September 2007

 

FEATURES

One of two carriages at the Tolleson Lumber mill in Perry, GA.

The mill also uses a sharp chain system to process its SYP dimension lumber as well as a small amount of 1" and export items.

"More yield, if it means more profit, is good, but it may not. So it’s not all about yield anymore, for us it’s about profit.” - John Lusk, Mill Manager
Carriage computer room.
Scan data showing butt-end notch in the log.
 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tolleson Lumber Optimizes For Profit

The Tolleson Lumber mill in Perry, GA is a unique facility in many ways, from its process lines to its management’s operating philosophy. By all accounts their strategy is paying off.

The mill runs three primary breakdown lines comprised of two carriages and a sharp chain. Southern mills often have a carriage and a sharp chain, but having two carriages and a sharp chain is rare. According to Bradford Price, Operations Engineer Manager, this configuration came about more so by luck than by design.

The mill had always run two carriages at full production, processing hardwood at night and pine during the day. But the operation was still limited by log count, so in 1999 Tolleson Lumber added the sharp chain. The new layout didn’t require anything to be removed, so the mill ended up with a higher speed primary breakdown line, and was also able to keep both carriages.

In the fourth quarter of 2006, Tolleson Lumber made some significant improvements to the carriages in the Perry sawmill. One was completely revamped with USNR 3D front and back side LASAR scanning and optimization on a new carriage, 6’ band mill, and slabber head. The mill’s other carriage also received USNR's 3D front and back side LASAR scanning and optimization system.

Bradford said, “We researched everything in the market and found this optimizer system to be very advanced. It’s the only system that can do what it does.”

Tolleson Lumber operates with an aggressive optimization and pricing strategy, and the Perry mill takes advantage of many features in USNR's MillExpert system. “We’re seeing more recovery, yes, but a big reason we chose this system is because we can enter real prices into our optimizer and cut what’s the most valuable,” said Mill Manager, John Lusk. “We didn’t have that ability before.”

The sharp chain and just one carriage can keep the mill’s curve sawing gang busy, so the other carriage is usually grade sawing. “At any point during the day, at least one of those guys is line sawing,” said Bradford, “which isn’t a bad idea since a lot of big logs are routed that way, and the carriage system offers great flexibility when cutting grade products.”

USNR’s “whole log modeling” approach provides Tolleson Lumber with an edge in this tough market. Bradford explained, “with this optimization our value uplift is more than the board footage recovery uplift, which is substantial in itself.”

“We went from look-up tables to the sky's the limit capability," Bradford added. “It was a pretty big learning curve, but we’re reaping the benefits with really good solutions."

John (Mill Manager) commented that many mills these days have optimizers, but how they choose to use the system is key. "We want to make sure we’re actually getting what it predicts, and using the system’s capabilities to the fullest.”

Tolleson Lumber has indeed been able to put the dense 3D LASAR data to good use in its solutions. In one example, a log was loaded that had a deep notch cut out about two feet from the butt end, possibly made by a feller buncher.

The USNR MillExpert optimizer saw the notch cut out of the log, and modeled lumber right up to that defect. The software didn't filter it away.

Tolleson Lumber Company is a family owned business that dates back to 1919 and spans three generations. The Perry sawmill produces approximately 150 million board feet of southern yellow pine lumber per year. With sawmills in Perry, GA and Preston, GA that have a combined capacity to produce in excess of 370 million board feet annually, Tolleson is one of the largest independent lumber manufacturers in the south.

 


 

 

Carl Thomas, Account Representative for USNR's Optimization Division.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Carl Thomas is USNR's new Optimization Account Representative for Eastern Canada. In 2001 Carl graduated from the University of Victoria in Victoria, BC with a degree in Mechanical Engineering.

Carl began his career immediately after college working as a field service engineer for Perceptron Forest Products Division, which was later acquired by USNR. 

During his first year in field service Carl spent a lot of time performing installations and service visits in Eastern Canada. This experience allowed him to further develop his French language skills learned in French Immersion School while growing up. Carl was promoted to Project Manager shortly after the Perceptron group was acquired by USNR in 2002. 

As a project manager, Carl was responsible for managing and starting up numerous primary optimization installations including bucking, carriage, end-dog carriage, and log line optimizers. For the last three years Carl has focused on managing and starting up USNR small log line installations. Carl looks forward to facing the exciting challenges of his new position as the Eastern Canadian Optimization Sales Representative for USNR.

 

 

PRODUCT FEATURE

USNR Split Spiked Feed Rolls extend service life and reduce maintenance time.

42" Quad-Roll Log Turner with Split Spiked Feed Rolls

SPLIT SPIKED FEED ROLLS for LOG TURNERS

USNR's Split Spiked Feed Rolls for Log Turners provide several key advantages over traditional one-piece spiked rolls that reduce maintenance time and increase service life.

Longer service life - Why throw out the entire spike roll when the wear is mainly in the center? Now you don't have to, since our split roll segments are symmetric and fully interchangeable, allowing them to be rotated (similar to tires on a car) for more even wear and a longer service life.

Quick Replacement - Why spend hours disassembling your log turner - removing bearings, belts and drive-shafts - when the spike rolls need replacing? WIth USNR's split spike rolls, the bearings, shafts and hubs remain in place during spike roll changes, dramatically reducing maintenance time and expense.

 

 

NEW PROJECTS

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

USNR says Thank You to our customers for the new orders.

We appreciate your continued loyalty and pledge to continue earning it!

 

Abalon is building a new mill in Schwalmstadt, Germany and has purchased a USNR YieldMaster G3 carriage optimizer with StereoScan along with a WaneMaster G3 edger optimizer system. The new mill is located in the center of Germany's Hessian Beech region and will process Beech lumber. The company's main mill in Heiligenkreuz, Austria is also equipped with YieldMaster optimization and StereoScan scanning as well as a WaneMaster G3 system.

Correction: Last month's newsletter incorrectly reported that Beasley Forest Products of Hazlehurst, GA had ordered a USNR 3D LASAR scanning and optimization system to be installed on a Cone Machinery carriage, when in fact the mill will install the system on a new McDonough carriage.

Evergreen Forest Products of New Meadows, ID has placed an order for a 66" USNR wastewood disc chipper to make quick work of waste materials from their production line. Designed to perform at full capacity day-in and day-out, this hard-working machine with let them focus on other parts of their mill.

Gilman Building Products in Perry, FL placed an order to reskin an existing direct fired kiln with insulated panels and new doors to better dry its Southern Yellow Pine.

Hazlehurst Lumber of Hazlehurst, MS has ordered a USNR MillExpert carriage optimizer system for its new ASM carriage with 3D LASAR front and backside scanning. Hazlehurst is a large softwood pine mill, cutting lumber up to 24' long.

Hood Industries of Coushatta, LA has purchased a lineal Smart TriCam upgrade for their Chip-N-Saw system. The mill currently has a single axis light curtain scanner and can expect to achieve radically better log modeling by moving to 3D scanning.

Interfor has bought a new USNR dual positioning infeed system to replace the single positioning infeed on the existing USNR edger in its Molalla, OR plant. The stud mill process Douglas Fir and expects to increase the piece count through the edger with this new infeed.

Lauzon Resources Forestieres of Thurso, Quebec has placed an order for a USNR slant carriage and headrig bandmill along with a new resaw bandmill. This project will convert the Thurso sawmill into a hybrid plant for primary and secondary hardwood processing. Modernization of the production process will double the manufacturing capacity of specialty products such as hardwood flooring.

Prairie Wood Products just started up a new USNR YieldMaster G3 carriage optimizer with StereoScan on the headrig at its mill in Prairie City, OR. A used tilted carriage was added to process larger and irregular shaped logs. The mill's other line is a lineal sharp chain designed for smaller logs. Reports from the mill indicate that the carriage optimization project has exceeded expectations in terms of production and recovery.

Scierie Joseph Audet of Ste-Rose-de-Watford, Quebec ordered a USNR YieldMaster G3 optimizer with StereoScan scanning on a new USNR carriage. The mill processes mixed hardwoods and is looking to increase recovery and production. They plan to use the Recovery Board and Variable Length features to feed their specialty products. Once the YieldMaster locates the desired opening face, the Recovery Board feature then searches for an extra board of a smaller dimension in the remaining slab, without sacrificing the opening face.

Scierie Tech Inc has ordered a USNR 3D LASAR carriage scanning and optimization system for a new USNR carriage at its mill in Lac Drolet, QC. The mill specializes in White Pine, but also processes other hardwoods and Poplar to a lesser extent, to supply door and window manufacturers, woodworkers, and wholesalers in various markets. The sawmill has a capacity of 20 mmbf per year operating on two shifts.

Simpson Timber has purchased a new USNR dunnage placer and rake-off system, along with new controls, for its Tacoma, WA operation. Dunnage will be placed on lumber packs so they can be stacked and sent to the kilns for drying. The dried lumber packs will be transferred to the rake-off system for dunnage removal and packaged for sale. The system is expected to increase sawmill efficiency.

Sun Mountain Lumber in Deer Lodge, MT recently ordered a USNR 3D LASAR scanning and optimization system for a dual carriage end-dogging line. The two carriages run side by side, with one sawing while the other is returning. The stud mill processes White Fir and Pine.

Suwannee Lumber of Cross City, FL ordered a USNR V6 edger and trimmer upgrade. The mill will retain its existing V6 scanners and receive all new computers, optimizer hardware and the latest MillExpert optimizer software. The order also includes new PLC logic that will eliminate the old bump down feature at the edger machine. This upgrade makes future migration to USNR's full-coverage 3D scanning a much simpler process, since the optimizer hardware and software is already in place.

TR Miller placed an order to expand the existing Kiln Boss Control system at its Brewton, AL facility, to accomodate another 8-zone lumber kiln. The mill reconfigured two existing pole kilns into a new double track 8-zone 104' foot long lumber kiln using the existing steel panels and fin pipe.

The Swanson Group has purchased a USNR DynaStar maintenance management system to increase productivity in its Springfield, OR mill.


 

EVENT CALENDAR

 

 

 

 

Sept. 12-15 - NHLA The National Hardwood Lumber Association is holding its annual convention in Washington DC. The opening session features Gen. Colin Powell and Oliver North is the keynote speaker. Please visit USNR at booth # 316-318. For more information visit http://www.natlhardwood.org/

 

September 26-29 - FISLA The Alberta Forest Products Association is hosting its 65th annual convention at the Fairmont Jasper Park Lodge in Jasper, Alberta. Look for the USNR booth # 17. For more information visit www.fisla.com

 


NORTH AMERICAN LOCATIONS

Headquarters
Arkansas Florida
Woodland, WA 98674
phone (360) 225-8267
Hot Springs, Arkansas
phone (501) 262-1010
Jacksonville, Florida
phone (904) 354-2301

 

Oregon
British Columbia
Quebec
Eugene, Oregon
phone (541) 485-7127
Parksville, BC Canada
phone (250) 954-1566
Plessisville, QC Canada phone (819) 362-7362

 

INTERNATIONAL LOCATIONS

Chile
England
New Zealand New Zealand
Patricio Faundez y Cia. Patricio Faundez Santiago, Chile
phone 56.2.220.1517
Sawmill Machinery
J.F. Wilson
Tyne & Wear, UK
phone 0191.253.1402
CNC Design
John Marwick Auckland, NZ
phone 64.9.274.1280
Skookum Forest Tech
John McLachlan Auckland, NZ
phone 64.9.525.2402
       
Japan
Russia Russia  
Hirota Corporation
Ryosuke Hirota
Shimada City, Japan phone 0547.38.3211

Lydia Volkova Moscow phone +8.917.511.8679

Oksana Filina Khabarovsk phone +7.4212.254.258

 

This e-mail communication may contain an offer to purchase a product or service for your business. For information about this company and its products and services, contact info@usnr.com or call (800) BUY-USNR. Copyright © 2006 USNR. All Rights Reserved. To unsubscribe and OPT-OUT of receiving newsletters, please reply with REMOVE in subject line or CLICK HERE: info@usnr.com

www.usnr.com