National Hardwood Magazine - September 2021

SII DRY KILNS Continued from page 29
Thompson Appalachian Hardwoods in Huntland, TN has two
100,500 BF Package Kilns with Heat Exchangers and Direct Fire
Burner.
Mary Mathews noted. “We can find the part when a client
needs it. We are going to make sure that we get the
part to them as fast as possible to avoid downtime,” she
stated. “Taking care of our past customers and keeping
everyone running smoothly is just as important to us as
our new customers.”
In the Hardwood industry, SII is known for offering a
lot of options for their equipment. “We are definitely not
cookie-cutter, and we are not boxed into certain types of
designs,” said Ben Mathews. “Everyone knows they get
that backstage access to any of us – after the sale,” he
stated, “and I think that is exceptional.”
Brian Turlington added, “It’s a collaboration between
the customer and our salespeople in which the customer
knows – or has a good idea of – what they want, and
then, we customize that for them.” SII provides drying
variations for different species of Hardwoods, from the
amount and type of heating required (steam, gas-direct
or indirect) to the type and amount of venting (passive,
powered, or heat exchangers) and, of course, the fan
systems, which all utilize energy saving variable frequency
drives (VFD’s).
In softwood, SII offers two primary types of kilns for
customers.
Some softwood customers remain committed to
“batch”-style kilns, while others prefer the continuous
DPK-style kilns, which require 24/7 operation. Regardless
of the type of track kiln desired, SII can provide the
heating system that works best for the customer. From
direct-fired gas or biomass systems to steam heated
kilns, SII has done them all. Brian Turlington noted that
such versatility is based on: “What will work best for the
customer today and in the future?”
Ben Mathews commented, “We have seen our growth
in softwood steadily increase, and today we do more and
more softwood kilns every year.”
The controls department is second-to-none in the industry,
the company points out. SII was the first American
kiln manufacturer to introduce VFD’s to the industry
in the mid-80’s and has been instrumental in developing
the best known in-kiln weight-based computerized control
system, “Sample Watch,” with over 400 systems in
operation today.
According to Turlington, SII works as a partner with its
customers. The firm gets over 80 percent of their sales
as repeat business. SII can make acquiring a new kiln
a turnkey operation or have the owner participate in the
process at whatever level they prefer.
“We want to supply a quality product that’s long-lasting,
regardless of whether it’s Hardwood or softwood,”
Turlington stated. And SII welcomes any challenge. “We
aren’t afraid of taking on any size project no matter how
unique,” he said.
SII Dry Kilns believes very strongly in supporting industry
associations and is a member of the National
Hardwood Lumber Association, Southeastern Lumber
Manufacturers Association, Hardwood Manufacturers
Association, National Wooden Pallet and Container Association,
Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc.,
Appalachian Lumbermen’s Club, Indiana Hardwood
Lumbermen’s Association, Penn-York Lumbermen’s
Club, Kentucky Forest Industries Association, Keystone
Missouri Walnut in Neosho, MO has 29 100,000 BF SII Design
Kilns.
Kiln Drying Association, New England Kiln Drying Association,
Great Lakes Kiln Drying Association, North
American Wholesale Lumber Association, Northeastern
Lumber Manufacturers Association, Southeastern Dry
Kiln Club, Western Hardwood Association and the New
England Lumbermen’s Association. n
For more information, go to www.siidrykilns.com.
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