at our facilities, by our technicians using the original technology and specifications. This ensures the highest quality workmanship and maintains original manufacturing standards.
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NEW PROJECTS
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Long time USNR customer, Battle Lumber of Wadley, GA has upgraded their USNR-Hemco trimmer to MillExpert optimization. Hugg & Hall has purchased two USNR model US-355 Lift Trucks for its locations in Little Rock, AR and Camden, AR. Interfor bought a USNR 3D LASAR scanning and optimization system for the Headrig Carriage at the Delta, BC mill, replacing the existing USNR ScanMax system. This makes the second LASAR Carriage system they have purchased this year. The first was installed at Interfor's mill in Maple Ridge, BC. International Paper is refurbishing two existing USNR dry kilns at the Gurdon, AR facility. The job includes replacing some panels and fin pipe as well as reworking the heating system for overall increased efficiency. Lift Pro Equipment of Sioux Falls, SD has ordered a USNR model US-185 Lift Truck. Potlatch of Gwinn, MI has ordered a USNR 3D Lineal Tricam upgrade with MillExpert for their Log Optimizer system. The upgrade replaces analog TriCam sensors with Smart TriCam sensors that have enhanced ambient light resistance and operate better on dark wood. The mill will also receive new MillExpert Optimizer and Analyzer computers. Pyramid Mountain Lumber recently bought a USNR 3D LASAR scanning and optimization system for a Maxi Mill EDLF Carriage at their mill in Seeley Lake, MT. The mill processes Lodge pole and Ponderosa Pine for dimension and board products. Rayonier in Swainsboro, GA has bought a USNR 3D scanning upgrade for their Turner Optimizer. The upgrade replaces old Dynavision sensors with lineal TriCams for increased scan density and more accurate solutions. Riley Creek Lumber is adding a complete new USNR Optimized Small Log Line to the mill in Chilco, ID. The new line features a Knuckle Turner Infeed with an A/R conveyor, Horizontal Chipper, Vertical Feed Module, Profiler and Quad Arbor Saw Box with a sharp chain outfeed, as well as a VSS system. The line includes two scan zones with 3D Smart TriCam sensors and MillExpert Optimization. The first zone scans for Auto-Rotation and Log Optimization solutions and the second is a dual scan-zone for Cant Optimization at the VSS.
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EVENT CALENDAR
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Feb. 1-2 - IHLA is having its annual convention in Indianapolis, IN. For more information visit http://www.ihla.org Feb. 2-3 - MLMA is holding its annual convention in Natchez, MS. For more information visit http://www.mslumbermfg.org |
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