Economic Assessment of Using a Mobile Micromill® for Processing Small-diameter Ponderosa Pine

Economic Assessment of Using a Mobile Micromill® for Processing Small-diameter Ponderosa Pine
Author: Dennis R. Becker
Publisher:
Total Pages: 46
Release: 2004
Genre: Forests and forestry
ISBN:

An economic assessment of an SLP5000 Diesel Micromill® was conducted to determine the maintenance and operation costs and the logistics of a mobile sawmill used to process small-diameter ponderosa pine. The Micromill® was first introduced in 1997 and has since received considerable attention. In 2003, the USDA Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station conducted a detailed financial analysis of a Micromill® in Escalante, Utah. Productive and nonproductive time was recorded, and the feasibility and logistics of periodically moving the mill closer to the raw material source were assessed in terms of delivered log costs and mobilization costs. Product volume and grade recovery were collected to examine market options. Results of the analysis indicate that cashflow, support equipment, delivered log costs, and product markets significantly affect the financial viability of a mobile Micromill® enterprise.

Productivity of Western Forests

Productivity of Western Forests
Author:
Publisher:
Total Pages: 188
Release: 2005
Genre: Forest productivity
ISBN:

In August 20-23, 2004, a conference was held in Kamilche, WA, with the title S2Productivity of Western Forests: A Forest Products Focus. S3 The meeting brought together researchers and practitioners interested in discussing the economic and biological factors influencing wood production and value. One of the underlying assumptions of the meeting organizers was that management activities would be practiced within a framework of sustaining or improving site productivity; thus, several papers deal with methods to protect or improve productivity or discuss new studies designed to test the effects of various practices. This proceedings includes 11 papers based on oral presentations at the conference, 3 papers based on posters and 2 papers describing the Fall River and Matlock Long-Term Site Productivity study areas visited on the field tours. The papers cover subjects on forest harvesting activities, stand establishment, silviculture, site productivity, remote sensing, and wood product technologies.

Small-diameter Trees Used for Chemithermomechanical Pulps

Small-diameter Trees Used for Chemithermomechanical Pulps
Author: Gary C. Myers
Publisher:
Total Pages: 52
Release: 2003
Genre: Douglas fir
ISBN:

To restore and maintain forest ecosystem health and function in the western interior of the United States, many small-diameter stems need to be removed from densely stocked stands. In general, these materials are underutilized. Information on the properties of these resources is needed to help forest managers understand when timber sales are a viable option to accomplish ecosystem management objectives. Providing proof that this small-diameter material yields quality pulp would help increase its value and therefore help remove it from the forest. This study examines the acceptability of the small-diameter resource as a raw material for high-yield chemithermomechanical pulping (CTMP), which has the potential for improved fiber characteristics and paper strength compared with those of thermomechanical pulping (TMP). Pulps using CTMP were prepared from lodgepole pine and mixed Douglas-fir/western larch sawmill residue chips; lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir, and western larch submerchantable logs; and lodgepole pine, Douglas-fir, and western larch small trees. These small-diameter pulps were compared with commercially obtained sawmill residue chips of a Douglas-fir/western larch mixture and lodgepole pine. These pulps were also evaluated to see if CTMP improved the properties of the final product compared with products made using TMP. Compared with the controls, the CTMP prepared from Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine small trees and Douglas-fir submerchantable logs consumed more electrical energy during pulp preparation and had higher paper strength properties and lower optical properties. Also compared with the controls, lodgepole pine submerchantable logs consumed about the same electrical energy and had marginal strength properties and higher optical properties. Western larch submerchantable logs and small trees had the lowest electrical energy consumption of all pulps tested, low strength properties, but some of the higher optical properties. Western larch submerchantable logs and small trees appear to be unsuitable for CTMP. For the majority of the materials, CTMP improved the properties of the final product compared with corresponding TMP.