New Perpetual

1.,\ LINE LUTS Processing

Fountain Lam-Loc Timber 25% Prices

n) EtsOUNDING trRONt a der.astating fire earlier tl.ris r\ year. Ld Fountairr Lun.rber Company (wholesale lumber distributor an<l marlrlfacturer of Lam-Loc Timbers and Lam-Loc Pecky Cedar) has announcecl the completion of a new timber laminating facility u'hich has reclirced productior.r time ancl procluct handling to tl.re point where timber prices are being lowerecl as much as 25/r on several slzes.

Described as "perpetual processing" by Forrntain. the new line utilizes several lrerv pieces of ecluipnrerrt ancl new handling techniques cleveloped by the Company since tl.re fire. A rlew semi-atltonlatic scarfing machine, built to Fountain specificatiolls, clamps the lrrn-rber in place, a<1vances it to tl-re saws. automaticallv crlts one side of tl-re scarf, marks it for accrtrate assenl6ly ancl cuts the otl.rer side of tlie scarf on the return cycle. Tl.re new 1 5f" larnittations are produced in less than half the 1>rer.ir-rrrs time.

,As the lrrrnber leaves the scarling nracl'rine, it feeds into a stagirrg area u'here the laminatiorrs are sorted for tl-re various sizes of tirnbers. The next step is f eeding the laminatiolrs tl'rrough the automatic glue spreaders tvl.rere eitl-rer casein or resorcinol glue is rlsed depencling on rvhether the tirr.rber is for irrterior or exterior apl)licatio11.

From this point, the lumber is placed it-r the laminating presses rvhere 150 ponnds per square incl.r of uniform h1'drarrlic pressure is applied. At this and each stage of procluction. a cluality control inspector checks the product for uniforrnity ancl workmanship. After the laminations are clamped, r-reu'ly installed "heat hocicls" are lowered over the presses. This speecls glue setting and guarantees colttinuous contact of all members rrntil thev are one rigid timber. Fountain makes only straight or cambered timbers. 'flie comltany has capacity to make one contintrous timber 270'\ong.

Another time saving piece of erluipment recently pr.rrcl.rased by Fountain is a mrrltiple clirection lift truck which is use<l for removing timbers irorn the larninating presses. Only the seconcl one in use, this truck is highll- rnaireuverable ancl can easily hanclle tinrbers in cor-rfir'red areas and is usecl to place them in the planer for tl.re clean-trp olteration. Hanclling time on this phase is cnt irr half. The planer is everr eclnippecl witir floating hea<ls so tl-re edges of the tirnbers are autontatically cleanecl of excess glue as tl.rey are being plar-recl.

Firral phase of tl're operation is sanding and finishing according to tl-re cnstomers' desires. Ser-eral nen' pieces of equipment are also contributing to reduce time irr this part of the operation. I-am-I-oc Tin"rbers are solcl exclusivel\. tlirorrgl'r lumber rlealers. The con'rpanv has alrea<11' starteil distributiorr of their r.rew price lists to clealers ancl deliverv u'ill start in.rmecliatelv, accbrding to Ecl Forrntain, Presideni.

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