After the success of its Urban Sawmill ™ trim saw system, Alliance Automation has responded to customer requests by developing the Badger Sawmill Series. This new model includes the same laser scanner and saw system used in the Urban Sawmill, but with a much smaller footprint, lower system cost and slower production speed.
The Badger can process 15,000 to 20,000 boards per shift, depending on the configuration of the unit purchased. The major aspects changed in the Badger are the infeed mechanism and the sort bin sizes and configurations. The guts of the system, the Smart 3D Laser Scanner and the Dual End Cut Saw Deck, are essentially the same as the Urban Sawmill.
Ben Long was the leader of the Badger development team. He commented, “The Badger was developed in response to challenges presented by potential customers. They didn’t have the space required for the Urban Sawmill. The system was out of their price range because they didn’t have enough recycled boards to justify it. The cost and throughput go hand-in-hand.”
The sweet spot for the Urban Sawmill is 30,000 boards per shift, whereas the Badger can process 15,000 to 20,000 boards per shift with a footprint that is about half the size of the Urban Sawmill.
Long further explained, “Depending on the machine configuration, the Badger costs about 35% less than the Urban Sawmill.” This makes the Badger easier for more recyclers to utilize in their operations, allowing them to turn waste wood into cost-effective, recycled boards.
The first Badger system is expected to be delivered this fall, with five more on order. Long stated,” This is a reconfiguration of our existing technology, so we expect a smooth installation for all customers that have already purchased their Badger."
Just like the Urban Sawmill, the Badger will be able to process both deck boards and stringers. Long added, “The Badger is designed to be very modular, allowing for multiple configurations to fit various plant layouts and system requirements.” One thing he said that some customers are surprised to learn is how many bins they may need. He said that on average, customers select 10 sorts when they see how this can help their total manufacturing operation.
Besides speed and reducing your workforce, the Badger uses scanners to optimize the yield on every board. Think about how high-speed sawmills increase log output. The same can be achieved with the scanner and trim saw system. Alliance Automation suggests that customers can easily achieve over a 10% yield increase compared to manual trim saw operations. Also, the Badger produces data to better manage your lumber production operation and create improved lumber recovery reports.
The Badger has a minimum of four sort categories and a maximum of 12. This system will scan, trim, and sort in one efficient line. For more information, visit www.allianceautomation.com, contact (419) 238-2520, or email info@allianceautomation.com.
