Uncategorized
Rulon & Nylon Team Up For New Dry Kiln Fan Bearing
Recently one of the sawmill experts with Redwood Plastics started a test for a superior dry kiln fan bearing. Typically the standard bearings for the application are ~$1300.00 and we were asked to come up with something better and less expensive. Originally Redwood Plastics’ standard material for this application (Redco 750 polyurethane) was considered but … Continue reading
Pulp-Safe: More Important Than Ever
Contamination is an issue in many industries. But with how quick information travels with social media and mass media these days even a small contamination issue can lead to a disproportionate amount of bad PR. In the case of pulp mills a single incident of contamination could be a disaster resulting in entire shipments of … Continue reading
Micarta Isn’t A Material
One plastic that sometimes confuses customers in sawmills is “Micarta”. First of all, Micarta is just a brand name – it isn’t a type of material. What Micarta in sawmills usually refers to is a very rigid, high-load bearing “industrial laminate”. These laminates are a very large family of plastics. They break down into five … Continue reading
Canadian-US Softwood Lumber Dispute: The Basics
The fall of 2016 is going to be an interesting time for the North American sawmilling industry. The 2006 agreement on softwood lumber between the two countries has expired and the U.S. may elect to go through litigation as of October of this year. This is a long, complicated dispute that has stretched over 30 … Continue reading
Wasting Dollars In The Sawmill
We recently found an interesting article by Terence Brown, at one point a member of Oregon State University faculty and a member of the Department of Forest Products. Surprisingly, the document is about 35 years old, yet the messages are are timeless. There are countless inefficiencies and issues that can lead to losses of productivity … Continue reading
Redco Titanium – The Ultimate Option
UHMW polyethylene provides numerous benefits in sawmill applications and has several decades of use in sawmills. UHMW has good impact resistance, good wear properties and a low coefficient of friction and helps sawmill and planar mills reduce maintenance downtime thus increasing profits. When regular UHMW needs replacement prematurely in an application or when premium performance … Continue reading
The Impact Of Plastics In Sawmills
On this website we often focus on specific applications or plastics used in sawmill and planar mill applications. But we shouldn’t lose sight of the big picture – why are we using plastics in the mill in the first place? Meaning, what are the benefits for you and your operation by switching to plastic? Firstly, … Continue reading
Sawmill Audits
The benefits of industrial plastic in sawmills have proven themselves for decades. But how do you as a mill manager or maintenance manager know if you’re utilizing all the benefits plastics can offer your mill? Redwood Plastics representatives are well-regarded for their knowledge of sawmill applications and we do get invited to perform audits of … Continue reading
Don’t Get “Pigeonholed”
One of any actor’s biggest fears is to be typecast in a particular role. The same could be said for industrial plastics in sawmill applications because for decades plastics have enjoyed success in a few specific applications: hooks, lugs, wear guides and bushings/bearings. Maintenance Managers and purchasers tend to only think of plastics in sawmill/planar … Continue reading
Product Spotlight – Chain Cap
Chain is a double-edge sword. Every sawmill needs it, moving chain could be considered the lifeblood of the mill. But chain is abrasive and downtime is costly to replace worn chain or chain beds. One possible solution is Redco™ Chain Cap. This plastic cap has a low-coefficient of friction and is quite durable. Because the … Continue reading