Lumber kilns refer to the drying process of wood that happens within a chamber. The wood is pulled across the kiln on a push or pull trolley system, and hot air, humidity, and high temperatures are used to lower the moisture content of a wooden log, pole, or the like. The drying process can be controlled to the point where lumber can hit its optimate dryness level, without seeing the negative effects of drying. In this article, we’ll go over the top six ways that lumber kilns can optimize your businesses; from seeing higher profits to better quality, to improved efficiency. All of which lead to a more successful business and an increase in your bottom line.
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1. Lumber Kilns Allow Businesses To Sell Lumber Products At A Higher Cost
Wood products for lumbar manufacturing must be dried at some point if a business wants to sell dried wood versus greenwood. Greenwood refers to lumber that has yet to be dried, and it generally is at a lower cost to the consumer as they have to find and pay the cost of drying on their own. Businesses who find cost-effective ways of drying lumber, such as a lumber kiln and, more specifically, a high temp pole kiln can see increased revenue with little added work to the employee.
2. They Lower Stress On Machinery
As previously stated, greenwood has a higher moisture content, which means that it’s significantly heavier than dried wood. If your business is seeing a high turnover rate of machinery and has yet to invest in a lumber kiln, consider a High Temp Pole Kiln. These offer a cost-effective method to dry wood products and reduce the stress put on machinery. Although they do require some capital investment and training for employees, the long-term optimization of your business can be increased.
3. Lumber Kilns Increases Productivity
When trying to increase your lumber production, and move more wood products in a shorter amount of time, you want to be working with dried wood. Although the cost of a lumber kiln isn’t cheap, considering the increase in productivity it is a sound financial investment as it optimizes your output and movement time significantly.
4. Improves Overall Quality of Material
When you’re trying to increase business and optimize your company, you have to consider the quality of your materials. Without high manufacturing quality, it won’t matter how fast you can move or sell your wood products. Drying lumber increases the strength of the wood, decreases shrinkage, and increases its lifespan. This allows fewer wood products to be wasted and inspires more loyalty among consumers. Since the process requires high temperatures on the wood, it also helps to protect against any insects that make be living inside the log, which makes this drying method the prime choice for most wood product consumers. Learn more about this here.
5. Dried Wood Opens Opportunities
Working with dried wood as compared to greenwood allows for a multitude of treatments, and adhesives to be applied without harm to the strength or quality of the wood. This allows businesses to expand their product range, and offer new uses of lumber and wood products to their customers. For example, lumber kilns make optimal wood for furniture materials, which is great for optimization since the industry pays significantly higher rates than other wood product consumers. Beyond that, when consumers can find a multitude of products, they begin to form a more long-lasting relationship with their supplier which optimizes your business’s chance for success.
6. Lumber Kilns Perform Better Than Other Forms Of Drying
The process of drying lumber is clearly beneficial to your business, but the cost comparison of lumber kilns versus vacuum kilns shows that lumber kilns cost significantly less. Where a vacuum kiln can cost a business one to two dollars per board foot, a lumber kiln has a cost of only 35-60 cents per foot. The cost of storage, insurance, and overhead remain similar for each drying process, but a lumber kiln such as a high temp pole kiln offers lower costs, therefore increasing a business’s profits.
How a company chooses to dry its wood products within its manufacturing is a definitive indicator of how its business is run. When they opt for a lumber kiln, they see their workflow, product diversity, consumer engagement, and profits optimized. If your business is considering purchasing a lumber kiln, make note of the high temp pole kiln. This specific kiln is able to move mass orders on a large scale quickly, and effectively, while also being one of the cheaper dying methods of wood products.