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Shaping-lathe headrig yields solid and molded-flake hardwood products.

Informally Refereed

Abstract

A shaping-lathe headrig, operated one shift daily, can be used to manufacture hardwood cants to be resawed into pallet shook, one-piece and dowel-laminated crossties, posts and rail, and other solid wood products in lengths from 6 to 9 feet. Residual flakes machined by the headrig supply a three-shift operation in which molded pallets and 4- by 8-foot sheets of structural exterior flakeboard are manufactured. The proposed plant will process about 68 cords (5,100 ft.3) of mixed-species hardwood daily. On net annual sales of $2,947,536, profit before income taxes is estimated at $872,410 or 30.3 percent of the required $2,880,000 investment (100% equity) required for plant construction, startup, and operating capital. The complex is to employ 49 people in plant and office; supporting woods operations would provide additional jobs. The technology of molding pallets from flakes is developing rapidly; but as yet, no data on product performance in service are available.

Citation

Koch, P.; Caughey, R.A. 1978. Shaping-lathe headrig yields solid and molded-flake hardwood products. Forest Products Journal 28(10):53-61
https://www.fs.usda.gov/research/treesearch/8152