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June 2006 |
FEATURES
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16 years of success at Mackeys Ferry Mackeys Ferry Sawmill began its relationship with USNR back in 1990 when they installed two custom track kilns with Kiln Boss controls. The hybrid kilns, described as "Accelerated Temperature Dryers", are based on track kiln and package kiln designs. Since then, the mill has gradually upgraded almost every major machine center with USNR equipment including the edger, and a trim, sort and stack line. More recently, the company installed USNR’s 3D LASAR scanning and optimization system on an existing McDonough carriage. Manufacturing primarily Hardwoods and some softwoods, Mackeys Ferry Sawmill requires a high degree of flexibility in their product mix. Wilson Jones III, Vice President and General Manager says, “flexibility is certain with USNR equipment.” "We've definitely seen yield increases in our carriage system. We’ve seen a shift in the grade on the narrow-width boards where a number of them have been graded into No. 2B…we’re seeing a shift into No. 2A and No.1 Common, so it’s been a big plus," Jones commented. "The USNR optimization software takes a lot of the human factor out of the picture and gives us more time for mill management. It’s a very big benefit," he added. Measurement accuracy ranks at the top according to Jones. The company uses off-line simulation on a regular basis to try out different processing scenarios at its three optimizers, the carriage, the trimmer and the edger. "USNR’s optimization solutions are much easier to use. All optimization systems are somewhat complicated, but USNR’s is a little less difficult and you get the benefit of flexibility. There’s so much flexibility built into the system that it far outweighs the difficulty of learning it," Jones stated. In addition to reliability and accuracy, there has been a noticeable improvement in material handling at Mackeys Ferry, according to Jones. Prior to installing USNR equipment, the company utilized forklifts. "With the forklifts, it would take a lumber inspector three days to grade a charge of lumber, now they do it in seven hours," Jones said. "If we didn't have the USNR machinery, we would have about twenty-five people on the green chain, which now only requires two lumber inspectors and five men." "Each machine center has its own benefits. We’ve seen some terrific labor savings with the sorter and the stacker. Both pieces of equipment have phenomenally increased our efficiency with lumber handling," said Wilson Jones. Jones also mentioned that his company has seen yield increases with both the optimization at the edger and the trimmer. Overall experience with USNR products at Mackeys Ferry has been above average, according to Jones. "I would definitely recommend USNR to other companies. They make good, solid equipment, and we feel like their software is second to none," Jones said. |
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EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT Mike Creger is an Account Representative for USNR's Mechanical Division covering the Eastern United States. Based out of Hot Springs, Arkansas, Mike has spent nine of his 18 years in the forest products industry with USNR. Mike started out as a welder for Automated Lumber Handling (ALH), a company in North Carolina that provided trim/sort/stack lines for the industry. He worked his way through parts and drafting to the Engineering Dept. When one of the sales guys went to work for USNR in Hot Springs, he threw Mike’s name into the hat when a position came open. Soon Mike moved from NC to Arkansas, where he started out in the Engineering Dept. and later moved to Quoting and Proposals. Over the years in this position, Mike made many contacts with USNR customers, so it was a natural transition into sales when the opportunity arrived. “I’ve worked with many customers over the phone, working out details in the proposal process, but now I get to meet them on their own turf, out in the mills. I really enjoy helping mills find solutions to their operational issues,” Mike said. Mike was raised in North Carolina where his father owned Creger & Sons Wood Turning, a furniture framing shop in Baton. He and his brother spent their high-school summers working at the shop. Mike admits, “I’ve had sawdust behind my ears for a long time.” In his spare time, Mike likes to hit the trail, riding dirt bikes with several people from the Hot Springs office.
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PRODUCT FEATURE
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Chip-N-Saw Conversions Back in the 1960’s the Chip-N-Saw revolutionized the forest products industry. At USNR today, we’re keeping history alive with upgrades and conversions that keep your C-N-S running faster and more efficiently than ever. Conversions for increased speed and accuracy: USNR offers a number of C-N-S conversions including Quad Spike Rolls, True Flow Knives, Top and Side Head Round Slideways and Precision Vee-Flat Flighted Chain Upgrades. We'll explore all of these options over the next several issues. Precision Vee-Flat Flighted Chain Upgrade:
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NEW PROJECTS
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Culp Lumber of New London, NC has placed an order for a USNR 12" double arbor Shape Sawing Gang system with conical chip heads. The order also includes a centering infeed system. The shifting bank of gang saws will allow them to cut a wide variety of products as well as timbers. In other areas of the mill, Culp Lumber uses a 42" USNR Log Boss Carriage with ScanMax scanning and TimberGrfx optimization, along with a slabber and a bandmill to process fiber. Great South Timber and Lumber has just completed an upgrade to USNR 3D Smart TriCam scanning including new computers at the L Parton Lumber of Rutherfordton, NC has just placed an order for five USNR Package Kilns with Kiln Boss Controls. These kilns are special units with high-performance heating and venting systems, giving them enhanced flexibility in their operation. Located in the heart of the Appalachian hardwood region, Parton Lumber processes mixed hardwoods as well as White Pine, and these custom kilns can dry both slow-drying hardwoods as well as faster drying, light density species such as White Pine.
There are currently 24 kilns at the facility with a total capacity of 2.3 million board feet. The new USNR kilns will add over a half million board feet capacity to their current capacity. Parton Lumber Company was founded in 1948 and processes 5/4 and 6/4 lumber from White pine, Red Oak, White Oak, Poplar, Pine and hardwood chips, Mulch and Timbers for Log homes. Today, third generation family members own and manage the company which currently has 135 employees and manufactures 53 million board feet per year at its main facility in Rutherfordton. Parton Lumber also uses USNR machinery in its green mill, including a USNR Log Boss Carriage, trimmer with GEO2 scanning and TimberGrfx optimization and a bin sorter. Suwannee Lumber in
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EVENT CALENDAR
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July 13-16 - MLMA - The Mississippi Lumber Manufacturer's Association is holding their mid-year convention and trade show at the Grand Casino and Resort in Tunica, MS. For more information visit http://www.mslumbermfg.org July 20-22 - SLMA - The Southeastern Lumber Manufacturer's Association is holding its annual conference at Amelia Island, FL. For more information visit http://www.slma.org August 23-26 - IWF 2006 - The International Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Supply Fair will be held at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta, GA. Visit USNR booth # 5934. For more information visit http://www.iwf2006.com |
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