Photo by Allegheny Wood Products .
“ You ’ ll see some of that on published books and packaging and a lot on cardboard packaging that verifies that product came from a well-managed forest ,” says Carlson . “ It has been a growing movement .”
In West Virginia , WestRock , Weyerhaeuser and Pixelle Specialty Solutions are sourcing certified , meaning they purchase a substantial amount of SFI-certified forests to put the SFI label on their products . Weyerhaeuser , the Boy Scouts of America
Summit Bechtel Reserve and The Conservation Fund — a national conservation group — all manage their forests to SFI standards .
The Forest Stewardship Council ( FSC ), an international nonprofit , has a similar certification program .
West Virginia companies The Forestland Group , The Lyme Timber Company and Columbia Forest Products all manage their lands according to FSC standards . According to Carlson , the forestry industry ’ s move toward sustainability has been driven by its customers .
“ When your customers tell you to do something , you do it or you ’ re out of business ,” he says .
In the last decade , the forestry industry has become more high tech , primarily in the manufacturing sector . Traditionally , metal detectors have been used to make sure a tree doesn ’ t have an embedded wire fence before it is run through a saw . Metal detectors are still commonplace , but the technology has expanded . These days , sawmills use computers with scanning technology to determine the best way of cutting a log to avoid wood knots and other imperfections .
“ These computers are able to take and guide these large band saws to cut trees in a way that maximizes the profit of the company and the quality of the products ,” says Carlson .
The grading system for determining the quality of hardwood has also become more high tech . One of West Virginia ’ s newest wood manufacturers , West Virginia Great Barrel Company , based in White Sulphur Springs , manufactures wood barrels for whiskey production and exemplifies another way companies are using more technology during manufacturing .
“ That manufacturing plant made a tremendous investment in robotic technology to move the product around that reduces the amount of danger for safety purposes ,” says Carlson .
The plant ’ s barrel-making process is almost entirely robotic , from the way the wood is cut and put together into barrels to the wood toasting process that gives the whiskey its charcoal flavor .
“ When you ’ re dealing with large round logs in a big manufacturing facility — when you can handle that with equipment , the less likely someone is going to be injured ,”
Congratulations ,
Glenn Yost , on being named a Sharp Shooter by West Virginia
Executive magazine !
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