The notion of doing one thing and doing it well may seem almost anachronistic in a marketplace defined by diversification. But that's just what Timber, Inc. does. The Berlin, Pennsylvania-based sawmill focuses solely on producing the kind of lumber customers are proud to use. "We strive for quality from one end to the other," says President Scott Kuhns.

For Timber, Inc., quality begins in the field, where Kuhns and his crew go out to timber tracts to ensure that contract loggers are harvesting wisely. "You've got to leave something for other generations. We don't waste resources." Neither does the West Plains 400CS Band Resaw, which Timber, Inc. upgraded to in mid-January. "Ordering the West Plains Resaw has been the key to quality, production and yield. It's been our best investment."

Kuhns wanted to improve both the grade and volume of lumber coming out of the operation he purchased in 1999. Having spent the previous 14 years in the industry, he knew what would be up to the task. The West Plains 400CS had the right specs at the right price. "It cuts good quality lumber. It provides big savings on sawdust with its .083 kerf. It's going to be a good machine." What's more, the manufacturer has been there every step of the way. "West Plains has been excellent with any questions. They made it happen." He also notes the great communication provided by the folks at G & M Band Services, who do the sharpening for the 400CS.

Timber, Inc.'s 400CS is one of 15 West Plains installations in the state of Pennsylvania. Like all West Plains systems, it came pre-tested and pre-wired. It features a 14" wide topveyor chain, computerized setworks with up to 15 pre-sets, a heavy duty tubular steel frame, 42" diameter custom drive wheels, double tire hold downs and a 6" diameter outlet for dust removal. The 400CS, which is driven by a 40 horsepower TEFC drive motor, also boasts .042" by 4" or 2" resharpenable bands, saw arbors with 3 7/16" precision shafts, air strain band tension, automatic band oiler system and interchangeable pressure saw guides.

Logs are fed from a Precision debarker into an HMC headrig. Higher grade lumber is sent to the 400CS, which was designed to accommodate cants up to 14" by 14" in size. Lower grade material is simply sheared with a Cornell edger. Once the logs have been processed by the primary and/or secondary systems, they're on to the greenchain, then graded and sorted. The very best lumber will eventually find its way into furniture; the lower grade, flooring and cabinets. Finally, the lowest is set aside for pallet stock.

In the six months Timber, Inc. has had its new 400CS, the company is already on its way to meeting its goal of 3 million board feet per year. "We're right on track with the West Plains installed." Before its arrival, the company was producing only 1.5 million board feet running the same single shift. Yet, even at 3 million board feet, Timber, Inc. could produce more still. "There's more of a demand than we can supply," Kuhns says.

Despite a booming market, buying timber and logs remains a very competitive business. To maintain its edge, Timber, Inc. just started utilizing new Forestry Systems handhelds. After scaling timber in the woods, raw data is transferred from the handheld into a specialized application running under Windows 98, allowing Timber, Inc. to closely track footage. At any given time, the organization can know how much timber has been harvested from a specific tract and how much is left. After the timber has been processed, the grader utilizes the handheld to tally how much grade lumber was generated from the raw material coming into the mill, explains Controller Bob Czekaj.

Kuhns: "We're all trying to keep our yield up." He says that virtually every sawmill faces this very same challenge. To Forester Toby Brown, sawmills like Timber, Inc. have another uphill battle: overcoming some of the stigmatism associated with timber cutting and processing. In the past, some didn't take care of the resources as well as they could. That's no longer true. Today, every effort is made to minimize damage to young timber during harvests. Considerable time is also spent working with property owners to ensure that new timber grows in harvested areas. "In 15 to 25 years, these trees will be ready to go again. People just don't understand. Or they don't care. We want to change the public's perception," Brown says. "It's messed up. As big as the industry is, we don't feel we're backed up."

However, the Sustainable Forestry Initiative is trying to change that. As an SFI-certified mill, Timber, Inc. is demonstrating its commitment to being good stewards of America's natural resources. Brown calls it simply "doing the right thing." Then again, that's just the way Timber, Inc. works. Kuhns stresses taking care of others. "Do unto others as they would do unto you. We also believe in doing business in a business-like manner."

For Kuhns, that includes listening to the ideas and suggestions offered by the Timber, Inc. team, which now numbers 20. "I would like to thank all the employees for their input. They're hard workers. We really have an excellent crew. He also credits Foster & Wineland Equipment, located in Martinsburg, Pennsylvania, for not only providing them with a first-rate John Deere TC44 H front-end loader, but for being there when the company needs to rent other forestry equipment.

With operations going so smoothly for Timber, Inc., few changes are planned in the immediate. Kuhns says if anything, the greenchain will need to be upgraded in the next several months. Adding an unscrambler and double end trimmer is a must. After all, Kuhns and company have to get the lumber out of the way of their new workhorse.