The annual Wood Technology Clinic & Show, produced by VNU Expositions, has announced the launch of the Wood Industry Forum, a new conference-focused event and supplier showcase to be held every other year beginning in 2005. The next Wood Technology Clinic & Show will be held in Portland, Ore. on March 22-24, 2006.

I­nternational Paper’s 25-year-old sawmill here is enjoying significant production and recovery gains following a major mill renovation. Beginning in 2001, the upgrades culminated in 2004 with the installation of an Autolog linear planer optimizer featuring a knot defect recognition module.

Three years to the month after his company installed its first sharp chain system at Bibler Bros. Lumber in Russellville, Ark., Omega Solutions President Russell Roberson reflects on the success that’s seen Omega place 31 additional systems in mills across America since it began production in 2001.

In 2003, the Hampton Lumber Mills subsidiary of Hampton Affiliates Inc. replaced all of its mechanical steam traps at six sites in Washington with Enercon’s fixed orifice trap system. It was an aggressive move for one of the Northwest’s top lumber manufacturers. Hampton, headquartered in Portland, Ore., produces a billion BF of Douglas fir and hemlock lumber annually at its Oregon and Washington mills.

Congratulations again to Hampton Affiliates and especially its lumber operation in Willamina, Ore. for being the top lumber producer in the U.S. in 2003. The mill’s output of 433MMBF exceeded its previous year’s total by almost 50MMBF. The Weyerhaeuser Co. sawmill at Cottage Grove, Ore. placed second with 340MMBF (it was third in last year’s list) and the Simpson dimension sawmill in Tacoma, Wash. rounded out the top three with 330MMBF.

Delmhorst offers the J-2000 digital wood moisture meter to locate moisture before it affects the quality of your product. The J-2000 meter incorporates an advanced micro controller circuit and offers a high degree of accuracy and reliability. The J-2000 package includes the meter, carry case and 26-ES slide hammer.