Getting the most out of reclaimed lumber has been a chore for recyclers ever since the industry first began. It is critical if you want to reuse boards, particularly as core quality worsens and the amount of combo or re-manufactured pallets grows in the industry. A potential solution to this challenge is the new Auto-Max trim saw line from PRS Group.
The Auto-Max can feed, scan, optimize, prioritize output end products, cut and sort multiple lengths/widths/thickness categories – accurately and consistently at a rate of 3,000 boards per hour.
Pallet Enterprise recently discussed this new trim saw line with the president of PRS Group, Jeff Williams. He explains why this saw is such a game-changer and why recyclers should be lining up to find out more about it. PRS expects to begin delivering new Auto-Max saws starting late fall of 2021. See the ad on page 44.
Pallet Enterprise: At EXPO Richmond, you were very excited about Auto-Max. Why do you think this is going to be a game changer for many recyclers?
Jeff Williams: A few years ago, we identified the need to maximize the yield and value received from our customers’ raw materials (new lumber, used pallets, recycled lumber) as the primary driver of our future R&D projects. (Maximizing the efficiency of labor is a constant in that effort as you might imagine.)
Our discussions and Imagineering sessions kept bringing us to machine vision, optical scanning, and other higher levels of automation through various IT elements. Ultimately, as we found the highest value proposition in automating the material management, optimization, cutting and sorting lumber, the R&D project for the Auto-Max began. We believe that soon manually operated, traditional trim saw processes will be the exception and not the rule for medium-sized or larger operations.
Pallet Enterprise: How long has PRS been working to develop Auto-Max? What is unique about it compared to anything else on the market?
Jeff Williams: We have been working on Auto-Max for about two years. The unique features of the Auto-Max include a proprietary unscrambler design, scrap removal systems, nearly hands-free operator requirements, and automated lumber sorting with automated material handling integrated that minimizes labor.
Pallet Enterprise: How does an Auto-Max fit into your existing product line? What about data capture systems, such as your connection with Pallet Track?
Jeff Williams: The Auto-Max is the perfect extension of our trim saw product line that has had our Opti-Max saw as a market leader since 1994. The Auto-Max’s control maintains and accumulates data which can be exported to many software platforms, including Innovative Data's of course.
Pallet Enterprise: What are the biggest changes that you have seen for pallet recyclers in the last two years? Are these long-term trends?
Jeff Williams: Higher costs across the board for materials and labor are a new reality. I don’t see that headed in a favorable direction anytime soon. This new dynamic increases the need to extract as much value as possible from these inputs and leveraging the benefits of automation in material processing can achieve that and more.
Pallet Enterprise: Given the changing pallet industry landscape, how important do you think odd-sized material and custom sizes will be? What about remanufactured pallets?
Jeff Williams: Odd-sized material and custom pallets offer niche opportunities for pallet companies. These are a great hedge against the highly competitive 48"x 40" market. Remanufactured pallets are in the same lane and especially, as in recent times, when new lumber price and availability aren’t in line with the norm.
Pallet Enterprise: What about this new technology makes a pallet recycler even more green? How will Auto-Max help improve lumber yield and reduce wood waste?
Jeff Williams: By scanning, optimizing, and cutting each board to its highest value and our customers’ priorities, waste is nearly eliminated. For instance, just the ability to set a maximum quantity for a particular board length/width that may be for a particular pallet order; there is no waste in material being cut and sorted to that spec, beyond what is needed.
Pallet Enterprise: I know this is not a cheap solution. But walk me through the return on investment for this new trim saw line. What is the anticipated payback as labor rates spike?
Jeff Williams: The Auto-Max runs consistently at 3,000 boards per hour which are all scanned, optimized, cut and sorted – with just one or two operators. From one to another pallet operations have different cost structures, cost allocation and production processes. But any operation manually processing 15,000-20,000+ boards per shift will realize immediate results, and a return on their investment in the way of better material utilization, smarter inventory efficiency and control, as well as labor savings.
For more information on the Auto-Max saw, visit www.prsgroupinc.com or see the ad on page 44.
