Equipment and services providers to the Hardwood lumber industry had to fight their way through a host of challenges in 2021 – yet they tended to meet with success. Looking ahead to 2022, they foresee more sophisticated high-tech solutions – especially for overcoming labor shortages. However, one respondent noted: “…with so many material delays in the supply chain, labor shortages, and overseas shipping issues, it would be surprising to see capital equipment purchases continue at the same rate as 2021.” On the other hand, another respondent stated: “Sawmills have seen better prices on their lumber and 2022 looks to be very strong for both sawmills and equipment manufacturers.”
Paul Cleereman
Cleereman Industries and Cleereman Controls
Newald, WI
In 2021, we saw an increase in capital spending in both Hardwood and softwood sawmills. A lot of mills were replacing older equipment and controls that will help them maximize speed and yield recovery. Sawmills have seen better prices on their lumber and 2022 looks to be very strong for both sawmills and equipment manufacturers. One problem that both sawmills and equipment manufacturers are experiencing is a labor shortage. With the government handing out the stimulus checks and free money we have basically trained people not to work. We have also seen our steel prices triple on a lot of steel since 2020. Purchased items have also skyrocketed and lead times to get items keep getting longer and longer. It has been very challenging to get enough purchased parts to keep up with manufacturing of our equipment. The outlook for 2022 on purchase parts doesn’t look much better.
Cleereman Industries/Cleereman Controls introduced our new Cleereman Edger Line for the sawmill industry. We have installed a couple of our optimized Edgers, and customers are reporting increased production and yield. The newly designed Edger fits into existing Edger locations with minimal modifications to surrounding equipment. Our Edger was designed to help increase production and reduce operator fatigue and gain the mill maximum yield. At the time of writing this article we have sold 14 Edgers since Richmond Expo and customers seem to be very pleased with price and quality.
Cleereman Controls builds Carriage Controls, Edger Controls, both optimized and non-optimized, along with Debarker, Trimmer, Resaw, Slabber and material handling. Cleereman Industries has an in-house engineering department to serve our customers’ needs. We offer everything from single piece equipment to complete turn-key sawmill design.
Over the last several years we have seen our industry go more towards the one stop shop style of purchasing. Our in-house engineering department has allowed us to handle not only equipment but also electrical MCC/Starter design of cabinets and building/foundation layouts. We are able to assist our customers from start to finish on their sawmill projects.
Cleereman Industries/Cleereman Controls offer everything from single piece equipment to turn-key sawmills. We offer custom sawmill controls and on-site consultation and installation services. We stock all parts for all machines in-house for same day shipment or pick-up. Our in-house engineering department can handle all our customers’ needs from start to finish. Our product line includes Stave Mills, Lumber-Pro Thin Kerf Bandmills, Debarkers, Log Hauls, Metal Detectors, Log Decks, Log Turners, Track Frames, Rail, Husks, Drop-Belts, Rollcases, Transfers, Resaws, Edgers, Trimmers, Material Handling Lines, Carriage Drives, Operators Cabs and custom purpose built sawmill equipment.
Eric Degenfelder, CEO U-C Coatings
Headquarters in Buffalo, NY
Branches in Seattle, WA; Portland, OR; and Kenosha, WI
In 2021, raw material supply has been difficult with several shortages, but we have done well to keep our customers continually supplied. Raw material costs have escalated and finding production staff was challenging. Transportation has been difficult, especially for our imported raw materials and exported products. The carriers we partner with in North America have done a good job with deliveries despite the state of the overall industry.
In 2022, we are expanding the rollout of our Contechem® products for sapstain, mold, and iron stain control.
We are also introducing new grades of Gempaint® for panel manufacturers, such as ULTRA for plywood, and investing in capacity expansion for Anchorseal® production.
In 2022, we will introduce new paints and stains from our Eco Chemical® division for the prefinished wood markets such as siding and fencing.
U-C Coatings is a leading manufacturer and supplier of premium wood protection products. We offer the Contechem® product line featuring Britewood for mold and sapstain control in softwood and Hardwood applications. Our Eco Chemical® division provides water-based wood stains and other coatings for the rapidly expanding pre-stained pressure treated lumber market as well as the pre-stained fencing and decking market. We are well-known for Anchorseal® end sealers, and Gempaint® and Gempaint Plus for lumber and plywood branding. Seal-Once® is a line of eco-friendly, long lasting, water-based sealers for wood and concrete that provides excellent water repellant performance. In October 2021, U-C Coatings acquired Abatron, a premier manufacturer of epoxy compounds for wood and concrete repair based in Kenosha, WI.
Peter McCarty
TS Manufacturing
Lindsay, ON, Canada
Getting parts, material, trucking and workers are all getting more difficult. Items are also getting more expensive, trucking is getting more expensive, workers you can hire want higher rates of pay than you are used to, and, as a result, selling prices rise as well to offset them all.
We are sold out for 2022 so we will not be developing any new products. We will concentrate on building what we have sold.
We recently developed our own board tally software program called AccuTally and have near 50 units sold and in operation. We were not able to satisfy the needs of our customers with programs we could purchase already on the market, so we developed our own. It has been greatly received.
We offer trimmers, sorters, stackers, edgers, gangs, resaws, twin saw lines, material handling equipment, controls and optimization.
Frances Cooper
Cooper Machine
Wadley, GA
2021 has been a good year for Cooper Machine. The new year began with a new pallet mill order, and machine sales have been over-average since, while parts sales and upgrades have been up as well. We anticipate that the demand for both new and used equipment will continue into 2022.
Like most companies, we are struggling with getting parts in a timely fashion and finding reliable trucking when needed. Currently we have a block cutter we ordered stuck in Chile that is having to be air freighted out. This is because the original booking was rolled four times before the shipping company cancelled it. No one is taking any new bookings until January 2022. Having parts delayed has slowed down production a little, but we still have good labor in place and are moving full steam ahead. There is pressure on pay for our labor and I do not see that letting up in the immediate future.
Our biggest sellers are the Scraggs that we are best known for. Customers get so much more life out of a Cooper Scragg than they would from many of our competitors’ machines. Orders for both our Tandem Sharp Chain Scraggs and Overhead Scraggs are up this year, and we are seeing the pallet industry taking off based on the orders we are receiving. Cooper Machine also currently has Yield Champ we are rebuilding and have a pole sorting system in production as well. Another Optimized Edger and Gang is on order, and we continue to have great reviews on our Optimized Edgers. Another slab recovery system and cant sorter is on order as well.
In 2022, we expect sorting/stacking will be attractive for our customers considering the current labor market. Not only do we offer a cant stacking system, but Cooper Machine is rolling out a new lumber sorter as a more economical solution for our small- to mid-sized customers. In addition, Cooper Machine is offering slab recovery systems that can include a VSA and Trimmer for pallet slabs, as well as offering Slab Edgers. We are also seeing more optimization happening with more of our customers who might not have optimized in the past. Due to labor issues, it makes economic sense now.
For 2022, we expect the pallet industry to continue to be good. We have several new pallet mill sales going in 2022. More pole and softwood mills are being put in and improved upon, as well. Based on what we are seeing, quite a few of our Hardwood manufacturers have switched over to producing pine.
The Cooper Machine company name continues to stand for quality and service, and as more customers are looking at ways to optimize their mills, cut down on labor, and get more out of every log, we expect business to continue to be bright.
For more information on our offerings view our website at www.coopermachine.com, contact Frances Cooper at 478-252-5885 or email us at info@coopermachine.com.
Matt Tietz
McDonough Manufacturing Company
Eau Claire, WI
In 2021, McDonough saw a tremendous interest in all of our products, but most notably our OptiFit Edger systems. Mills are continuing to realize the amount of money that can be made at the Edger. Most mills have optimization at other machine centers in their mill, so the Edger has been a natural progression. We see this continuing for several years.
For the most part we are able to still get parts, but more and more electrical components are starting to become an issue.
McDonough sees an Optimized and Automated Resaw as the next revolutionary machine center to offer customers. With the shortage of labor, eliminating operators is a big selling point and increased production with consistent production everyday makes it a fast payback.
McDonough specializes in Band Mills, Carriages, Resaws and Edgers.
Dan Mathews, A.I.A. President
SII Dry Kilns
Lexington, NC
In the southern states we have seen Hardwood mills purchasing equipment for drying yellow pine and/or utilizing Hardwood kilns for drying pine. In northern states we have seen many projects that are expanding production of existing facilities and the replacement of antiquated kilns with modern energy-efficient kilns. As the cost of energy rises in the future, many companies will find that running older equipment with poor energy efficiency will become too costly to operate. Another trend that has been seen is that more and more customers are wanting kilns that have extra airflow, heat and venting to have more flexibility for faster drying Hardwoods or, as mentioned above, in some cases, softwoods.
In 2022, we expect to see much of the same; however with so many material delays in the supply chain, labor shortages, and overseas shipping issues, it would be surprising to see capital equipment purchases continue at the same rate as 2021. Many equipment suppliers are already quoting deliveries into 2023 and most Hardwood providers will not be willing to wait that long given the market volatility. We have been fortunate to have gotten through most of 2021 without major material or labor shortages, however electronic components are beginning to impact our ability to complete some orders.
For Walnut producers, we have a new line of “fully welded” stainless steel steamers available in both track and package loaded models. The major benefits to the customer are the following: 1) ability to steam without using steam “spray” versus a closed loop steam system that boils a pool of water contained in a “vat” and returns all condensate to the boiler and 2) the fully welded interior keeps the “Walnut juice” inside the unit and avoids leaking out into the ground or storm water sewer. Note: For every hour that 2” spray valve is open at 15 psi, approx. 320 gallons of water are released into the steamer. The steam that is not absorbed by the wood must go somewhere. Our systems are designed to keep that water inside the chamber and reuse the water for boiling which improves color.
For producers who are frustrated with high fuel costs, we offer our SII-HX heat exchanger for new or retrofit projects. These units can save up to 70 percent of the latent heat that is exhausted while moving all the moist air out of the kiln. These units are designed specifically for Hardwood kilns and are compatible with other kiln manufacturer’s controls.
The SII Computerized Control System provides you with the tools for real-time kiln management utilizing in-kiln moisture measurement with “Sample Watch,” our integrated weight-based platforms and/or moisture probes. “Utility Watch” as a part of your control system is a powerful tool to help you manage your energy load when approaching “peak load,” thereby reducing your electrical costs. Operating in the background, the SII “Steam Management” system allows you to prioritize the steam load for your kilns which in turn allows you to maximize your drying operations when available steam drops below your normal operating range. These systems, combined with the support offered by SII Dry Kilns, provide you with the tools you need to improve your profitability and maximize product quality.
For over 50 years we have put our experience to work for you – our customers – while building long-term relationships. SII is a full-service dry kiln manufacturer offering custom designed package kilns, track kilns, large capacity center fan wall package kilns, heat treaters, cross flow and down-draft pre-dryers and fan sheds. Our controls department is second to none, period. The design of our control systems is based on the idea that our customers know what is best for their operation rather than assuming that we know your lumber better than you do. We utilize Wonderware software to create the “KILN DRY” system that is recognized throughout the industry. From manual to semi-automatic to fully automatic control options, we provide them all.
We also offer Thermal Modification and vacuum kilns through WDE Maspell, the world’s most respected name in vacuum drying. As thermally modified wood becomes more popular, the opportunities for many of our customers to produce a product for a fraction of the cost that custom treaters charge becomes a considerable improvement in their bottom line.
Henry German
DMSi
Omaha, NE
In 2022, DMSi will become the exclusive North American licensed provider of Neural Grader, an artificial intelligence lumber grading software and camera system.
Using specialized industrial cameras to capture board images, the grader identifies defects in the lumber and, using machine learning technology, assigns a grade to the boards at production speed.
For most lumber grading systems, it takes enormous cost and effort to reconfigure yard production lines to fit their system. In contrast, the Neural Grader will require limited structural changes to production lines. This cost saving means grading technology is now within reach for smaller and medium-sized companies not able to afford customized systems.
In addition to affordability, Neural Grader provides a high degree of consistent accuracy over manual grading. The Neural Grader collectively learns from the grading specifications of all the customers in the system, without the human error connected to the repetitive task of grading. There is also evidence that the improvement of consistency that the Neural Grader affords is tied to a reduction of wood waste.
DMSi is currently conducting its own internal proof of concepting on the Neural Grader. The company is working with the same technical development team with whom they developed TallyExpress, the app that uses artificial intelligence to conduct lumber tallies with a 95-99 percent degree of accuracy.
“We’re leveraging the knowledge expertise platform of TallyExpress and applying that same technology to grading,” said Andy Nuffer, Business Development at DMSi. “As with TallyExpress, we’ll begin by getting beta customers to prove out the accuracy of the Neural Grader and then tweak it as we release it to more customers. The Neural Grader will keep getting smarter as more people use it.”
Steve Dagenhart
Air Systems Mfg. of Lenoir, Inc.
Lenoir, NC
In 2021, upgrading equipment and services in mills have been strong. Lead times and deliveries on equipment have been slow and hard to manage.
In 2022, hopefully timing will improve, and business will stay steady. Parts can be obtained but lead times are long. Transportation has not been an issue. Additional labor is difficult to hire.
Being a dust collection provider, we see mills going to higher production equipment which many times involves new and/or revised dust system equipment and piping. Meeting combustible dust safety regulations will be an important part of the upgrades in many of our customers’ mills.
The latest technology includes: electrical control panels with screens and controls that direct the user to more easily identify dust system problems, energy efficient blowers and variable frequency drives to help control utility costs, and spark detection/suppression systems to protect workers and facilities.
We provide: turn-key dust collection/filtration systems with energy efficient control systems and protective spark detection and suppression systems.
Chris Blomquist
Senior Vice President, USNR
Woodland, WA
We’ve seen more and more Hardwood companies add optimization to their mills and reman operations especially as automated grading for Hardwoods becomes a reality. We anticipate these trends will continue to grow as this advanced technology is installed in the Hardwood market.
So far, we have been able to get parts delivered and labor resources made available as needed.
USNR and Wood Fiber Group recently merged, and the combined company is the largest supplier of cutting tools to the wood products industry. The Global brand supplies knives, cutter heads, and support accessories to millwork producers around the world.
USNR’s robust offerings in planer mill auto-grading bring advanced vision grading to Hardwood mills for lumber production and flooring applications. The Lineal and Transverse High Grader (LHG/THG) systems enable mills to increase value with smarter cutting decisions allowing the recovery of more high-grade lumber. Mills processing a combination of Hardwood and pine benefit from system evaluation for structural grading and MSR.
USNR’s AddVantage system provides visual grading, shop logic, and four-sided color vision scanning for flooring, doors and windows, and value-added secondary reman industries.
Full Hardwood grading capability is made possible by USNR’s Deep Learning A.I. defecting platform. It is the foundation of highly precise defect detection and highly accurate grading. Deep Learning increases the speed and accuracy of defect detection and enables the accurate identification of defects unique to a species, region, or grade, that would otherwise be difficult and time-consuming to identify using conventional methods. The system is proven on Red Oak, White Oak, Poplar, Cypress, Aspen, Birch, Maple, Hickory, and Eucalyptus. It delivers more value and recovery through advanced optimization, and significantly reduces the time required for start-up and commissioning of auto-grading systems. Deep Learning is applied to BioVision for sawmill grading at the edger and trimmer, and to the LHG/THG grading systems in the planer mill. The system is already delivering results in over 170 mills around the world.
USNR’s AddVantage system with Deep Learning A.I. is capable of recognizing defects within defects, significantly boosting solution accuracy. It currently detects over 15+ types of visual and geometric defects and growing. AddVantage can be configured to run multiple species with the click of a button. Deep Learning dramatically reduces the false positives in defect detection. The system is able to scan tongue and groove and can sort based on the coloration of wood.
USNR provides primary breakdown machinery, horizontal and vertical gangs, resaws, as well as advanced edger and trimmer automation with full species grading optimization for NHLA grade rules that are fully customizable to customer specifications.
USNR also offers the SuperSaver line that is well suited for lower end grade sawing applications. The SuperSaver concept for log and cant breakdown applies a merry-go-round layout directing material from one process back through the same cutting tools to perform the next process. The equipment performs multiple-duty processing for increased flexibility and takes advantage of available space and capital investment all with one operator.
Regarding USNR’s Hardwood package kilns and the popular Kiln Boss control system for lumber drying, Kiln Boss systems provide the capabilities and functions of a much larger and more complex control system, but at a fraction of the cost. The typical mill can expect payback in less than one year.
USNR has the industry’s largest service staff positioned around the world for fast and efficient service. The team’s high-speed internet connections enable them to provide system support while your mill is running. USNR is committed to supporting mill equipment and personnel with technicians available 24 hours a day 7 days a week. Our customer service team is cross-trained to support all regions and product lines, and we pride ourselves on setting industry standards for excellence in quality and customer satisfaction.
Steve Hoagland
Pantron Automation
Belmont, NC
We are a distributor for many types of sensors and filtration equipment. Some of the materials that go into the manufacturing of our sensors are in short supply and are causing some delays.
As for new equipment, there is nothing new here as of today, and we are hoping to add some new IO Link technology in the future.
Pantron Automation offers Photoelectric Sensors for Harsh Environments, Proximity Sensors, Capacitive Sensors, Ultra Sonic Sensors, Light and Measuring Grids for the Sawmill Industry.
Stacy Mellott
Mellott Mfg. Co., Inc.
Mercersburg, PA
The trends for 2021 were long lead times, inadequate supplies and price increases. The rate of price increases has slowed and, as supply slowly catches up with demand, we expect to see prices plateauing in 2022 and holding steady with lead times slowly decreasing.
We expect replacement equipment by repeat customers and custom machinery to remain strong throughout 2022.
Most new equipment in 2022 will be purchased in order to increase yield and efficiency. For improved productivity, Mellott has added a log flare butt reducer to the mill infeed system equipment line. This machine can be installed as a stand-alone machine or can be supplied with infeed decks and log trough conveyors.
Mellott uses the latest “off the shelf” control components from Rockwell Automation and Delta Computer Systems. Machine troubleshooting and logic changes are provided remotely via the internet.
Since 1965, Mellott Manufacturing has been designing and manufacturing quality log and lumber handling equipment. Mellott has an onsite engineering and design team available to provide solutions for your next project and will consult and work with you to present the best options for your application. We offer material handling integration with new and existing systems. Mellott offers a full line of log and lumber handling equipment along with debarkers, log flare butt reducers, bandsaws, linebars, drop saw trimmers, tilt hoists, crane mat drilling and a full line of tie handling equipment (sorting, stacking, dapping, end plating).
