Hardware Processing
General Information
This site provides technology support, software download, user manual and other crucial information related to the system. In addition, the marketing and management strategies, energy consumption and efficiency of sawmills are also provided by this site. Please review the following sections of the website for the specific details of interest.
Description: This section provides an overview of optimal log processing system for hardwood lumber production, current marketing and management strategies, energy consumption and efficiency of sawmills and their needs of improvement in the Appalachian region.
Publications/Documents: A variety of 3D log processing system, marketing and management practices, energy consumption and efficiency of hardwood sawmills in the Appalachian region related publications and documents are provided for download and/or links to download wherever applicable.
Software: This section provides some basic information on software and a link to download the software, including 3D Log Barking System,3D Log Processing Optimization System, and 3D Lumber Edging and Trimming System. Source codes for other developers may be available upon request.
Support : Resources on how to contact us with your questions, concerns, comments, and problems regarding 3D Log Barking, Log Sawing Optimization System, and Lumber Edging and Trimming System are provided in this section.
Related links: Some useful of Website and resources related to this resource kit website are available.
Workshops: Three workshops for small sawmills owners, managers, and operators that will help them in making better decisions to improve their competitiveness and profitability including hardwood lumber sawing, edging, and trimming optimization; energy consumption and efficiency analysis; and marketing and management strategies.
Conference: To further improve the utilization of hardwoods in Central Appalachia, there will be a conference held which could include sections like hardwood process, marketing, biomass utilization and land management. Agenda of the conference can be seen in the attachment.
Log Processing System
The "3D hardwood log processing optimization system" was developed by researchers at the Wood Science and Technology Program, Division of Forestry and Natural Resources, West Virginia University. The program simulates the sawmill activities of log sawing, lumber edging, trimming, and grading and can be used to help train log sawyer, flitch edging and trimming operators, and lumber graders and to increase processing efficiency and lumber value recovery. The system is available at no cost and user support is available.
Marketing and Management
The "Assessments of marketing and management practices of Appalachian hardwood sawmills" was conducted by researchers at West Virginia University. A mail survey of 776 sawmills was conducted to investigate the impacts of economic downturn on sawmill production, employment, wood residue production, log inventory, marketing and exporting practices in the Appalachian region. The survey results showed that the hardwood sawmills in Appalachian have experienced significant changes since the economic downturn of 2008.
Energy Consumption and Efficiency
The "Energy consumption and efficiency of hardwood sawmills in the Appalachian region" was studied using a mail survey and onsite energy audits by researchers at West Virginia University. The results showed that many opportunities exit for sawmills to reduce energy and waste costs in their lumber production. The energy audits indicated that greater energy savings are possible through lumber processing changes and implementing new and more energy efficient technologies.