Mill TourSeneca produces premium grade Douglas-fir and Hem-fir dimension lumber and studs. Our Douglas-fir is produced green and dry, and our Hem-fir is dried. Always an industry leader, Seneca utilizes more than 25 US and Canadian patents which have been granted to Owner/President Aaron Jones. Our mills have an annual production capacity of over 360 million board feet. The Dimension Lumber Mill, like the newer Seneca Stud Mill, is computerized and capable of optimizing all cutting for maximum efficiency. Our Dimension Mill product mix ranges from 2x4 to 2x14 up to 28 feet in length. This mill can process logs with diameters ranging from six to 40 inches in size.
As logs proceed to the barker, each is barked and precisely bucked for the sawmill, where lumber is produced to fit the demands of the market. Computerized precision…hallmark of Seneca Sawmill
The concrete foundation and steel framework of the headrig incorporates a specially designed system which eliminates any fluctuation in sawing precision due to expansion or contraction of the foundation and framework. This controlled atmosphere maintains the extreme accuracy level demanded by our manufacturing philosophy — another quality control innovation from Seneca. Optimum production achieved through advanced technology Each progressive step maximizes our production of superior lumber. After the initial sawing of each log, cants are rapidly moved in two directions to expedite production. Cants produced at the headrig are then broken down into nominal two-inch thicknesses of dimension lumber by twin resaws. Separation equipment, patented by Seneca for our special needs, maintains a smooth and constant flow of lumber. Accuracy means quality Consistent control of our sawing environment and equipment are two main elements in our successful production. We use thinner saws than our competition, and sharpen them in a vibration-free room to achieve precision accuracy. High-strain, thin-kerf sawing offers the highest accuracy, resulting in more lumber and less sawdust, which in turn promotes conservation of wood fiber for high-value production.
Our mill technicians and support personnel demand all the perfection our state-of-the-art equipment can deliver. We believe there are no better trained employees in the industry. This enables Seneca to maintain high standards of quality control. Flying Saw / Edger ensures consistent yield Our Flying Saw/Edger optimizer is another one of the patented processes developed by Seneca. Pinstops space each piece of lumber systematically as it approaches the flying saw, where excess wane on the leading edge is removed in a perfectly straight line.
More than a grade above the others Lumber to be trimmed or resawed is dropped to a separate conveyor which merry-go-rounds it to further refinements.
The outfeed end of the sorter stacks lumber to be picked up by a carrier for transport to the Planer. To ensure that our customers receive the freshest product possible, all rough lumber is sent to the Planer within 24 hours of manufacture. There it is surfaced, and an anti-stain treatment is added. The process is completed by the proper grade being stamped on each piece of lumber by certified West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau graders. Our high standards require that our professional graders receive monthly reviews by the Bureau to maintain the high quality of Seneca lumber.
We have two dry kilns on site. This allows us to produce Dry Doug-fir and Dry Hemfir studs.
Stud Mill A complement to our dimension lumber, the Seneca Stud Mill offers customers an additional premium product with the assurance of Seneca quality. Incorporating the latest industry advances with our own patented innovations, we are able to produce a product that efficiently utilizes the log type most readily available in the marketplace today. The Stud Mill processes logs with diameters ranging from four to 15 inches. Its annual capacity is in excess of 130 million board feet.
Seneca's Owner and President, Aaron Jones, developed and patented the flying Edger, a unique method of sawing that holds the raw material in the proper position, allowing the Flying Edger to cut the full length and ensure the manufacture of straight, sturdy studs.
This reduces the time and money spent on framing during construction, because the studs remain straight and the time spent truing walls is kept to a minimum. The Flying Edger also minimizes wane, which assures the widest nailing edge possible.
Each Seneca stud is stamped with its exact grade. It is our promise to provide the best appearance, strength and straightness available in a stud.
Efficiently produced, precisely packaged and ready to ship From headrig to Planer, Seneca's unique system of manufacturing consistently produces quality studs. Entirely computer-controlled, the mill yields 130 million board feet per year. Studs are cut from whole logs using an excellent raw material source of Douglas-fir and Hemlock.
In Douglas-fir, we produce both green and surface-dry studs. Our Douglas-fir 2x4s — in select structural, construction and standard grades — and 2x6s in select structural, #1 and #2, are available in maximum lengths from 7 feet to 8 feet, up to 96 inches. Packaged units of Douglas-fir typically contain more than 50 percent are #1 and better; no prior selection is made, and nothing is pulled. Our premium surface-dry Hemlock studs are graded as stud grade.
Quality and conservation Packages can be loaded directly for shipment. Lumber can be paper-wrapped on request. Our high inventory turn assures bright, fresh stock — another trusted high standard of Seneca quality.
Efficiency is a prime concern at Seneca. More than 90 percent of our orders are shipped within 48 hours. This prompt shipment method makes our inventory your inventory. Seneca has the ability to load by truck or rail, and sells delivered. We load on the BNSF open to the UP railroad. This eliminates the risk of varying freight rates in a constantly changing transportation industry.
Deregulation has helped to create a demand for our product in areas which not long ago were the stronghold of other lumber-producing regions. Our entire mill site, including the log yard, is on 70 acres of blacktop, which is regularly swept clean by a conventional street sweeper, allowing us to provide our customers with clean lumber. We are in the business of producing lumber, and we enjoy the reputation of being the best. Our by-products enjoy that same reputation. Bark is processed through our hammer hog and sold as fuel to generate steam and electricity, or to be manufactured into briquettes or for landscape use. Sawdust is used to produce a high-quality fuel source — the pellets used in woodstoves. Shavings make their way into pressed wood products. Nothing is wasted. Distribution worldwide Close coordination of production and sales ensures that orders are handled quickly and efficiently. Our inventory control system provides you with lumber that is manufactured, sold and shipped without unnecessary delays. Whether we're shipping to Oklahoma or Osaka, our goal is that Seneca products reach their destination on time and in top quality condition. People…Seneca's greatest asset The company which has the best people will always have a competitive edge, and we at Seneca believe that the experience, ability and dedication of our people are second to none.
Seneca management has long understood that technology and raw materials, combined with highly skilled employees, are what sets Seneca apart. Our employees are all members of the Seneca family; many have been with us for decades. Respect for one another and pride in a job well done are quality checks that allow us to provide the best final product for you and your customers.
|
