Granite Valley Forest Products Installs Signode Auto Bander
Granite Valley Forest Products, located in New London, WI, recently installed and started on operations on a Signode Auto Bander. The new auto bander will help Granite Valley increase its automation and improve packaging.
Granite Valley produces 39 million board feet of kiln-dried and green lumber annually. The company offers Alder, Aromatic Cedar, Black and White Ash, Aspen, Basswood, Beech, White and Yellow Birch, Bitternut, Butternut, Cherry, Grey and Red Elm, Hard Maple, Hickory, Red and White Oak, Red and Silver Soft Maple, Walnut, Norway and white pine, Poplar and White Cedar.
Granite Valley has continued to add value to their company by bringing in new employees and making plans for new equipment installations. “Our plans for the future will help reduce our operational costs and reassure our customers that they will get the highest quality lumber in the industry,” said Adam Hyer, sales and purchasing.
Granite Valley is a comprehensive hardwood sawmill with a full grading line, 2 million board feet of kiln-drying capacity and seven acres of warehouse space.
For more information, visit
TS Manufacturing Makes Installation At Baillie Group
TS Manufacturing, located in Lindsay, ON, is proud to announce that the Baillie Group recently started up a new Dry Hardwood Sorting and Stacking line at their Leitchfield, KY, concentration yard. The line replaces a pull chain where packs were manually stacked.
The project consists of a 60 Bin Sorter with AccuTally sorter controls, an Automated Course Makeup System, Servo Electric Package Maker, Auto Strapping and an in-line VisionTally system. The system automates the entire process of making up finished packs with a minimal amount of labor.
The process begins after grading and trimming. The AccuTally software and controls take over from there, assigning boards to the proper bin. The Auto Bin Haul Out feature manages the discharge of lumber from the bins and the flow of lumber from the sorter to the stacker based on user assigned priorities. The lumber is singulated by a TS unscrambler and loaded on lugs via the patented Versa Cam Lug Loader. It is then scanned for dimensions and wane, based on that information the boards are transferred to one of several trays where boards are dealt in order to maximize both the course width efficiency and the appearance of the finished pack. When a course is finished it is released to the TS Electric Servo Package Maker with a Continuous Hoist to eliminate time lost waiting for a pack to discharge. When discharged from the stacker the pack is conveyed to an Auto Strapper with end bump and side squeeze functions and dunnage placement. Once strapped it conveys to a VisionTally system.
Working with the customer during the design phase TS was able to position the line so most of the machinery could be installed while the old line was running, minimizing downtime for installation and commissioning.
TS Manufacturing offers a complete line of machinery, controls and software to fit your mill. For more information on their complete line of sawmill and planer mill offerings, email sales@tsman.com, call (705) 324-3762 or visit www.tsman.com.
U-C Coatings’ SEAL-ONCE Helps Transport The U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree
SEAL-ONCE, a division of U-C Coatings LLC, headquartered in Buffalo, NY, partnered with the U.S. Forest Service to rebuild the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree’s, or the “People’s Tree”, trailer. The SEAL-ONCE team traveled to Wrangell, AK, at the end of July to help rebuild and coat the new trailer, for the 4,293-mile journey to Washington D.C.
The company sponsored the complete rebuild of the trailer by supplying the wood and 25 gallons of its SEAL-ONCE Marine Grade Premium Semi-Transparent Stain. The product creates a flexible and breathable barrier that allows the wood to expand and contract as it encounters different weather elements. The product is also abrasion resistant, protects against UV fading and water damage and is formulated for the harshest of environments. SEAL-ONCE developed a unique Christmas Red stain, exclusively designed for the U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree trailer that enhances the natural grain and beauty of the new wood.
U-C Coatings is also the leader in softwood and hardwood wood protection and coatings for sawmills and factories. A trusted partner in innovative solutions and manufacturing excellence for over 50 years. U-C Coatings’ products include: ANCHORSEAL, ANCHORSEAL2, SOL-BRITE E Iron Stain Control, BRITEWOOD XL Sapstain Control, GEMPAINT, GEMPAINT PLUS and ecochemical, all are divisions of U-C Coatings.
For more information, visit www.uccoatings.com.
E.U. Commission Strengthens Support For Deforestation Regulation Implementation
Recently the European Commission announced that it was proposing a 12-month delay for implementation of the E.U. Deforestation Regulation (EUDR). European states, global partners and impacted industry sectors have repeatedly expressed concerns about their state of preparedness, most recently during the United Nations General Assembly week in New York.
This action signals much needed flexibility for a rule that the U.S. wood products industry and broader agriculture sector deem to be unworkable. According to E.U. officials, this delay, “if approved by the European Parliament and the Council, would make the law applicable on December 30, 2025, for large companies and June 30, 2026, for micro- and small enterprises. Since all the implementation tools are technically ready, the extra 12 months can serve as a phasing-in period to ensure proper and effective implementation.”
It is important to note that this proposal still must be approved by two more E.U. governmental entities, although most experts believe passage is very likely. The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has been working tirelessly in Europe to explain the significant challenges of meeting the E.U. regulations and the low probability of deforestation in the U.S. due to hardwood harvest and production activities.
AHEC has also worked closely with the Hardwood Federation to educate U.S. government officials about the seriously negative impacts of this regulation on the industry. The implementation delay provides extra time to continue their outreach efforts to the current Administration and Congress as well as those that will take office in January and allow AHEC time to further develop and finalize some potential reporting solutions.
For more information, visit www.ahec.org or www.hardwoodfederation.com.
JoeScan Inc. Expands To New Headquarters
JoeScan, a leading innovator in sawmill scanning technology, recently announced they have moved to a new headquarters in Vancouver, WA. Their new mailing address is, 2311 E 1st St, Vancouver, WA 98661-7749 USA.
“The new facility allows us to keep growing,” said Joey Nelson, founder and president of JoeScan. “There is a lot more space for innovation and production. We’re very excited to show off our new space, so please stop in and say hi if you’re in the area.”
JoeScan’s new larger space reflects their dedication to research and development in the field of sawmill scanners. By integrating cutting-edge technology with practical solutions, JoeScan continues to empower sawmill operators with the tools they need to thrive in today’s competitive market.
For more information about
JoeScan and its range of scanning solutions, visit www.joescan.com.
Continental Underwriters Welcomes Rollins Thompson
Continental Underwriters Inc., located in Richmond, VA, recently welcomed Rollins Thompson as their newest associate production underwriter. Thompson will help with the behind-the-scenes underwriting tasks with client-facing responsibilities. He will work directly with his colleagues to continue to build strong relationships within the industry.
Continental Underwriters Inc. is a Managing General Agency (MGA) and wholesaler providing the forest products industry in North America with a broad range of insurance and risk management solutions designed to safeguard against losses and protect the value of the businesses they insure. Their programs offer a portfolio of insurance coverages for the building materials, lumber, forest products and woodworking industries.
Thompson is an avid outdoorsman whose passion for hunting and fishing led him to pursue Forestry Operations and Business at Virginia Tech.
Outside of work, Thompson can be found hunting, fishing or golfing. His favorite quote from Heraclitus: “No man steps in the same river twice, for it’s not the same river and he’s not the same man.” His belief in constant growth and adaptability fuels both his personal and professional life.
Continental Underwriters is a member of Lake States Lumber Association, Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association, Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc., National Wooden Pallet and Container Association, Hardwood Manufacturers Association, North Carolina Forestry Association, Western Wood Products Association, Mississippi Lumber Manufacturers Association, Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, Great Lakes Timber Association, National Hardwood Lumber Association, Virginia Forestry Association, West Virginia Forestry Association and Wood Products Manufacturers Association.
For more information, visit www.contund.com.
