RED ALDER LUMBER Alnus Rubra

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RED ALDER LUMBER(Alnus Rubra)

• ALDER SAWMILL PRODUCTION
• In the 21st century

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RESOURCE

• Red Alder log costs are up over 300 versus mid
  1980.
• Avg log diameters to the mill are down
  approximately 15.
• Limitations on harvest due to regulation,
  environmental issues and conifer market
  fluctuations make it difficult for the mills to
  forecast needed supplies.

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GOOD STEWARDSHIP

• Due to resource limitations, the mills have
  recognized the importance of being good stewards
  of the fiber.
• Regular intervention and information from the
  mill resource managers have educated the logging
  community and have established BEST PRACTICES.
• RESULT - increased fiber recovery for the mills
  and economic value to the vendor.

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GOOD STEWARDSHIP

• Mechanical harvesters and de-limbers have been
  modified to control fiber damage and protect the
  high value lumber in the outer jacket of the Red
  Alder log.
• Bucking lengths have been established to give
  both the vendor and the mill higher recoveries
  and economic return.

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SAWMILLING 101

• RECOVERY
• CONSITENCY
• QUALITY
• PRODUCTION

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SAWMILLING

• Merchandising line
• Chopsaw/Bucking
• De-barker
• Sorting line
• Whole log chipper/Hog

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RECOVERY

• Extracting the most fiber out of the log
  resource.
• Log management and rotation
• Quick rotations from the forest through the
  mill are key to capturing the highest log to
  lumber recoveries and values.

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RECOVERY

• Extracting the most fiber out of the log
  resource.
• Saw log versus Pulp log
• Due to increased log costs, diminished chip
  markets and supply shortages, todays mills are
  striving to recover valuable lumber from what was
  only considered for chips.

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SAWMILLING

• Headsaw
• Carriage
• Round Saw/Bandmill
• Resaw/Gang/Scrag Mill

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RECOVERY

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

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SAWMILLING

• Extracting the most fiber out of the log
  resource.
• Technology and Optimization
• Log to lumber recovery, grade yield recovery and
  overall production have increased by as much as
  18 due to mills adding scanning technology and
  optimization.

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RECOVERY

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

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RECOVERY

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

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SAWMILLING

• Extracting the most fiber out of the log
  resource.
• Through education, commitment, and technological
  advancement, todays sawmills have necessary
  tools available to increase log to lumber
  recoveries and extract the highest value out of
  the available resource.

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CONSISTENCY

• Consistency throughout the manufacturing process
  is key to the mills productivity and maintaining
  a favorable position in the marketplace.
• The result of consistent or inconsistent
  manufacturing has a direct effect on the mills
  market demand, perceived quality and overall
  value of its production.

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QUALITY

• IT TAKES U AND I TO MAKE QUALITY
• Commitment by mill management, employee
  education and dedication to consistent
  manufacturing processes establish the Product
  Attitude of the mills production.
• The Product Attitude is maintained during the
  sawmill manufacturing process by consistent log
  breakdown technique and process controls. This
  assures the continuity of the product character,
  with all previous volumes.

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QUALITY

• Red Alder In The Marketplace
• The range of quality from mill production to mill
  production in Red Alder lumber is not a mystery.
• There is a direct correlation to each sawmills
  resources, capabilities, education and
  commitment.

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QUALITY

• Kiln Drying
• Measurable value loss due to de-grade during the
  kiln drying process can be eliminated through
  monitoring a few key production elements.
• Green Lumber Sizes.
• Stacking, Sticker Sizes and Sticker Placement.
• Proper Green Yard Bunking.
• Good Kiln Loading.

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QUALITY

• When rough dry lumber moves to the finish side of
  the Red Alder mill (Planer/Sander), the product
  attitude and quality have already been
  established.
• In the finish side of the mill, little can be
  done to disguise any quality issues or man made
  defect.
• The manufacturing process and procedures
  maintained throughout the sawmill operation hold
  the truth to the lumber quality.

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QUALITY

• First impressions count in the marketplace
• Clear grade marks and on the best face.
• Good unitization is perceived as good quality.
• Crisp stenciling centered on the side of the
  units and neat banding application.

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PRODUCTION

• Whether the mill is a small manufacturer
  producing 6mbf per hour or a large manufacturer
  producing 18mbf per hour, the correlation is the
  same Production Pays The Bills - the higher
  the productionthe lower the manufacturing costs
  to the mill.
• All aspects of sawmilling (Safety-Quality-Producti
  on) are equally important, but all have to be
  managed in order for a mill to be successful.

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PRODUCTION

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

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PRODUCTION
The Red Alder sawmill of the past had quarterly
lumber pricing and 40 of the production went
into green pallet grade lumber sold to pallet
manufacturers. Recovery was adequate at about
120-130, but not of much concern.
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PRODUCTION
Todays Red Alder sawmill has taken more of a
commodity stance in lumber pricing. Mills have
added value by reducing the green pallet grade
production to around 20. The same fiber that
made pallet grade lumber has been diverted into
higher value, kiln dried Rustic Grade products.
Recovery is key to success and an average of
150-160 is not uncommon.
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GRADING

• Through the efforts of the NHLA WHA the grade
  rules for Red Alder will be modified in the NHLA
  rules book to list generic descriptions of the
  grades developed under proprietary grade rules.
• The NHLA rules will help establish a comfort zone
  for Red Alder buyers in the main grades. However,
  it will not cover the ever changing niche grade
  development Red Alder has always seemed to strive
  for.

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ALDER PRODUCTS
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ALDER PRODUCTS
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ALDER PRODUCTS