RED ALDER LUMBER (Alnus Rubra) ALDER SAWMILL PRODUCTION In the 21 st century 1

RED ALDER LUMBERRED ALDER LUMBER(Alnus Rubra)(Alnus Rubra)

ALDER SAWMILL PRODUCTION ALDER SAWMILL PRODUCTION

In the 21In the 21stst century century

1

RESOURCERESOURCE

Red Alder log costs are up over 300% versus Red Alder log costs are up over 300% versus mid 1980.mid 1980.

Avg log diameters to the mill are down Avg log diameters to the mill are down approximately 15%.approximately 15%.

Limitations on harvest due to regulation, Limitations on harvest due to regulation, environmental issues and conifer market environmental issues and conifer market fluctuations make it difficult for the mills to fluctuations make it difficult for the mills to forecast needed supplies.forecast needed supplies.

GOOD STEWARDSHIPGOOD STEWARDSHIP

Due to resource limitations, the mills have recognized Due to resource limitations, the mills have recognized the importance of being good stewards of the fiber.the importance of being good stewards of the fiber.

Regular intervention and information from the mill Regular intervention and information from the mill resource managers have educated the logging resource managers have educated the logging community and have established community and have established “BEST “BEST PRACTICES”.PRACTICES”.

RESULTRESULT - - increased fiber recovery for the mills and increased fiber recovery for the mills and economic value to the vendor. economic value to the vendor.

GOOD STEWARDSHIPGOOD STEWARDSHIP

Mechanical harvesters and Mechanical harvesters and de-limbers have been de-limbers have been modified to control fiber modified to control fiber damage and protect the high damage and protect the high value lumber in the outer value lumber in the outer jacket of the Red Alder log.jacket of the Red Alder log.

Bucking lengths have been Bucking lengths have been established to give both the established to give both the vendor and the mill higher vendor and the mill higher recoveries and economic recoveries and economic return.return.

SAWMILLING 101SAWMILLING 101

RECOVERY:RECOVERY:

CONSITENCY:CONSITENCY:

QUALITY:QUALITY:

PRODUCTION:PRODUCTION:

SAWMILLINGSAWMILLING

Merchandising Merchandising line:line:

Chopsaw/BuckingChopsaw/Bucking De-barkerDe-barker Sorting lineSorting line Whole log chipper/HogWhole log chipper/Hog

RECOVERYRECOVERY

Extracting the most fiber out of the log resource.Extracting the most fiber out of the log resource.

Log management and rotation:Log management and rotation:

Quick rotations from the forest through the Quick rotations from the forest through the mill are key to capturing the highest log to mill are key to capturing the highest log to lumber recoveries and values.lumber recoveries and values.

RECOVERYRECOVERY


Saw log versus Pulp log:Saw log versus Pulp log:

Due to increased log costs, diminished chip Due to increased log costs, diminished chip markets and supply shortages, today’s mills markets and supply shortages, today’s mills are striving to recover valuable lumber from are striving to recover valuable lumber from what was only considered for chips.what was only considered for chips.


Headsaw:Headsaw: CarriageCarriage Round Saw/BandmillRound Saw/Bandmill

Resaw/Gang/Scrag MillResaw/Gang/Scrag Mill

RECOVERYRECOVERY


Thin kerf saws and saw technology:Thin kerf saws and saw technology:

Advances is saw technologies and filing Advances is saw technologies and filing equipment have made possible higher log to equipment have made possible higher log to lumber recoveries throughout the sawmill lumber recoveries throughout the sawmill process. Thin kerf band mills and round saws process. Thin kerf band mills and round saws are a necessity for the fiber recovery effort.are a necessity for the fiber recovery effort.



Technology and Optimization:Technology and Optimization:

Log to lumber recovery, grade yield recovery Log to lumber recovery, grade yield recovery and overall production have increased by as and overall production have increased by as much as 18% due to mills adding scanning much as 18% due to mills adding scanning technology and optimization.technology and optimization.

RECOVERYRECOVERY


Knife Planing versus Sanding:Knife Planing versus Sanding:

Arguments go both ways on this issue. Red Alder Arguments go both ways on this issue. Red Alder sawmills throughout the northwest use both methods.sawmills throughout the northwest use both methods. Target sizes in the green lumber can be shaved 50 Target sizes in the green lumber can be shaved 50 thousandths by sanding the rough dry product versus thousandths by sanding the rough dry product versus knife planing. Sanding also promotes less tear-out knife planing. Sanding also promotes less tear-out around the knots, but maintenance and operating around the knots, but maintenance and operating costs are much higher than a Knife Planer. costs are much higher than a Knife Planer.

RECOVERYRECOVERY


Maintenance:Maintenance:

All of the technological advances, process control and All of the technological advances, process control and product development mean nothing to recovery product development mean nothing to recovery efforts if equipment is not well maintained. Poor efforts if equipment is not well maintained. Poor maintenance practices have huge impacts on maintenance practices have huge impacts on recoveries and have extreme measurable results to the recoveries and have extreme measurable results to the mills bottom line. mills bottom line.



Through education, commitment, and Through education, commitment, and technological advancement, today’s sawmills technological advancement, today’s sawmills have necessary tools available to increase log have necessary tools available to increase log to lumber recoveries and extract the highest to lumber recoveries and extract the highest value out of the available resource.value out of the available resource.

CONSISTENCYCONSISTENCY

Consistency throughout the manufacturing Consistency throughout the manufacturing process is key to the mills productivity and process is key to the mills productivity and maintaining a favorable position in the maintaining a favorable position in the marketplace.marketplace.

The result of consistent or inconsistent The result of consistent or inconsistent manufacturing has a direct effect on the mill’s manufacturing has a direct effect on the mill’s market demand, perceived quality and overall market demand, perceived quality and overall value of it’s production.value of it’s production.

QUALITYQUALITY

IT TAKES IT TAKES UU AND AND I I TO MAKE TO MAKE QUALITYQUALITY

Commitment by mill management, employee education and Commitment by mill management, employee education and dedication to consistent manufacturing processes establish the dedication to consistent manufacturing processes establish the “Product Attitude” of the mill’s production.“Product Attitude” of the mill’s production.

The “Product Attitude” is maintained during the sawmill The “Product Attitude” is maintained during the sawmill manufacturing process by consistent log breakdown technique manufacturing process by consistent log breakdown technique and process controls. This assures the continuity of the product and process controls. This assures the continuity of the product character, with all previous volumes. character, with all previous volumes.

QUALITY QUALITY

Red Alder In The MarketplaceRed Alder In The Marketplace::

The range of quality from mill production to The range of quality from mill production to mill production in Red Alder lumber is not a mill production in Red Alder lumber is not a mystery.mystery.

There is a direct correlation to each sawmills There is a direct correlation to each sawmills resources, capabilities, education and resources, capabilities, education and commitment.commitment.

QUALITYQUALITY

Kiln Drying:Kiln Drying:

Measurable value loss due to de-grade during the kiln Measurable value loss due to de-grade during the kiln drying process can be eliminated through monitoring drying process can be eliminated through monitoring a few key production elements.a few key production elements.

Green Lumber Sizes.Green Lumber Sizes. Stacking, Sticker Sizes and Sticker Placement.Stacking, Sticker Sizes and Sticker Placement. Proper Green Yard Bunking.Proper Green Yard Bunking. Good Kiln Loading.Good Kiln Loading.

QUALITYQUALITY

When rough dry lumber moves to the finish side of When rough dry lumber moves to the finish side of the Red Alder mill (Planer/Sander), the product the Red Alder mill (Planer/Sander), the product attitude and quality have already been established. attitude and quality have already been established.

In the finish side of the mill, little can be done to In the finish side of the mill, little can be done to disguise any quality issues or man made defect. disguise any quality issues or man made defect.

The manufacturing process and procedures The manufacturing process and procedures maintained throughout the sawmill operation hold the maintained throughout the sawmill operation hold the truth to the lumber quality.truth to the lumber quality.

QUALITYQUALITY

First impressions count in the marketplace:First impressions count in the marketplace:

Clear grade marks and on the best face.Clear grade marks and on the best face.

Good unitization is perceived as good quality.Good unitization is perceived as good quality.

Crisp stenciling centered on the side of the Crisp stenciling centered on the side of the units and neat banding application.units and neat banding application.

PRODUCTIONPRODUCTION

Whether the mill is a small manufacturer producing Whether the mill is a small manufacturer producing 6mbf per hour or a large manufacturer producing 6mbf per hour or a large manufacturer producing

18mbf per hour, the correlation is the same –18mbf per hour, the correlation is the same – ““Production Pays The BillsProduction Pays The Bills” - ” - the higher the the higher the production…the lower the manufacturing costs to the production…the lower the manufacturing costs to the mill. mill.

All aspects of sawmilling All aspects of sawmilling (Safety-Quality-Production)(Safety-Quality-Production) are are equally important, but all have to be managed in equally important, but all have to be managed in order for a mill to be successful. order for a mill to be successful.


In recent years, the vision of the Red Alder In recent years, the vision of the Red Alder sawmill has changed. Due to the influence of sawmill has changed. Due to the influence of government regulation, supply issues and government regulation, supply issues and product demand, the industry has evolved. product demand, the industry has evolved.


The Red Alder sawmill of the past had quarterly The Red Alder sawmill of the past had quarterly lumber pricing and 40% of the production went lumber pricing and 40% of the production went into green pallet grade lumber sold to pallet into green pallet grade lumber sold to pallet manufacturers. Recovery was adequate at about manufacturers. Recovery was adequate at about 120-130%, but not of much concern.120-130%, but not of much concern.


Today’s Red Alder sawmill has taken more of a Today’s Red Alder sawmill has taken more of a commodity stance in lumber pricing.commodity stance in lumber pricing.

Mills have added value by reducing the green Mills have added value by reducing the green pallet grade production to around 20%. The same pallet grade production to around 20%. The same fiber that made pallet grade lumber has been fiber that made pallet grade lumber has been diverted into higher value, kiln dried “Rustic diverted into higher value, kiln dried “Rustic Grade” products. Recovery is key to success and Grade” products. Recovery is key to success and an average of 150-160% is not uncommon.an average of 150-160% is not uncommon.

GRADINGGRADING

Through the efforts of the NHLA & WHA – the Through the efforts of the NHLA & WHA – the grade rules for Red Alder will be modified in the grade rules for Red Alder will be modified in the NHLA rules book to list generic descriptions of the NHLA rules book to list generic descriptions of the grades developed under “proprietary” grade rules.grades developed under “proprietary” grade rules.

The NHLA rules will help establish a comfort zone The NHLA rules will help establish a comfort zone for Red Alder buyers in the main grades. However, it for Red Alder buyers in the main grades. However, it will not cover the ever changing “niche grade” will not cover the ever changing “niche grade” development Red Alder has always seemed to strive development Red Alder has always seemed to strive for.for.

ALDER PRODUCTSALDER PRODUCTS



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RED ALDER LUMBER (Alnus Rubra) ALDER SAWMILL PRODUCTION In the 21 st century 1