Vaagen Bros. Lumber Installs Gilbert Planer 

Vaagen Bros. Lumber in Colville, Wash. installed a Gilbert high-speed planer featuring the Gilbert Roll Intelligent Positioning (GRIP) system, feed decks, feed table and slowdown belts. The mill will be running lumber up to 12 in. wide, and 20 ft. length.

With the Pull-Through technology from Gilbert, there’s no need for a bridge between the infeed table and the planer. This enables a more compact layout by placing the planer directly next to the lumber line. As a result, a longer outfeed section can be added, allowing more boards to be processed per minute. Additionally, the extra space accommodates a second slowdown belt to decelerate the boards more effectively.

To help increase feeding at high speeds, Vaagen opted for the GRIP system. Available on all Gilbert planer models, the GRIP allows for precise top roll movement, maintaining perfect contact with boards without causing damage. This optimizes the flow of lumber and increases piece count.