I N N O V A T I O N S
long lengths of bed or track have been
laid – for example, to allow more than
one log to be placed end-to-end and
sawn in one pass.
In addition to controls for vertical,
forward and backward movement of the
head, the WM1000 comes as standard
with Wood-Mizer's effective ‘Setworks’
system. This improves productivity by
allowing the operator to pre-set the
required board thickness, after which
the head is automatically moved to the
correct position for each pass, ensuring
precise and consistent control. Variable
forward and reverse speed allow the
operator to adjust cutting speed to suit
the size and species being cut - and to
use 'full speed' for the return journey for
maximum production efficiency.
As the only sawmill manufacturer
that also makes its own blades, WoodMizer has invested heavily in research
and development and also in blade
production lines to expand its supply
capacity. This has ensured that the
company is able to support the launch of
the WM1000 with optimum quality thinkerf 50-75mm wide blades – which
can also be used on other makes of
bandsaw.
For cutting tropical hardwoods, as
well as large diameter temperate
hardwood and softwood, customers are
likely to find Wood-Mizer's RazorTip
Stellite-tipped blades give the best
performance because they stay sharper
for longer when sawing abrasive, hard,
dense, and dry timber – which means
fewer stoppages for blade changes.
The WM1000 takes blades of nearly
10m in length. An additional feature of
the head is that the hydraulic blade
tensioning system allows the distance
between the band wheels to be adjusted
by approximately 200mm. In addition to
ensuring that the blade is always
tensioned correctly while in use for
straight, accurate cutting, this amount
of movement also means that the blade
can continue to be used even if it is
repaired by shortening and re-welding.
With the launch of the WM1000,
Wood-Mizer has provided sawmillers
with the opportunity to acquire a high
performance, wide bandsaw at an
affordable cost, with the added
attractions of simple installation, ease
of operation and therefore minimal
operator training, high productivity, and
reliably accurate sawing with reduced
waste and increased yield.
Although suitable for cutting all types
of large diameter logs, Asia and Africa
are likely to show most interest in the
WM1000, whether for new ventures or
for upgrading or replacing older
traditional mills. The ability to produce
quality boards will allow customers to
supply higher end markets with higher
value products, with the confide