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Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company was created in the early 20th century, as two lumber giants pooled their expertise with local lumber resources to create a company and town. The combination was successful, even though the company had reduced operations prior to the start of World War II. The Archives at the University of West Florida contain many historical documents of the Alger-Sullivan Lumber Company, which provide great insight into the financial, accounting, and operational aspects of the company during its over 50 years of existence. Of particular interest are the years during the U.S. involvement in World War II, as the company faced many challenges and opportunities. The research question, "What impact did World War II have on the accounting and financial activities conducted at the company?" is addressed, with documentation to show a greater cost-consciousness, along with more detailed and refined financial reporting, developed during this period. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sawmills are key elements of the forest product industry supply chain, and they play important economic, social, and environmental roles. Sawmill production planning and control are, however, challenging owing to several factors, including, but not limited to, the heterogeneity of the raw material. The emerging concept of digital twins introduced in the context of Industry 4.0 has generated high interest and has been studied in a variety of domains, including production planning and control. In this paper, we investigate the benefits digital twins would bring to the sawmill industry via a literature review on the wider subject of sawmill production planning and control. Opportunities facilitating their implementation, as well as ongoing challenges from both academic and industrial perspectives, are also studied. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sawmills play a key role in the primary sector of the wood industry producing lumber from tree logs through a multi-stage process including inspections, classification, sawing, drying, etc. The sawing step can become a bottleneck due to the high investment costs the necessary equipment present. Thus, their schedule can be of significant economic importance, resulting in several studies over the years. While most of the approaches in the literature consider a simple model of production and focus on the stochastic nature of real-life problems, present work details a more in-depth model to better tackle practical considerations of less automated and smaller sawmills. The proposed Mixed-Integer Linear Programming model addresses volatile labour availability and differences between the two most dominant sawing technologies. The efficiency of the model is tested on randomly generated instances. The proposed approach can provide the optimal solution within reasonable time for short-term instances.

The study examined cost and return analysis and determinants of profitability of saw mill industry in Ogbomoso area of Oyo state, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select seventy-six (76) saw millers in the study area. Detailed questionnaire was used to obtain relevant information from the respondents. Budgetary analysis was used to calculate the profitability while regression analysis was used to determine factors affecting the profitability of the sawmill. About thirty-six percent (36%) of the respondents fell within the age range of 51 -60 years, eighty three percent (83%) were males and ninety two percent 92% engaged in saw milling as the only source of livelihood. The result of the budgetary analysis showed that total variable cost was (TVC) ₦1,044,142, Total fixed cost (TFC) was ₦65,774.5 while the total cost (TC) was computed as ₦1,109,917.4 and total revenue (TR) was ₦1,721,573. The profit realized was ₦611,655.6 and the gross margin was₦ 677430.1 while the BCR was 1.55. The result of the regression analysis showed that number of trained sawyers (P<0.1), source of capital (P<0.1) and quantity of plank sold (P<0.05) and type of conversion machine used (P< 0.05) increased the profitability of sawmill business in the study area. The study recommended that old/obsolete machineries should be replaced and respondents' proper training is paramount to an efficient saw milling operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined the technical efficiency and observed determinant of technical inefficiency of sawmill in Ogbomoso area of Oyo state. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select seventy-six (76) saw millers in the study area. Detailed questionnaire was used to obtain relevant information from the respondents. Stochastic production frontier was used to determine the technical efficiency while ordinary least square was used to determine the factors affecting revenue generated by the saw millers in the study area. About thirty-six percent (36%) of the respondents fell within the age range of 51 - 60 years, eighty three percent (83%) were males and ninety two percent 92% engaged in saw milling as the only source of livelihood. The result of the cobb -douglas function showed that sex (P<0.05) and years of experience (P<0.05) in sawmill business had direct effects on the technical efficiency of the saw millers in the study area and they were towards constant returns to scale. In addition, Labour (P<0.1), price per plank (P<0.1) and power (P<0.1) increased the revenue generated by the respondents in the study area. The study concludes that old/obsolete machineries should be replaced, and respondents' proper training is paramount to an efficient saw milling operation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding how thinning strategies impact wood quality and quantity for different purposes is of interest, given that plantation management is often based on parameters that require validation under varying growth conditions. Planted forests for solid purposes in the northern region of Urugay, western Argentina and South of Brazil are usually managed in initial stockings ranging from 800 to 1200 trees·ha−1 depending on the use of clones or seeds. Subsequent thinnings are applied (at plantation ages varying from 3 to 11 years) up to final stockings of around 200 trees·ha−1. This study evaluated contrasting thinning regimes applied early in the crop cycle, with an initial tree density of 840 trees·ha−1. Two thinning treatments were applied at 1.5 and 7.3 years, reducing tree densities to 700–400 and 400–100 trees·ha−1, respectively. Growth analyses were conducted from 1.5 to 20.8 years, considering total height, diameter at breast height, individual volume, total and commercial volume per hectare, mean annual increase, and current annual increase. At the final harvest, contrasting tree densities of 100, 250, and 400 trees·ha−1 were sampled to assess wood density and mechanical properties (bending and compression on small-scale clear samples). Individual growth and wood properties were related to a Stand Density Index to understand the effect of competition on these values. The results identified thinning regimes that resulted in the most significant individual and per-hectare growth (both in thinning and clear felling) and the optimal harvest time under specific growth conditions. We assessed the proportions of commercial logs for sawmill and pulp uses, providing valuable inputs for subsequent economic analyses of thinning regimes aiming for the most convenient combination of wood products. Wood's physical and mechanical properties were relatively little affected by contrasting levels of competition between trees; therefore, the choice of silvicultural system will depend on production and economic criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Chapingo Serie Ciencias Forestales is the property of Universidad Autonoma Chapingo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Brazilian Journal of Production Engineering / Revista Brasileira de Engenharia de Produção is the property of Brazilian Journal of Production Engineering and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Lumber recovery is an important parameter in determining the production efficiency and viability of mobile sawmilling operations. In this study, lumber recoveries for mobile sawmilling machines operating in four different locations in Tanzania were estimated. A total of 11 mobile sawmilling operations were studied. On each piece of mobile sawmilling machinery, data on log sizes, including bottom, mid and top diameter, and log lengths were recorded. Results showed that the number of logs per machine ranged from 5 to 40 with an average of 28 logs. The middle diameter of the logs ranged from 8 to 44.60 cm, with an average value of 20.58 cm. The number of lumbers produced for each log varied from 1 to 9 pieces, with an average of 3 pieces across all the sites. The lumber recovery (%), varied depending on the individual machine, machine type, source of logs and geographical site within Tanzania. For all the machines, the average lumber recovery (%) per machinery ranged from 16.15 to 62.79%. Among the three types of mobile sawmilling machinery, Wood-Mizer had relatively higher lumber recovery (56.2%) than Ameck and Ding-Dong. The overall average lumber recovery value for all the machines, irrespective of log sizes, site and source of lumber was 43.34%. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) indicated that site, source of lumber, machine type and size of logs had a statistically significant effect (p < 0.05) on lumber recovery (%). The study concluded that mobile sawmilling in Tanzania produces sawn timber with reasonable lumber recovery. However, further studies are recommended to examine technical aspects, such as productivity and taper, as well as cost of the mobile sawmilling operations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study examined cost and return analysis and determinants of profitability of saw mill industry in Ogbomoso area of Oyo state, Nigeria. Multi-stage sampling procedure was employed to select seventy-six (76) saw millers in the study area. Detailed questionnaire was used to obtain relevant information from the respondents. Budgetary analysis was used to calculate the profitability while regression analysis was used to determine factors affecting the profitability of the sawmill. About thirty-six percent (36%) of the respondents fell within the age range of 51 -60 years, eighty three percent (83%) were males and ninety two percent 92% engaged in saw milling as the only source of livelihood. The result of the budgetary analysis showed that total variable cost was (TVC) ₦1,044,142, Total fixed cost (TFC) was ₦65,774.5 while the total cost (TC) was computed as ₦1,109,917.4 and total revenue (TR) was ₦1,721,573. The profit realized was ₦611,655.6 and the gross margin was₦ 677430.1 while the BCR was 1.55. The result of the regression analysis showed that number of trained sawyers (P

The forest products industries play a vital role in the economic, social, and environmental well-being of the Lake States in the United States. While various economic contribution analyses of forest products industries have been conducted to highlight the importance of such industries to regional economies, little effort has yet been made to parse out the contribution of activities in the value chain. The value chain is a series of steps involved in producing goods or services. This study used a matrix decomposition approach to estimate the economic contribution along the value chain through multiple pathways of four forest resource-based industries using wood as inputs: biomass power generation, sawmills, paper mills, and the construction of new single-family residential structures in the Lake States. The direct and indirect economic output values in 2017 resulting from the construction of new single-family residential structures were $19.1 billion, sawmills were $2.5 billion, paper mills were $17.6 billion, and the biomass power generation industry was $759 million. Of the direct and indirect economic output contributed by each industry, the highest percentage of output attributable to the logging industry was observed from the sawmills industry (12%), followed by biomass power generation (9%), paper mills (1.4%), and the construction of new single-family residential structures (<1%), respectively. The percentage of total economic output attributable to the stumpage industry in the region followed a similar trend as commercial logging for all value-chain industries. The relative economic contribution of the value-chain industries to the total economic contribution of the final industry varied based on whether the industry was a primary or secondary forest products industry and the pathways used for sourcing wood inputs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to use mathematical models for the prediction of sawnwood yields based on dendrometric parameters of standing trees, which allow an adequate definition of their potential in the Combate de la Tenería sawmill. Sawnwood yields are influenced by the position of the log in the tree trunk, with a decrease depending on the height. The four equations constructed to determine the yield of sawnwood have acceptable correlation and determination coefficients and low standard errors of estimation. However, the best behavior is shown by the model Ln (rend) = 1.084 + 0.464 * ln d1.30 0.1201 ln which has the best fit, the independent variables explain 67% and the lowest value of the standard error of estimation. Based on the elasticity analysis, the diameter can be defined at 1.30 m, it is the predictor variable with the greatest positive influence on the increase in sawnwood yields. Taper has a negative effect on the volume and value of sawnwood. The use of the statistical control of saw detected that the process is out of control, which implies the need to carry out the corresponding analysis to eliminate this deficiency. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sawmills are a common site especially in developing countries and studies suggest that this practice comes with attendant health risks. This study seeks to assess the risk perception of air quality around sawmills in Benin Metropolis, Edo State, Southern Nigeria. The study relied primarily on the administration of questionnaires. A total of 150 structured questionnaires were administered to workers in the three major sawmills in Benin City. Data analysis was done using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 16.0. Statistical tools such as frequency, percentage, and Chi-square were also used to analyze relevant variables. 95% confidence level, a P<0.05 was considered statistically significant for the study. Results from the study revealed that the majority (82%) of respondents were males; the majority (30%) were between the ages of 51 and 60; and the majority (34%) had worked in sawmills for ten years or more. Findings from the study revealed that headache, catarrh, bronchitis and eye irritation were the most prevalent health risks amongst sawmill workers indicative of poor air quality. The study also revealed that though the air quality around sawmill is polluted sawmill workers have low adaptive capacity toward associated risks. Furthermore, other health risks reported by workers include asthma, chest pain, throat irritation, eczema, sneezing and coughs. The study concludes that sawmill workers in Benin City need more information about the dangers of inhaling polluted air as well as the need for adequate use of personal protective equipment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the wood processing industry, working with machines exposes workers to occupational risks. This study evaluates the biomechanics of work activities carried out in a wood processing operation in tropical forest regions to identify risks associated with the development of musculoskeletal injuries. Data were collected in a wood processing industry from a tropical forest region in Midwest Brazil. Forty forest workers were evaluated, equivalent to 100% of the population of the company participating in the study. Biomechanical movements were measured using the Three-Dimensional Biomechanical Model for Predicting Stances and Static Forces. There was a risk of injury to the joints of the upper limbs (wrists and shoulders), as well as to the torso. When splitting and manually stacking wood, a risk of spinal injury was identified. All workers had a high risk of developing injuries in all joints evaluated in addition to a risk of serious spinal injury. In this way, the development of these activities without any ergonomic interventions makes the risk of developing musculoskeletal injuries in the workers involved imminent, with consequent early professional incapacity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Chapingo Serie Ciencias Forestales is the property of Universidad Autonoma Chapingo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background Wood biomass from forests is a renewable energy source that has the potential to support global green development. However, the process of traditional firewood extraction and its contribution to the energy supply varies and is usually underrecognized, especially in the local context. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the traditional use and estimate the supply and demand for wood bioenergy from small-scale privately owned forests (SSPF) in Ciamis Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia. Methods The sample location was determined in 3 subdistricts, namely, Sukamantri, Ciamis, and Banjaranyar, which represent the northern, central, and southern regions, respectively. The data were collected through observations on stands, interviews with respondents, key informants from users and business actors of wood in the SSPF, and observations on the processes taking place in the flow and use of biomaterials and firewoods. Results and conclusion Firewood is a secondary product that cannot be separated from the main products along SSPF’s chain of production based on the integration of raw material sources, linkages between actors, and volume sharing. The local knowledge and wisdom entanglements included the identification of the type and quality of firewood, distribution of resource allocation for household and industrial needs, and sharing of firewood for household needs. Although wood biomass contributes to the fulfillment of households and industrial needs of 8.51 million m3, there are indications of an imbalance between the potential supply and the demand for firewood due to its high intensity of use in industries. Therefore, multistakeholder and cross-regional support are needed to achieve sustainable SSPF management and fulfill the self-sufficiency of wood energy.

This research aimed to determine the yield of sawn wood and the distribution of pine classes depending on the species, size, and quality of the log. 101 pine logs classified with NMX-C-359-1988 were analyzed, collecting data on species, class, diameter, taper, and length. The products obtained were counted and classified with NMX-C-224-ONNCCE-2001 in order to determine the volumetric yield per log. Homogeneity of variance, ANOVA, Shapiro-Wilk, and Pearson's correlation tests were performed at a significance = 0.05. It was found that, the larger the diameter of the log and the smaller the taper, the yield per class of sawn wood increases. Log quality exhibits a highly significant effect on sawn wood quality. The aforementioned variables are good predictors to estimate the volumetric yield and proportion of sawn pine wood classes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Wood biomass from forests is a renewable energy source that has the potential to support global green development. However, the process of traditional firewood extraction and its contribution to the energy supply varies and is usually underrecognized, especially in the local context. Therefore, this study aimed to describe the traditional use and estimate the supply and demand for wood bioenergy from small-scale privately owned forests (SSPF) in Ciamis Regency, West Java Province, Indonesia. Methods: The sample location was determined in 3 subdistricts, namely, Sukamantri, Ciamis, and Banjaranyar, which represent the northern, central, and southern regions, respectively. The data were collected through observations on stands, interviews with respondents, key informants from users and business actors of wood in the SSPF, and observations on the processes taking place in the flow and use of biomaterials and firewoods. Results and conclusion: Firewood is a secondary product that cannot be separated from the main products along SSPF's chain of production based on the integration of raw material sources, linkages between actors, and volume sharing. The local knowledge and wisdom entanglements included the identification of the type and quality of firewood, distribution of resource allocation for household and industrial needs, and sharing of firewood for household needs. Although wood biomass contributes to the fulfillment of households and industrial needs of 8.51 million m3, there are indications of an imbalance between the potential supply and the demand for firewood due to its high intensity of use in industries. Therefore, multistakeholder and cross-regional support are needed to achieve sustainable SSPF management and fulfill the self-sufficiency of wood energy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Samandrag Sagbruksdrifta i Noreg starta rundt år 1500 med eit tyngdepunkt rundt Oslofjorden frå Agder til Østfold. Basert på oppteljingar av talet på sager har litteraturen til no rekna dette som situasjonen gjennom heile 1500- og 1600-talet. Ei sag som produserte 10 sagbord i året, vart etter denne teljemåten likestilt med ei sag som produserte 1 000 sagbord i året. I denne artikkelen blir derimot den faktiske produksjonen i dei ulike landsdelane samanlikna ut frå ein gjennomgang av skattelistene for heile Noreg. Denne gjennomgangen viser nokså uventa at produksjonen i Trondheim len var større enn i resten av landet samla frå 1620 og fram til midten av 1600-talet, trass i at det var dobbelt så mange sager i resten av Noreg som i Trondheim len. I Trondheim len var det ei stor overvekt av profesjonelle sageigarar med store sager og heller få bondesager. I resten av landet var andelen bondesager mykje større, og bøndene hadde gjerne sagbruksdrifta som ein liten tilleggssyssel til gardsdrifta. Gjennomsnittleg sagstørrelse var derfor mykje større i Trondheim len enn i resten av landet.

Man has been using the energy of flowing water since antiquity. Water milling flourished in Europe in the Middle Ages, reaching its maximum development in the 19th century. Since the beginning of the 20th century, water energy has been used to produce electricity. Acquiring the energy of water involves modifying the natural environment. Milling is considered to be the activity that started the emergence of fluvial anthropospheres in Europe. For centuries, the construction of watermills and millraces has caused the densification of the river network, raised the level of groundwater, and forced the deposition of sediments. From the point of view of sociohydrology, milling has been an expression of the economic and technological development of societies. The milling industry and, therefore, the natural environment have also been affected by political factors and beliefs. At the beginning of the 20th century, water drives were replaced with steam and later electric drives in mills. These changes resulted in the abandonment of millraces and the liquidation of weirs, which reversed the hydromorphological processes regulated by milling since the Middle Ages. The development of hydropower seems to be environmentally friendly owing to the use of renewable energy, but the environmental costs associated with the construction of a hydroelectric power plant cannot go unnoticed. The problem of the development of water energy use over the centuries has been studied on the basis of the example of the catchment of the mountain River Skawa. The study shows how many factors determined the development of the milling industry and, consequently, the transformation of the natural environment. These factors were largely local or regional, which shows that comprehensive analyses of anthropopressure cannot be of a global nature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Chapingo Serie Ciencias Forestales is the property of Universidad Autonoma Chapingo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

There is an increasingly high suspicion of occupational health diseases amongst workers in sawmill factories. Hence this study aimed to determine the microbial diversity in some sawmill factories in Okada, Edo State, Nigeria to evaluate potential implications of the factory’s processing area on the health of the workers and wood merchants. Bacteria and fungi count in the bioaerosols within the processing area of each factory was performed with the passive air sampling technique. While in the sawdust samples, microbial counts were carried out with the pour plate technique. Identification of the microbes was performed with macroscopic and microscopic examinations as well as standard phenotypic tests. Mean total viable count (TVC) and total fungi count (TFC) of bioaerosols in the air within the processing area of the sawmill factories were found to be greater than 4162.99 CFU/m3 while mean total coliform count (TCC) was reported as 756.28 CFU/m3. Fisher (F) one-way ANOVA test of the TVC and TCC dataset of bioaerosols from the four sawmill factories indicated no significant difference (p = 0.77 and 0.83 for TVC and TFC respectively) in the mean TVC and TFC of the bioaerosols. Bacterial (Micrococcus, Staphylococcus, Bacillus, Klebsiella and Serratia) and fungal (Saccharomyces, Aspergillus, Cladosporium and Penicillium) species were isolated from the bioaerosols and sawdust samples. Results of this study indicated that workers in the sawmill factories and other wood merchants who visit sawmill processing area are most likely exposed to airborne contaminants that may cause occupational diseases such as ophthalmic irritations and dermatitis. Hence it is recommended that sawmill workers and other visitors wear personal protective gadgets in the processing area of the sawmill factories.

Sawmill industry is an industry that processes logs into sawn timber products through several processes to maximize profits and meet customer demand. The process involves important operations that has to be coordinated to get the desired product with the available resources optimally. Efficient operations can be achieved through optimal production planning by considering some factors to optimize the number of sawn timber product combinations. Optimal production planning is expected to have an impact, such as: reduction of the use of raw materials that can affect inventory and procurement. In this research, the author has developed a mathematical model for production planning to determine the optimal number of sawn timber product combinations. Problems were solved using mixed-integer linear programming methods with mathematical modeling that aimed for maximizing profit. Production costs, raw material costs, and purchasing costs were critically considered in this mathematical modeling. The result showed that the use of the developed model could integrate the factors above, fulfil the demand, and increase company income.

In this article, we present the dataset of mills from 1880 and 1920s–1930s in the area of the former Galicia (78,500 km2), now in Ukraine and Poland. The data was obtained as a result of manual vectorisation from 162 map sheets at scales of 1:115,200 and 1:100,000, according to the map legends. We found 4022 mill locations for 1880 and 3588 for the 1920s–1930s. We present them as vector points in shapefile, GML, GeoJSON, KML formats with attributes for seven types of mills for 1880 and ten types of mills for 1920s–1930s, and mills counted in a 10 km grid.The data can be used in economic, demographic and environmental reconstructions, e.g. to estimate historical anthropopressure related to settlement, agriculture and forestry. Mills are often associated with river structures such as floodgates, dams, and millraces and therefore they are a good example of human interference in river ecosystems. They can also be one criteria for identifying areas where the local population used traditional environmental knowledge. It can be useful for a contemporary assessment of the environment's suitability for devices using renewable energy sources. Finally, the data on the remains of former mills is suitable for the protection of cultural heritage sites that are technical monuments related to traditional food processing and industry.

Sawmill workers in Nigeria are exposed to many workplace hazards and avoidable injury problems. In many countries, Noise, dust, injuries and exposure to chemicals are still features of many sawmills. The occupational safety and health image of most sawmills are not impressive. Noise, dust, injuries, exposure to chemicals and high labour turnover are still features of many woodworking enterprises. Health hazards/risks in the sawmill industry include; environmental hazards which is a result of poor forestry practices and management, poor solid waste management and toxic emissions to air, noise, hazards due to machinery use, and ergonomic hazards resulting from lifting of heavy loads, reaching for objects, repetitive work, and poor work posture. This study was carried out to determine the hazards and injury problems among sawmill workers in Ebonyi State, Nigeria. A survey comprising the use of questionnaire, participatory approaches, site assessments and interviews were used as tools for investigation. Sixty-five (65) sawmills scattered across the state was visited and a total of 168 injury cases were recorded among 98 workers cutting across sawmills investigated. In Ebonyi state sawmill workers encounter various workrelated hazards and injury problems. There is need for appropriate training of sawmill workers on a regular basis on the need to use personal protective equipment to safe guard their health. Serious measures must be put in place to ensure the safety and health of these workers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study focuses on converting underutilized or discarded sawdust from Eucalyptus grandis (EG) and Pinus elliottii (PE), along with roasting chicken oil (RCO) and chicken visceral oil (CVO), into alternative briquettes. Employing heuristic methods and branch-and-bound techniques, 27 experiments were conducted based on a central composite design (CCD), including two central point repetitions. The energy density (ED) of the briquettes was evaluated immediately after production (EDi) and three months later (EDf). The higher heating value (HHV), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) with its first derivative, and cost of each briquette were also characterized. Increasing chicken oil content improved HHV, initial ED, reduced ash content, and enhanced thermal degradation performance. However, exceeding 15% oil content caused wastage during pressing. Excessive CVO use is cost-prohibitive unless produced by the poultry industry. The optimal briquette was obtained in experiment 9 with 21.25% EG, 63.75% PE, 3.75% CVO, and 11.25% RCO by mass. Structural neighbors were identified based on this composition. Sawdust type and particle size had minimal impact on the results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The proof of origin of roundwood is becoming increasingly important. As part of the digitization of the forest-based sector and to combat illegal logging, there is a growing interest in tracking wood logs individually. There are several previous publications on biometric wood log tracking based on log image data. A major problem for wood log tracking is the often poor visibility of discriminative features in log ends, such as the annual ring pattern, which makes it very difficult to track such logs. In this work we propose a method that quantifies the usability of image data for the purpose of roundwood tracking. There are no previous publications on this topic. More specifically, we propose a quality map that assesses the usability of different regions of the log cross section and a global quality metric that assesses the quality of entire images. We will show that the local and global quality metrics reliably assess the quality of log cross section images. Furthermore, we will show that the quality map can be used to improve the results of deep learning based log recognition systems. By combining the image data with the local quality map, the roundwood tracking system gets additional information about the usability of the different regions of the log cross section for roundwood tracking, which leads to improvements in most of the results. • Image quality metrics for the purpose of roundwood tracking are presented. • The local metric assesses the qualities of different regions of a log cross section. • The global quality metric assesses the quality of the whole log cross section image. • Using the local quality metric for CNN-based roundwood tracking improves the results. • A link to the code of the metrics is provided in the manuscript. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There has been an increasing global demand for more sustainable production systems, especially in what concerns goods produced from natural tropical forests. The lumber industry in the Brazilian Amazon region produces a significant volume of lumber, and as a consequence of frequent non-optimal procedures, considerable amounts of waste are generated. In order to optimize the timber production and to minimize the environmental damage associated with low yields of sawmills, two features are indispensable: the lumber yield and the quality of the logs. The aim of this research was to analyze the wood quality and lumber yield of logs of tree species harvested from natural stands in the Amazon rainforest. A total of 120 logs from 21 tree species were harvested from natural stands in the state of Pará, Brazil, and analyzed for wood quality. Out of these, 60 logs were evaluated for lumber yield. The most common defects found in the logs were flattening, surface cracks, and eccentricity of the pith. By means of the principal component analysis, the Mezilaurus itauba, Protium decandrum, and Caryocar villosum species stood out. The average lumber yield was 45%. The Bowdichia nitida and C. villosum species presented the highest yield values (average of 63%). There was a trend of correlation between the lumber yield and the quality of the logs. Based on the methodology used to analyze the quality of the logs, inferences can be made on the yield of the logging and, consequently, the sustainability of the timber industries in the Brazilian Amazon. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract As awareness of climate and environment issues increases and consumption habits change, new opportunities are opening up for the forest industry and wood construction to develop functional green solutions to meet consumers’ needs. Wood is a versatile raw material and the only renewable construction material. The manufacture of wood products and structures consumes little energy in comparison to similar products and structures made of other materials. Unlike other materials, most of the energy needed to manufacture wood products is derived from renewable energy sources. The global timber sector currently faces the dual challenges of meeting the growing demand of quality timber products and minimising possible adverse impacts on the environment and human health. Major sources of environmental impacts occur throughout the wood supply chain from sawmills to final products. The major objective of this paper is to explore ways to reduce the environmental impacts of timber products, from sawmills to final products. The specific objectives include the identification of major sources and mechanisms of environmental impacts from timber products, the assessment of the status of energy consumption and GHG emission in wood products during timber processing and manufacturing as well as identifying the potential ways to minimize these environmental impacts.

Copyright of Revista Chapingo Serie Ciencias Forestales is the property of Universidad Autonoma Chapingo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Background: Wood chipping has been described as a potential hotspot for the selection of azole-resistant Aspergillus fumigatus (ARAf). We previously reported ARAf isolates in sawmills (Eastern France), most of which contained the TR34/L98H mutation. Methods: To study genotypic relatedness, microsatellite genotyping (short tandem repeat for A. fumigatus (STRAf)) was performed on 41 azole-susceptible A. fumigatus (ASAf) and 23 ARAf isolated from 18 sawmills and two clinical A. fumigatus (sensitive and resistant) isolated from a sinus sample of a woodworker. Results: Fifty-four unique multilocus genotypes (MLGs) were described among the 66 isolates: 13/24 ARAf and 41/42 ASAf. Allelic diversity was higher for ASAf than for ARAf. Among the 24 ARAf, five isolates had their own MLGs. Thirteen ARAf (54%) belonged to the same group, composed of four close MLGs, defined using Bruvo’s distance. Thirty-two of the 42 ASAf (76%) had their own MLGs and could not be grouped with the Bruvo’s distance cutoff used (0.2). Conclusion: Thus, at a regional scale and in the particular environment of the wood industry, common but also different distinct genotypes, even in the same sawmill, were identified. This suggests that the hypothesis of ARAf clonal expansion from a common strain is probably insufficient to explain genotype emergence and distribution. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, soil profiles of four active sawmill vicinity were investigated for physiochemical properties and heavy metals concentration. Particle size distribution of soil showed a preponderance of sand fraction, followed by clayed and silt, classifying the soil to be sandy loam. The pH values of study soil were slightly acidic to slightly basic region (5.8±0.02 to 8.1±0.04). This pH region is an indication that the soil will drained. Soil sample from control site (Mn = 5.20± 0.02, Cu = 8.10± 0.04, Cr = 2.51± 0.00) revealed low metal concentration than the soil collected from the sawmill vicinity. These results suggest that heavy metal concentration is from anthropogenic sources (sawdust and other wood waste materials). The risk assessment of the study soil determined in terms of mobility factor, contamination factor and ecological risk factor indicate that the soil is polluted with respect to these heavy metals, Mn, Cu and Cr. It was advocated that the federal and state ministry of environment should routinely monitor sawmill vicinity soil in order to ensure a reduction in the level of contamination by heavy metal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Physico-mechanical characteristics of briquettes produced from composite sawdust admixture using a screw press briquetting machine was investigated. Sample feedstock materials collected has particle sizes varying between 6-8mm with 10-20% powdery components (< 4 mesh). Briquette’s physical characteristics investigated using standard test apparatus and procedures include dimensional stability immediately, 1 hour and 30 days after production, effects of particle moisture and particle size on briquette compressed and relaxed densities. Mechanical characteristics include resistance to gravity and impact, effects of densities on impact resistance index (IRI) and effects of briquette durability in water. Statistical models were used to establish empirical relationships between the feedstock materials (independent variables) and briquette characteristics (independent variables). The physical characteristics of briquettes produced at 12% are loose and brittle with poor dimensional stability, at 10% they are bonded but weak in strength with good dimensional stability while briquettes produced at 8% are wellformed, good colouration with char carbonation, excellent dimensional stability. The compressed density of the briquettes ranges of 490-820 kg/m3. The lower moisture briquettes have high resistance to water dispersion, high impact resistance and excellent storability. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Gozdarski Vestnik is the property of Federation of Forestry Associations of Slovenia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Volumetric yield analysis is critical to optimizing performance in the timber industry. In the Amazon and in the Amapá state, this information is still little known and scarce, and therefore this study was developed to obtain and analyze the volumetric yield coefficient of ten commercial tree species and to test the variation by diameter class. We collect data of volumetric yield from for ten commercial species. For each species, the yields in different diameter classes were analyzed, as well as the yield difference between the species. The overall yield obtained for the sawmills (43.95%) and the yield of each species are within the established standards for operations in the industry according to the legal requirements. There were no differences (p ≥ 0.05) in diameter classes for species with the exception of Dinizia excelsa and Handroanthus albus. However, there was no linear increase (p ≥ 0.05) between the diameter and yield of lumber for all species. The species Dinizia excelsa, Hymenolobium petraeum, Ocotea rubra and Vochysia guianensis show a significant difference in yield for the other species due to the higher obtained values, however, they are statistically similar when compared to each other. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Motivated by the challenges encountered in sawmill production planning, we study a multi-product, multi-period production planning problem with uncertainty in the quality of raw materials and consequently in processes yields, as well as uncertainty in products demands. As the demand and yield own different uncertain natures, they are modelled separately and then integrated. Demand uncertainty is considered as a dynamic stochastic data process during the planning horizon, which is modelled as a scenario tree. Each stage in the demand scenario tree corresponds to a cluster of time periods, for which the demand has a stationary behaviour. The uncertain yield is modelled as scenarios with stationary probability distributions during the planning horizon. Yield scenarios are then integrated in each node of the demand scenario tree, constituting a hybrid scenario tree. Based on the hybrid scenario tree for the uncertain yield and demand, a multi-stage stochastic programming (MSP) model is proposed which is full recourse for demand scenarios and simple recourse for yield scenarios. We conduct a case study with respect to a realistic scale sawmill. Numerical results indicate that the solution to the multi-stage stochastic model is far superior to the optimal solution to the mean-value deterministic and the two-stage stochastic models. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The influence of log diameter and log quality were studied relative to the potential heat energy produced from wood residue. Research was conducted on beech sawmill logs (30 cm to 49 cm in diameter and 4 m in length) of different qualities. Logs with greater diameters and of better quality increased the amount of products and decreased the amount of residue. A decrease in the diameter and quality of beech logs increased the total energy capacity, ranging between 840 kWh/m³ (highest quality logs, 40 cm to 49 cm in diameter) and 1,350 kWh/m³ (lower quality logs, 30 cm to 34 cm in diameter). Drying the lumber produced from logs of small diameters used less than 10% of the potential heating energy. However, logs of 40 cm to 49 cm in diameter increased this usage to 33%. When burner losses and drying energy losses were calculated, there was approximately 430 kWh/m³ to 960 kWh/m³ of leftover energy. This could be used for various purposes or it could be sold. The amount of obtained energy was influenced more by log diameter than by the log quality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Biológico Agropecuaria Tuxpan is the property of Revista Biologico Agropecuaria Tuxpan and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)