B R I E F S
Wide interest in low cost,
small wood processing initiative:
from bare boards to profitable profiles
Wood-Mizer notes widespread interest in its second
small business initiative involving the combination of
a small band sawmill and a moulder planer.
Sales reported in many countries
The latest of four thin kerf sawmilling ideas suited to
small timber processing operations in the credit
crunch is basically an attachment that takes them
into new, valuable markets.
The innovation involves an attachment to two of
its smaller mills at moderate cost and permitting
new opportunities.
The company noted the importance of small
businesses in the recovery of Europe's economies,
having analysed data from its dealers. It measured
how recession or low growth affected recovery of
wood processing set-ups. The investigations showed
that, as in former economic downturns, small
operations seemed to adapt to changing
circumstances better than many, bigger operations.
By trimming operating costs and labour hours
and/or converting into differing new products their
flexibility has been notable. The numbers of WoodMizer owners who abandoned wood processing and
sold their mills are few.
Wood-Mizer decided to give greater support to
small woodworking operations in the form of a series
of new, improved timber processing kits. Each is
designed to produce more 'selling' products from
less wood.
The latest takes the form of a moulder/planer
attachment to the company's smallest mills, enabling them to further convert to saleable profiled
beams and columns. Robert Baginski, commercial
director, claims that by a relatively small additional
investment, the MP100/150 moulder/planer attachment could lead to significantly more revenues.
Profiled beams, moulded boards on top
The MP100 moulder/planer attachment, can be
added to either an LT15 or smaller LT10. Moulding or
planing is achieved by a single cutting head that can
take straight or shaped knives and is driven by a
4kW electric motor.
Moulding depth is up to four mm but a shallower
(1-2mm per pass) depth results in a smoother
surface. For moulding, the planer blades can be
exchanged for profiled moulding blades, with the
ability to create mouldings up to 29mm in depth in
just a few passes. In this case production of profiled
columns or beams starts with clamping a square
beam, rigidly on the bed. Subsequently, moulding
creates both 'male' and female' profiles in a few
passes.
Existing LT15 or LT10 owners can buy the
MP100 and an additional bed segment as add-ons.
WOOD-MIZER TODAY SPRING 2011