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Trusted technology with a twist

For the first time in many years, an industrial scale sawmill will be built from the ground up in the UK. USNR is the main supplier and its undertaking comprises the saw line and two edger lines – including optimization and controls. All machinery equipment will be delivered from USNR’s Söderhamn facility in Sweden. USNR will also supply controls for the log handling and residue handling equipment.

The new mill is designed for an annual capacity of more than 250,000 m3 of sawn goods. The Taylormade sawmill at Sherburn Hill, a few miles to the east of Durham, came under the ownership of James Jones & Sons when the company acquired GT Timber Ltd in 2021. The mill, built at the site of an old coal mine, was worn but the geographical location was ideal, so it was decided to build a new mill adjacent to the existing one.

USNR got involved at an early stage of the design work. Marcus Säteri, Senior Project Engineer at USNR, recalls the initial process, “We acted as a speaking partner for the customer long before the deal was settled. There was a lot of things that we had to take into account. The site is located on quite a steep slope and there’s a neighboring village overlooking the mill, so we didn’t want to obscure their view with high buildings. Eventually we honed out a solution where the slope worked to our benefit.”

Experience and optimization

The saw line is designed for maximum yield, using the latest optimization technology and curve sawing capabilities. James Jones & Sons has extensive experience with USNR’s bandsaw technology and continues to follow this path for the new project. Tobbe Sandberg, Technical manager at James Jones & Sons, “James Jones & Sons acquired the Durham mill in 2021 and shortly after the acquisition the decision was made to invest in a new sawmill to increase yield, efficiency and extend the product range. We decided to invest in bandsaw technology and with James Jones & Sons’ previous experience with Soderhamn Eriksson/ USNR it was an easy decision to continue the partnership with USNR. From design through to specifications, we have received excellent support from the USNR team in Sweden. Ground and building work is progressing

well, and we start machine installation in August this year [2025] with the mill due to be commissioned in 2026.

Proven solutions

The mill-to-be is designed with James Jones & Sons’ Lockerbie III production line in mind, but with all the new technology that USNR has developed since 2009 when the Lockerbie site was commissioned by Söderhamn Eriksson (now part of USNR). Precision Geometric Log Rotation (PGLR) is one example of the new technology implemented. It continuously monitors and corrects the rotation angle in the Log Turner 750E. To meet the customer’s demands of a modern mill, the Taylormade saw line will deliver more throughput and higher recovery with higher precision compared to its model.

Thirteen bands

Three Sawmaster 1600 quads and an HBS 1500 horizontal bandsaw constitute the core of the saw line, adding up to a total of 13 bandsaw units. The Sawmaster bandsaws are known for their durability, low energy consumption and low maintenance costs. This proven design serves in hundreds of sawmills all over the world. The horizontal bandsaw adds flexibility to the line and allows for an output of ten pieces from the last quad.

The Sawmaster bandsaws all feature the high-precision feed work technology originally designed for the Logmaster high-speed bandsaw. The HBS has also evolved in later years, with a more stable and precise positioning and a high-precision feed work. A great deal of focus is put on the working environment in this line. The three quad bandsaws and both chipper canters are fitted with extra thick protective covers to reduce noise and dust.

Saw monitoring

The bandsaws are equipped with BMS, Bandsaw Monitoring System, for real-time monitoring of the status and the longitudinal position of the bands. BMS detects cracks in the bands before they grow and cause band rupture. The saws also come with SawSight, USNR’s system for continuous in-line measuring and correction of the sawn goods.

The edge

Two Catech XT high-speed edger optimizers handle the side boards. These state-of-the-art edgers are fitted with the latest USNR optimization technology combined with the highest capacity the market has to offer. Both edgers are equipped with additional edger saw boxes to maximize recovery and flexibility.

USNR is honored to be part of this exciting opportunity.

Photo

Left to right: Tobbe Sandberg, Technical Manager,  James Jones & Sons Ltd.;

Eddie Balfour, Joint Managing Director, James Jones & Sons Ltd.;

Christian Winlöf, Sales and Marketing Director, USNR;

Sten Jarle Solheim, Account Manager, USNR

June July issue Pages  36 / 37

https://www.yumpu.com/en/document/read/70622971/ifi-june-july-2025-digital-final

To read previous USNR related posts click here.

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