by Jacqlyn Kirkland | Jan 10, 2020 | News
Plants Get Smart With Dryer Infeed
Sweed’s recently patented “Smart Pause” technology allows dryer infeed operators additional time to address misfeeds or other veneer feeding issues, while permitting the continued operation of the veneer dryer, thus maximizing dryer fill rates. Several plants with current and pending projects will be realizing the benefits of Smart Pause.
Georgia-Pacific in Taylorsville, Mississippi recently commissioned a new 4-deck dryer equipped with Sweed’s Smart Pause infeed. Soon to come for G-P are two new installations in early 2020: a 4-deck and a 6-deck dryer, both equipped with Smart Pause infeed. Also joining the Smart Pause trend is Weyerhaeuser in Emerson, Arkansas, which has a pending dryer installation slated for spring 2020.
Sweed’s Smart Pause dryer infeed functions independently of the veneer dryer. Utilizing additional hardware and innovative software and controls designed by Sweed, each deck of the infeed roll case is operated individually with timing and variable speed controls, providing a platform for the program to manage veneer under normal and abnormal conditions, without affecting the performance of the dryer itself. The Smart Pause program is initiated upon the detection of missing sheets, and/or by the operator who has identified an issue. In either case, the operator has a period of up to 20 seconds (depending on feed speeds) to fix the misfeed and speed the infeed, allowing veneer to “catch-up” and be lapped prior to dryer entry.
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by Jacqlyn Kirkland | Dec 11, 2019 | News
As part of an ongoing tour to highlight products made in Georgia, Gov. Brian Kemp visited Hurst Boiler & Welding Co. Inc. in Coolidge, Ga. in early December. A key forest products industry supplier, Hurst Boiler & Welding Co. Inc. has been manufacturing, designing, engineering and servicing gas, oil, coal, solid waste, wood, biomass and hybrid fuel-fired steam and hot water boilers for thousands of customers since 1967.
Brian Jackson, Hurst Boiler operations manager, said the company began small and has grown through the years. “I think the governor is interested in highlighting those types of businesses, and we’re excited about showing our success story,” Jackson said. Hurst Boiler, which ships worldwide, uses Georgia ports and local labor, Jackson said. The company employs more than 350 people and its manufacturing facility is 314,000 sq. ft. The facility and Hurst Boiler campus cover 17 acres.
The visit is part of the governor’s quarterly Made in Georgia Tour designed to bring attention to and highlight products made in the state.
by Jacqlyn Kirkland | Dec 10, 2019 | News
The U.S. Department of Labor’s Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) fiscal year 2019 final statistics show a significant increase in the number of inspections and a record amount of compliance assistance to further the mission of ensuring that employers provide workplaces free of hazards.
OSHA’s enforcement activities reflect the department’s continued focus on worker safety. Federal OSHA conducted 33,401 inspections—more inspections than the previous three years –addressing violations related to trenching, falls, chemical exposure, silica and other hazards in a multitude of industries and businesses.
Though the forest products industry is just one of many that OSHA has jurisdiction over, in FY 2019, OSHA provided a record 1,392,611 workers with training on safety and health requirements through the Agency’s various education programs, including the OSHA Training Institute Education Centers, Outreach Training Program and Susan Harwood Training Grant Program. OSHA’s compliance assistance programs have helped small businesses address safety and health hazards in their workplaces. In FY 2019, OSHA’s no-cost On-Site Consultation Program identified 137,885 workplace hazards, and protected 3.2 million workers from potential harm.
“OSHA’s efforts—rulemaking, enforcement, compliance assistance and training—are tools to accomplish our mission of safety and health for every worker,” says Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of Labor for Occupational Safety and Health Loren Sweatt. “I am proud of the diligent, hard work of all OSHA personnel who contributed to a memorable year of protecting our nation’s workers.”
by Jacqlyn Kirkland | Sep 23, 2019 | News
Katerra Opens State-of-the-Art Mass Timber Factory
Katerra announced the grand opening of North America’s highest volume cross-laminated timber (CLT) factory. Located in Spokane Valley, Washington, the 270,000-square-foot-facility will increase supplies of CLT, a fully renewable structural building material that sequesters carbon for a building’s life and can be used in place of steel and concrete in buildings up to 18 stories.
Katerra’s state-of-the-art CLT facility reflects the company’s technology-first approach, incorporating advanced geometric and biometric scanning of lamstock, an on-site kiln for precise moisture control and artificial intelligence to further improve safety and reduce waste. Katerra has deployed these innovations to result in a consistent, high-quality product. Katerra’s factory also features the largest CLT press currently in operation globally, offering customers unmatched design flexibility.
“CLT perfectly embodies Katerra’s guiding principles for product development – it is technologically advanced, sustainable, and offers meaningful cost and time reductions,” says Michael Marks, CEO and co-founder of Katerra. “We have invested in creating the largest capacity CLT factory in North America because we believe deeply in the potential of CLT and want to see this great material advance to the mainstream.”
Katerra’s new CLT factory occupies 29 acres with easy access to rail lines and interstate highways. At full operation, the factory will employ 105 people with an annual manufacturing capacity to provide thousands of apartments, student housing units, and more than 11 million square feet of floors and roofs.
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The monthly Panel World Industry Newsletter reaches over 3,000 who represent primary panel production operations.
Panel World is delivered six times per year to North American and international professionals, who represent primary panel production operations. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.
Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative. Contact us today!
by Jacqlyn Kirkland | Sep 12, 2019 | News
LOGSTACKERS HEAD TO CANADA
Allied Systems Co., parent company for Wagner Logstackers, is excited about its recent shipments of two new 60 ton operating
capacity Wagner Logstackers into Canada. Wagner has long been known for its durable single pass Logstacker, and the new generation models build on that legacy by adding a number of new improvements coveted by operators and maintenance staff alike, such as:
- Seriously fast hoist speeds
- Lighted ground level service bay for easy routine maintenance
- Lighted stairways for safe and easy access on and off the machine
- Newly designed cooling package with easy maintenance access
- More spacious and comfortable cab with improved visibility
- Longer component service life and maintenance intervals
The four-wheel drive Wagner L4120 maintains traction in the toughest conditions while the two-wheel drive L120 is perfect for improved yards, and boasts even better fuel efficiency and a tighter turning radius. Whether you’re handling cut-to-length or treelength logs, Wagner Logstackers can handle it all quickly, efficiently and for the lowest total cost.
Wagner Logstackers are designed and built in Sherwood Ore., USA.
The monthly Panel World Industry Newsletter reaches over 3,000 who represent primary panel production operations.
Panel World is delivered six times per year to North American and international professionals, who represent primary panel production operations. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.
Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative. Contact us today!
by Jacqlyn Kirkland | Aug 13, 2019 | News
The U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Forest Service is extending the public comment period on proposed changes to modernize how the agency complies with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The proposed rule would give the Forest Service the tools and flexibility to manage land and tackle critical challenges like wildfire, insects and disease while improving service to the American people. Based on the importance of the proposed rule, the Forest Service is extending the comment period by 14 days to allow more time for public review and comment.
The proposed rule was published June 13, 2019, and the public comment period was originally set to end on August 12, 2019. With the extension, the comment period now ends on August 26, 2019.
Revising the rule will improve forest conditions and make it simpler for people to use and enjoy their national forests and grasslands at lower cost to the taxpayer. The revised rule will also make it easier to maintain the roads, trails, campgrounds and other facilities people need to use and enjoy their public lands.
This announcement will also be published in the Federal Register. Public comments are reviewed and considered when developing the final rule. Instructions on how to provide comments are included at https://www.fs.fed.us/emc/nepa/revisions/index.shtml.
Comments may be submitted through www.regulations.gov by searching docket number FS-2019-0010. Comments can also be submitted by mail to NEPA Services Group, care of Amy Barker, USDA Forest Service, 125 South State Street, Suite 1705, Salt Lake City, UT 84138; or by email at nepa-procedures-revision@fs.fed.us.
