E X P E R I E N C E
technology which cuts less sawdust and
in effect turns out an extra sawn board
per log. 'Kerf' is the width of the cut
made by a sawblade. He increasingly
saws softwood boards with the mill,
known as an LT20.
Originally, he used another American
bandsaw but it proved unsatisfactory. As
a result he operated without a saw for
five years, importing ready sawn
hardwood boards but noting rising costs.
The switch back to in-house sawing gives
the company more flexibility, improved
quality of timbers and an opportunity to
branch out modestly into retail timber
too.
Despite very difficult economic
conditions his income has risen 40%
since starting with the band sawmill.
The sawmills which had supplied
Woodhill with sawn boards for five years
could not commercially support the
combination of flooring developments
which Woodhill needed.
However, adapting to the Irish
recession, Sean has begun buying in
softwood logs which he can process and
market for a more reasonable price than
hardwoods, appropriate in Ireland for
the moment.
Indeed, he finds himself increasingly
buying lower cost pitch pine logs and
sawing them into 14x14 inch and 12x12
inch beams, which he further cuts into
flooring. Cutting flooring from his own
softwood logs has proved more
profitable. Hardwoods out of square
cants from Africa at approximately
€110 per square metre is now history
since finishing them himself brings
costs down to €60 per m2.
As most of his sales are in the 26
Counties, the less expensive softwood
flooring is more attractive to Irish
householders with limited budgets.
However, he does supply his flooring
occasionally to Northern Ireland where
similar kinds of flooring as in the
Republic are in demand now.
The band sawmill which cost €20 000
has brought safe and reliable production
of cants and boards, easy handling, and
pre-figured dimensions from the
incorporated 'Setworks' (precomputerised dimensions) to the
operation. In addition to economic
benefits, it has also improved the carbon
WOOD-MIZER TODAY SUMMER 2011
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