WEST FRASER is achieving ITS VISION WITH LHG
WEST FRASER is achieving ITS VISION WITH LHG
“ The accuracy , consistency and flexibility of the LHG system is very impressive . West Fraser has been pleased with our history with this system .”
A giant among wood processors , West Fraser chose USNR ’ s LHG as its grade scanner of choice . It partnered with USNR to further develop the automated grading process , to the benefit of all producers .
West Fraser was an early believer in the Lineal High Grader ( LHG ) system ’ s value , agreeing to beta several of the LHG ’ s technology capabilities . After over a decade of experience with this system , the company remains a strong believer in the value the LHG has provided its operations .
The LHG is proven to produce excellent ongrade results for SYP with its unique defects . Like many other LHG customers , West Fraser chose to upgrade its systems at Augusta , Georgia and Huttig , Arkansas to add machine vision technology .
Vision upgrade
The LHG was originally installed at Augusta equipped with geometric scanning only , and subsequently received a major overhaul with a vision grading system and a retrofit to its feed frame . The LHG system at the Huttig mill was also installed with geometric scanning , and subsequently updated to add vision grading capability .
LHG vision upgrade components may include :
►►4 vision sensors with corresponding mounting and
LED lighting
►►X-ray source and detector
►►New computers and computer bay
►►LHG ’ s latest software release
The vision module combines 4-face , multichannel vision data with density data from X-rays and geometric data from laser profile sensors . Through DataFusion™ the optimizer evaluates and compares all of the data , and accurately grades each board based on the mill ’ s product parameters . The LHG evaluates dimension lumber from 1x3 to 4x12 and 6x6 , and from 6 ’ to any length run in a batch process . Its processing power and intuitive interface make it easy to set up and configure even the most complex grade classifications . Today LHG systems are grading a variety of species in most regions of Canada and the US , as well as in Europe and Australia .
Jose Guthrie handles corporate process quality control for West Fraser ’ s US divisions , based from the Huttig , Arkansas site . When asked about West Fraser ’ s decision to upgrade these two sites , Jose commented . “ We ’ re pleased with our past results . We would have liked to have done the upgrades sooner , but market conditions being what they were it didn ’ t make sense until now .”
Accuracy , consistency , flexibility
West Fraser is well satisfied with the updated features and functionality the LHG provides . Jose said , “ We are pleased with the LHG and its vision capability .” All of West Fraser ’ s LHG systems have been upgraded to vision , or are soon to be . Jose went on to relate , “ The accuracy , consistency and flexibility of the LHG system is very impressive . West Fraser has been pleased with our history with this system .”
Jose ’ s response echoes what USNR has been hearing from other customers , including substantial increases in sales and reductions in labor . The LHG has proven to produce excellent results grading a wide variety of species in global regions . As defects and grade parameters vary USNR has fine-tuned the LHG accordingly . This affords customers the flexibility to adjust their products on-the-fly to meet fluctuating market conditions . Today LHG delivers the smallest distribution of above / below grade on a pack-by-pack basis . And customers are ramping up ; in just over a year USNR sold or installed the LHG ’ s vision component on 33 systems worldwide .
Jose commented that West Fraser is always looking for products to improve over time . USNR periodically releases new LHG software revisions that become available to benefit all LHG customers . When asked , Jose commented , “ The products coming from USNR just seem to continue to get better .”
Jose is also optimistic about the future of the industry . “ There is so much going on in the industry right now , and West Fraser wants to stay in the lead .” With all of its LHG ’ s outfitted with the vision and software components , West Fraser is in an even stronger position .
ISSUE 3 - 2013 | Millwide INSIDER 15