Kiln Drying
BSW have kilning facilities at our four UK construction timber sawmills - Fort William, Boat of Garten, Carlisle, Newbridge and in Latvia.
What is kiln drying timber?
An automated process for the removal of moisture from sawn timber through the use of heat and airflow in a controlled environment.
Why do BSW kiln dry timber?
To achieve the specification moisture content required in structural dry graded timber and to offer dry pallet timber for the food and paper industry.
What are the benefits for you, the customer?
- dimensional stability and less risk of distortion
- fungi and moulds cannot survive on dry timber
- improved penetration of preservatives
- a smoother finish after machining
- improved performance of finishes such as paints and stains
- improved insulation
- improved strength
- lighter weight
How do BSW kiln dry timber?
The timber is pushed into either batch or progressive kilns on railed bogies. The difference between the two types of kilns involves the static positioning of the stacks within the batch chambers, with the temperature and humidity changing through the drying cycle. The progressive chamber involves the kiln packs moving forward approximately every 5 hours through changing humidity and temperature. The sequence of changes is called a kiln schedule and the operators use different schedules for different sizes and species of wood.
Of course, the simple answer is timber. But timber really is too small a word for everything we do. Hundreds of products, none of them run of the mill. We live it. And, if we could, we'd breathe it too.