National Hardwood Magazine - September 2019

Kepley Frank Vertical

Kepley Frank Vertical REV 6-2019.qxp_Layout 1 5/28/19 10:03 AM Page 1 TRADE TALK EXPERIENCE QUALITY DEPENDABILITY 975 Conrad Hill Mine Rd. ~ Lexington, NC 27292 Phone 336-746-5419 ~ Fax 336-746-6177 www.kepleyfrank.com Information about our sawmill, planer mill and lumber inventory is below: 1.) Our three sawmills cut over 15 million board feet a year of fine Appalachian Hardwood lumber in 4/4 through 8/4 thicknesses in mostly Red Oak, White Oak and Poplar as well as Ash and Maple. Our crosstie mill manufactures about 100,000 board feet per week of crosstie and tie sides in species such as Hickory, Sycamore, Beech, Gum and Elm. In addition to the lumber we cut from our sawmill we also process millions of board feet of lumber per year through our concentration yard business. Recently our Hardwood lumber production has increased from processing 30 million board feet a year to 50 million board feet a year. We purchase and process all domestic species in all grades. 2.) Our modern planer mill runs two shifts to ensure ontime shipments of our lumber to customers. We deliver kiln dried or air dried lumber and offer export preparation and on-site container loading. 3.) We offer 600,000 board feet of fan shed inventory at all times, to provide efficient service to our customers. Kepley-Frank maintains an air dried inventory of 15,000,000 plus board feet of all species, to ensure back up inventory for our customers. This is an inside view of one of Kepley-Frank’s sawmills cutting a large log. The firm cuts lumber in 4/4 through 8/4 thicknesses. We have 700,000 feet of kiln capacity at our KepWood dry kiln facility. Drying 80% Red and White Oak. 66 SEPTEMBER 2019 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE NASHVILLE, TN– Brunner- Hildebrand Lumber Dry Kiln Co., located here, recently installed three of its compartment kilns with a holding capacity of 100,000 board feet each at the Jones Lumber Co. Inc. location in Natchez, MS. The kilns are for drying Ash, Cottonwood, Pecan, Poplar, and Red and White Oak. Arnie Hogue According to Jones Lumber Co. CEO Arnie Hogue, “The additional 300,000 feet of kiln capacity increases our total drying capacity in Natchez to 600,000 feet. These kilns were necessary to process the additional production in Natchez, allowing us to meet the needs of our expanding customer base. Since completion of these kilns, Jones Lumber is in the process of building a warehouse in Natchez that will house 1,000,000 board feet of kiln-dried lumber.” The recently installed Brunner-Hildebrand kilns feature all-aluminum, corrosion-proof construction of walls, roof and door for low maintenance and long life. The interior uses 0.05-inch high-grade aluminum alloy sheeting on the walls, roof and door. All joints are sealed with high temperature silicon. In addition to the main door for loading and unloading lumber, each kiln has two all-aluminum entry doors for access by personnel. The walls and roof contain 4 inches of high-density mineral wool insulation for energy efficient operation. The heating coils feature stainless steel piping with aluminum fins and electric-driven modulating heat control valves which provide accurate temperature control. All kilns are equipped with frequency drives for the fans and high capacity power vents. Additionally, High-Pressure Water Mist Systems are installed instead of steam spray. Advantages of High-Pressure Water Mist include: operational cost savings, eliminates super heat, reduces boiler maintenance and chemical cost, and improves lumber quality. Existing kilns at the site were upgraded with the same Brunner-Hildebrand control system as the new kilns including wireless wood moisture sensors. Jones Lumber Co., one of the largest Hardwood manufacturers in Mississippi, has a combined annual production at all locations exceeding 100,000,000 board feet. Founded in 1949, Jones Lumber Co. is based in Hattiesburg with locations in Bay Springs, Hazlehurst, Natchez, Gloster and Sandy Hook, MS. Jones Lumber Co. manufactures various thicknesses of green and kiln-dried Hardwood lumber in Ash, Cottonwood, Pecan, Poplar, and Red and White Oak. Industrial products manufactured include crane mats, lami-

AN UPDATE COVERING THE LATEST NEWS ABOUT HARDWOOD SUPPLIERS/VENDORS nated mats, crossties, switch ties, skids and pallet cants. Hogue articulated Jones Lumber Co.’s vision: “At Jones, we believe that Jones Lumber Company exists to enhance the lives of our employees, customers, vendors and our communities. We do this by providing safe and sustainable jobs and opportunities for our stakeholders. Our most important purpose is that Jones Lumber Company will grow with our stakeholders and set the standards for our industry well into the future.” Learn more at www.jones.com and www.brunnerhildebrand.de. CHATTANOOGA, TN- Headquartered here, Corley Manufacturing and Lewis Controls, which is based in Cornelius, OR, recently announced an innovative new addition to its product line – The M-Series Edger Optimizer. Demand the highest quality lumber. Demand Contechem Stain Control Products. Without Contechem With Contechem Roger Fuller, Jack Corley, David Burns, Jim Burris, Michael Corley, Keith Price and Chuck Boaz, Corley Mfg. Co./Lewis Controls Inc., Chattanooga, TN; and Marv Bernhagen, Corley Mfg. Co./Lewis Controls Inc., Cornelius, OR The M-Series allows the average Hardwood sawmill to take advantage of a proven “Hardwood Focused” scanning, The M-Series Edger Optimizer optimization and control package by Lewis working with a unique rugged Corley-designed infeed and top arbor edger. According to a statement released by Corley, this product is available at a fraction of the price of a conventional transverse or lineal Edger Optimizer system. In addition to price, The M-Series machine can be fed Please turn the page • Remove damaging sapstain and iron stain from lumber • Deliver bright, clean, high quality lumber • Protect hardwood lumber against damaging mold and fungi growth • Remove staining caused by oxidation and chemical reactions to metals WOOD PROTECTION PRODUCTS 716-833-9366 www.uccoatings.com sales@uccoatings.com SEPTEMBER 2019 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 67