In “one size fits all” high viz. jackets and with protective ear plugs a group of members visited the BSW Timber sawmill near Dalbeattie where they were able to follow the progress of logs through the mill. The spruce and larch logs come from the Galloway and Argyll forests with some 100 Lorries delivering to the mill each day.
The mill, which currently runs for 22 hours a day, produces timber for the construction industry, for fencing and for other uses such as pallets. By- products such as sawdust is sold for animal bedding, cuttings for chipboard manufacture and bark for horticulture.
The group were able to follow the logs from when they arrive until the stage of final product. The logs are first sorted by size then scanned by laser to work out the optimum amount of usable timber. The logs are spun round into position then sawn, planed and graded as they speed along the production line. At the end the cut timber is visually inspected before being dried in one of the massive kilns which are heated by biomass boilers using by-product from the mill. If the timber is for external use it is also chemically treated.