Investment opportunity : the FPL EGAR lumber manufacturing system

George B. Harpole; Ed Williston; Hiram H. Hallock

Treesearch

Investment opportunity : the FPL EGAR lumber manufacturing system

Informally Refereed

Authors:

George B. Harpole, Ed Williston, Hiram H. Hallock

Year:

1979

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Forest Products Laboratory

Source:

Res. Paper FPL-310. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory: 16 pages.

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Download (PDF 478 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/25685.pdf

Abstract

A model of present-day computer-controlled sawmilling technology is modified for the manufacture of any desired width of EGAR dimension lumber from small logs. EGAR lumber is manufactured via headrig production of 2-inch-thick flitches which are in turn dried, edged full width, edge-glued, and gang-novelty-ripped to wide widths (EGAR). The EGAR system is compared to the unmodified version of the same computer-controlled sawmill. Both systems appear to be good investment opportunities; however, the 12 to 13 percent increase in lumber recovery gained by the EGAR system does not justify the additional investment required unless the EGAR sawmill is used to increase the amount of wide width dimension (2-by 10-in. and wider). Economic advantage of the EGAR system increases as the cost of roundwood increases relative to lumber prices.

Keywords

Economic analysis, sawmilling, USA, investment analysis, EGAR, computer controlled sawing, dimension lumber, flitches, lumber recovery factor, small log utilization, edge-glue and rip, laminated wood

Citation

Harpole, George B.; Williston, Ed; Hallock, Hiram H. 1979. Investment opportunity : the FPL EGAR lumber manufacturing system. Res. Paper FPL-310. Madison, WI: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory: 16 pages.