OR: Wood pellet potential encourages Roseburg Forest Products

Almost three months of operating a newly acquired wood pellet-making machine has given Roseburg Forest Products officials encouragement to continue in the endeavor.

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The News-Review

Almost three months of operating a newly acquired wood pellet-making machine has given Roseburg Forest Products officials encouragement to continue in the endeavor.

The used machine was purchased from a Western Oregon Wood Products facility in Banks late last year and was installed at the RFP plant in Dillard.

It began operation in mid-November and continued making pellets from Douglas fir wood through December, January and into February during the peak home-heating season. It was then shut down to make some adjustments.

So far it looks really promising, said Dennis Tally, manager of the RFP particleboard facility at Dillard where the pellet machine is located. We shut down to make some adjustments in our operation, but it looks like a very viable business segment for us to get into.

Initially, RFP considered the machine to be a pilot project. Since the same Douglas fir wood is used to make both pellets and commodity particleboard, it would give the company flexibility in using the wood, especially during the winter heating season.

Tally indicated the evaluation process is over and, after adjustments, the mill will kick back into gear on a full-time basis around June 1.

Its a fit for our facility, said Tally. We already have the front-end equipment, the drying and screening.

The screening does the job of preventing any wood pieces more than a quarter inch in size from entering the pellet mill, which is geared to press small pieces of wood fiber into pellets.

Three employees are needed to operate the mill. Tally said when the machine is up and running, three shifts of employees will keep it running 24 hours a day for five days a week.

Production will average 60 tons for a 24-hour period.

Through an agreement between RFP and Western Oregon Wood Products, the pellets will be marketed and sold by the latter company whose headquarters are in Columbia City, Ore. That company produces a variety of wood products, including commercial-grade sawdust, animal bedding, all-wood fire logs, and fuel and barbecue pellets.

Roseburgs initial production capacity will be 22,000 tons of pellets per year, with potential to expand in the future. The companies are targeting the Oregon and California home-heating markets.

Were looking at it as being a successful venture for us, Tally said.

Additional Information

Web Site: http://www.nrtoday.com

Category: Forestry>Wood Pellets

Region: Oregon

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