June 13, 2019 - Smith Sawmill Services has brought an innovative technology to Shelby County which will help them to provide the same service they have over the past 30 years, plus increase productivity.
The new facility is 6,000 square feet, climate controlled, and was up and ready for operation by mid-April. The newest addition to the Smith Sawmill production line is the Vollmer ND 360 Robot, the largest production center made. The robot is made up of several machines which function 24 hours a day and can, according to Debra Smith, produce 150 - 200 saws on its own. The robot has helped to increase output of saws per day greatly.
"Everybody asks me are we getting rid of employees; no, we're not getting rid of employees," said Debra Smith.
If anything, with the increased production the need for employees is ever more real.
A mechanical arm is employed by the robot which utilizes magnetic, pneumatic and hydrolic technology to lift saw blades and transfer them to each compartment of the robot to perform different tasks. Once the work on the saw blade is completed it's placed on a stack of finished blades.
As the robot works overnight, if there are any problems, it can actually call for help and an on-call technician can address the issue right away to prevent extended delays in production.
All circular saw production is now within the new structure as well, with all of the machinary previous to the ND 360 having been refurbished and put to use under the same roof. The tipping station and a lot of the more technical jobs such as checking welds and tooth design, and the hammer room are in one location in the new building.
"It was needed and it's been great. This is our first building other than offices that are climate controlled," said Smith.
A new facility in Shreveport, Louisiana was also purchased in September 2018 and following that electrical wiring and climate control units were installed in the new Shelby County facility by November. After that the ND 360 arrived in March and a specialist from Germany flew in to install the machinary.
In Shreveport, that facility handles knife grinding and large diameter saws, which used to be at the location in Shelby County.
Smith Sawmill Services recently held an open house welcoming American State Bank members who helped make the projects possible.
