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Full presentations and related resources are now available from Enhancing Economic Competitiveness through Going Green
Resources Available from Previous Workshops:
Making EFFECTIVE USE OF
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVANCES
This workshop - geared to small and medium sized wood products manufacturing companies in Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont and northern New York - was held in multiple sites throughout the four state region and featured top experts in North America on technological advances in CNC technology, finishing, joinery and adhesives, and dust collection.
Experts described technological advances in each area that have the potential to enhance economic competitiveness and profitability, and focused on benefits, challenges and costs, to help wood products company leaders decide whether pursuing particular technological advances would make sense for their company.
This workshop was the second in a series of Specialized Innovation Workshops co-sponsored by the following trade association partners:
Wood Products Manufacturers Association
Maine Wood Products Association
New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association
Vermont Wood Manufacturers Association
Empire State Forest Products Association
Current Trends in Computer Controlled Routers - Dr. Richard Lemaster, Director, Wood Machining& Tooling Research Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC (bio)
Proven technological advances in CNC technology have made possible faster, more flexible, more affordable and more user friendly CNC machines. These advances open up this technology to wood products manufacturers of any size, and with an increasing range of applications. This session examined a variety of technological advances, the potential benefits of each, and what is required to effectively utilize such advances. Special attention was given to the availability of dramatically lower cost CNC technology. This session was designed to give a leader of a small or medium sized wood products company the information needed to help decide what is the best technology to meet that company’s needs.
Technological Advances in Wood Finishing - Dr. Veronic Landry, FP Innovations - Forintek - Quebec City (bio)
This session focused on enhancing economic competitiveness through use of technological advances in wood finishing, including both materials and equipment. A variety of coatings were examined, including UV-cured, water-based, solvent-based, and bio-based. The advantages, disadvantages, application areas and performance of each type were discussed. The use of nanotechnology in coatings also was discussed. Samples of different coating systems, including examples of hybrids, were presented. Technological advances in equipment, including spray guns and curing/drying coating equipment, were covered.
Joinery and Adhesives - Dr. Daniel Hindman, Associate Professor, Virginia Tech Department of Wood Science & Forest Products - Blacksburg, VA (bio)
This session focused on technological advances in adhesives and joinery that can enhance the economic competitiveness of wood products companies. Topics covered included important questions that any manufacturer should ask when considering a new adhesive or joint. This session also incorporated a discussion of the fundamentals of adhesives, characteristics of wood, joinery techniques and what constitutes a good or bad glue joint.
Dust Collection - Michael Gililland, P.E. Principal, Engineering Systems Inc. - O' Fallon, MO (bio)
An effective dust collection system can enhance a wood products manufacturer’s economic competitiveness by increasing labor productivity through enhanced employee morale and reduced sick time; by increasing the performance and durability of machines; and in some cases by enhancing product quality. This session examined proven technological advances in dust collection systems, exploring the benefits, costs and challenges. The session discussed the factors that a company should consider in selecting a new dust collection system to most effectively address the needs of the company, and in ensuring that a new dust collection system is properly installed. OSHA regulations and a variety of on-line resources were also discussed.
Dr. Richard Lemaster: Director, Wood Machining & Tooling Research Program, Department of Wood and Paper Science, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina. Dr. Lemaster was formerly the head of the Wood Machining Research Center at the Forest Products Laboratory at the University of California at Berkeley.
Contact Info: 919-515-1548 email Rick
Dr. Veronic Landry: FP Innovations – Forintek, Quebec City. FP innovations – Forintek is Canada’s national wood products research institute. Dr. Landry is a research chemist focused on wood products finishing, with special expertise in water-based and high solids UV coatings, water-based coatings, hybrid coatings, and nanocomposite coatings, among others.
Contact Info: 418-659-2647, extension 3325 email Veronic
Dr. Daniel Hindman: Assistant Professor, Virginia Tech Department of Wood Science and Forest Products, Blacksburg, Virginia. Dr. Hindman's areas of expertise include, among others, wood mechanics, the structural design of wood, torsional stiffness, and related topics.
Contact Info: 540-231-9442 email Dan
Michael Gililland, P.E.: Principal and Senior Consultant, Engineering Systems, Inc., O’Fallon, Missouri. Michael is a licensed, professional engineer. Since 1994 he has acted as a consultant to manufacturers on matters of worker and facilities safety, including wood dust collection systems design and implementation. Michael is Chairman of the American National Standards Committee for Industrial Wood Working Machines.
Contact Info: 636-240-6095 email Mike