Cookeville, Tennessee— Hermitage Hardwood, located here, recently installed computerized controls on each of their 17 dry kilns to make them more energy efficient and dependable. That project was carried out by A.W. Stiles Contractors Inc.
“We’ve also rebuilt two of our 70,000’ capacity dry kilns from scratch with wall and fan updates,” said Wesley Boles, in sales/operations management for Hermitage. That task also was conducted by A.W. Stiles. The kilns were rebuilt because they were showing age and an upgrade was due, Boles stated.
“The controls and kiln improvements will help improve the lumber drying process,” he noted. “They will also be more automated so that our kiln operator and other employees can focus on other areas.”
Hermitage Hardwood manufactures Red and White Oak, Poplar, Walnut, Ash, Hickory, Hard and Soft Maple, Cherry, and Basswood.
“We dry roughly 16 million board feet on a yearly basis,” according to Boles.
For more information, go to www.hermitagehardwood.com.