Modernized milt benefits certifi d forest

II IITH Collins Pine Co. primarily V Y utilizing logs from environmentally certified forests, gleaning maximum recovery from each log just made sense.

As a result, Collins has just unveiled a completely rebuilt, $20 million sawmill in Chester, Ca.

Now inefficient and labor intensive, the previous wooden frame structure, built in 1943, was demolished in December 2001. Wood from the old building was reused to power its concrete-and-steel replacement. Steel from the prior structure was later melted down and recycled.

Most of the machinery inside is new, as well. The system of saws and trimmer blades that transform logs into lumber has been completely automated.

The new equipment uses laser camera technology and provides climate-controlled cabs and digital message boards for the operators.

The improvements will nearly double the plant's efficiency. Annual production capacity of 75 million bd. ft. should eventually climb to 120 million bd. ft. a year by the time the facility is at full production in 2003.

"The new mill will have much higher recovery rates and provide more consistent quality," said plant manager Mike Zojonc. "We will get more out of the same logs."

This also will allow Collins to use more of its own smaller logs, which it had been forced to sell because they were inefficient to process through the old mill.

One piece of well-used equiPment that stays in operation is the machine that strips the bark from logs more than 3 feet in diameter. The large

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