An Excalibur R has been installed and operating at a leading UK sawmill as an integral in-line process to increase the penetration of wood preservative, Lonza said.
The company, which markets the machine with its wood treatment products, said the R version incorporates several new design features.
“The new machine also does cundy peels, which is quite a challenge so there is a need for a different machine. We have one customer looking at having both versions,” said Lonza marketing services manager David Law.
The R unit is targeting the agricultural fencepost market.
Excalibur R handles timbers from 65-200mm diameter with a series of three incising heads that can be adjusted to cut to a depth of up to 12mm. It can also be incised along the full length or a targeted section.
It can be installed as an in-line machine or standalone, and with a continuous feed can process 40m of roundwood per minute.
“Just like the S version for sawn timbers, R is a robust design built for typical sawmill environments,” Mr Law said.
The take-up of incising to combat the spate in recent years of fence post failures, was continuing, Mr Law said, but so too was the debate between those who believed the choice of species or meeting correct treatment procedures were also relevant.
“Incising is a choice that some companies do not feel is right for them, but I think with the idea of a 30-year specification under BS 8417, I think to penetrate to the heartwood I am fairly certain you will have to incise,” Mr Law said.
