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FEATURES

“We’ve run all the different brands, and for what we do True Flow is way ahead.” - Tim Miskuski, Maintenance Planner, Weyerhaeuser Kamloops, BC

Interchangeable knife seats allow for quick and easy adjustment of chip thickness.

True Flow knives are available for conical or drum-style chip heads (drum style shown here prior to shipping).

Weyerhaeuser mill adopts USNR True Flow knives

Weyerhaeuser’s sawmill in Kamloops, BC processes some of the hardest and gnarliest wood in very extreme conditions, making each shift a real challenge for the maintenance department. Maintenance Planner, Tim Miskuski says “We have a lot of experience with chipper knives and have tried almost every brand“.

The mill installed True Flow knives on the top and side heads of its Chip-N-Saw in December 2004 as part of a performance test comparing True Flow knives with other top knife brands.

“We were taking heat from headquarters on production levels and finish” Tim explained, “so we took a chance on True Flow and it’s worked out very well.” Weyerhaeuser plans to upgrade other heads in the mill with True Flow knives before winter.

Tim said, "The True Flow system has proven itself in frozen conditions as well as the warmer months" adding "it's very cost effective in comparison to the others.”

The mill was able to run the same set of knives they installed in December right up until August. Tim explained “We hone them and grind them onsite, and part of True Flow’s staying power is the actual amount we’re able to grind them before they need replaced.” The mill reports saving over $60,000 in the first quarter alone. “Other brands amount to throw-away knives compared to True Flow” he declared.

“There were some growing pains” Tim admitted, “but it’s proven to be profitable in terms of recovery, finish and chip quality. Our decision to go with True Flow was based on knife performance, but its people driven too," he went on to say, "and there was a lot of support from USNR. We established a partnership and want to stick with one vendor we can count on.”

The change from a 15” diameter head to a 20” head also trimmed a few hours from their knife change-out rate. "Before, it was a given that we had to change all the knives on a head every two hours, but now even after six hours, we don’t change as many knives as we used to." Tim says, "True Flow stands up longer.”

Weyerhaeuser’s Kamloops sawmill cuts fir and spruce in random lengths and produces lam stock and MSR stress rated lumber.

Randy Layton, NW Account Executive

SAW GUIDES SINCE 1934

USNR manufactures saw guides in a variety of configurations for many different applications. All guides are designed using CAD Solid Modeling and manufactured to exacting standards with CNC machining technology. This provides the ultimate in part-to-part consistency, which translates to durability and sawing accuracy in the mill.

USNR has been designing and installing saw guides and kerf reduction technologies since 1934 and many mills choose to put USNR saw guides on machines manufactured by other vendors because of this expertise.

Aluminum Saw Guides are made from aerospace-quality aluminum and precision-ground prior to hardcoat anodizing. Hardcoat anodizing results in all surfaces with minimum 72 RC which significantly increases wear resistance.

Steel Saw Guides are made from 4140 steel and heat treated to an RC of 48-52 and precision-ground on all critical surfaces. Heat-treated steel guides can be Chromed, Nickel Plated or Nitrated according to your preferences.