PROBLEM
Two gas/oil fired boilers for operating lumber dry kilns. Competition produces same type of products utilizing their own wood residues for energy. Facility is a concentration yard with lumber dry kilns, thus the company lacks lumber manufacturing operations for producing by-products (i.e. sawdust, shavings, chips) which could be used to fuel wood fired boiler.

Projections for rapidly rising fossil fuel costs, at this facility, are anticipated to exceed market potential for kiln dry hardwood lumber. Margin for profit is diminishing.

SOLUTION
Purchase a new wood fired boiler system designed to accommodate hardwood lumber drying requirements and provide plant heat for employee comfort. System must be designed to receive wood residue fuel from outside sources of supply.

ACTION Company ordered a new AFS Energy Systems wood fired boiler specified and sold by The A.L. Andersen Companies, Inc. Turn-key system included: computerized controls and receiving / storage bunker for accepting wood-residue fuel from outside suppliers.

RESULTS

1. This business is successful! The price of natural gas accelerated so rapidly during the construction phase of this project, the payback projection was “halved.” reducing the ROI from a projected five (5) years to two and one-half (2-1/2) years.
2. Complete package automatically takes control of the fuel at the receiving bunker and produces high pressure steam to the kilns for lumber drying, as well as, steam for plant heat in the winter months. Automatic operation requires very little daily attendance. The dry kiln operator monitors the operation of the wood fired boiler, along with other duties regarding operations. Operator attendance is occasional with minimal attention to ash disposal required.
3. High efficiency design consumes minimum quantities of wood fuel. Important in relation to operating costs as this facility purchases wood residue fuel from outside sources of supply.

THE A. L. ANDERSEN COMPANIES, INC.
P.O. Box 26, Waunaukee, WI 53597
608-849-7400     Fax 608-849-8142
ala@alandersencompanies.com