Industry Code: 27103
This industry generally incorporates lumber processing other than sawmills and pulpmills. Included are panelboard mills which are plywood, chipboard, oriented strandboard (OSB) and medium-density fibreboard (MDF) mills.
Operation Details:
Chipboard, strandboard and fibreboard:
Spruce and aspen logs are cut to 2' and 3' lengths, then moved by conveyor to a machine that slices them into small chips or wafers. The chips are conveyed to a rotating dryer where moisture is removed, then to a chamber where a mixture of glues and waxes is sprayed onto the chips.
The chips are dropped into trays 16' long by 4' wide which move to a heated press. Once in place, the trays (and chips) are pressed and heated to bond the chips into a board. 8' x 4' sheets are then cut and passed to a dryer where they are rotated until cool, then stacked and prepared for shipment.
With fibreboard, it is fibres being pressed into board rather than chips or wafers. Otherwise the processes are similar.
Plywood:
Trees (mostly white spruce) are debarked, cut into peelers (8 ft. 6 inches long), sorted, and conditioned or steamed for 10 to 35 hours. The logs are then placed on a lathe and strips of veneer are peeled off from 1/10 to 1/8 inch thick. A clipper cuts out any defects, the veneer is trimmed and sent to the plywood mill. At the mill the sheets are sorted into grades, then lined up in presses. The interior cross banding (narrow strips) are glued on both sides and placed by hand between the layers. The sheets are glued and built up to the required thickness. The ends are trimmed and the units are placed in a loading basket and put in a hot press automatically. The plywood is heated under pressure for 3 to 7 minutes, then ejected automatically. The plywood is trimmed to 4 ft. x 8 ft. sheets and sent to another line where it is graded visually. The plywood is then separated and stockpiled for sale.
Workers may include process operators; machine and equipment operators; quality control inspectors; and maintenance, shipping and receiving, delivery and administrative staff.
Underwriting Considerations:
In Alberta, it has become common for mill operators to hold the logging rights (generally under Forest Management Agreements - FMA’s) and contract out the harvesting. The mill operators coordinate the harvesting through "woodlands administration" divisions. Woodlands administration refers to forest technicians, foresters and other support staff. Woodlands administration is considered to be a normal function of a mill and when conducted by the mill operator’s own workers, does not require a separate classification. Woodlands administration, when conducted by independent third parties under contract to the mill, will be classified according to the service provided, generally industry 03902, Timber Management.
A mill operator, with its own workers engaged in operating equipment related to the logging or transportation of logs to the mill (stump to dump), will require an additional classification in industry 03100. Such situations should be referred to the Classification Unit for confirmation of classification and reporting of general and woodlands administration earnings.
This industry encompasses all related activities including the wholesaling and warehousing of board products.
Businesses in this industry will conduct the mechanical staining or treating of products manufactured. Staining is a simple process of passing a board through a mechanical stainer (often called an Olympic Stainer). The stainer will apply stain (or paint) to both sides and the edges of the board and then stack to dry. This entire process can be handled by one person. Often such operations stain on a custom basis for building supply centers or other forest product manufacturers and do not require an additional classification.
Stand alone, independent businesses performing this type of mechanical treating and staining are classified in industry 25901, Treating of Timber.
Strawboard mills are also included in this industry. Although strawboard is not manufactured out of wood, the process to manufacture strawboard is similar to that of the manufacture of fibreboard and strandboard, except straw is used rather than wood.
Premium Rate History:
Activities:
Chipboard/Strandboard/Fibreboard - Mfg
Fibreboard/Chipboard/Strandboard - Mfg
Lumber, Mechanical Staining of
Panelboard - Mfg
Particle Board - Mfg
Plywood - Mechanical Staining of
Plywood - Mfg
Plywood Mills
Strandboard/Fibreboard/Chipboard - Mfg
Strawboard Plants
Rate Group History:
This industry makes up the entire rate group. There has been no change within this rate group since 1986, the date of inception.
This industry generally incorporates lumber processing other than sawmills and pulpmills. Included are panelboard mills which are plywood, chipboard, oriented strandboard (OSB) and medium-density fibreboard (MDF) mills.
Premium Rate History:
Activities:
Chipboard/Strandboard/Fibreboard - Mfg
Fibreboard/Chipboard/Strandboard - Mfg
Lumber, Mechanical Staining of
Panelboard - Mfg
Particle Board - Mfg
Plywood - Mechanical Staining of
Plywood - Mfg
Plywood Mills
Strandboard/Fibreboard/Chipboard - Mfg
Strawboard Plants
Operation Details:
Chipboard, strandboard and fibreboard:
Spruce and aspen logs are cut to 2' and 3' lengths, then moved by conveyor to a machine that slices them into small chips or wafers. The chips are conveyed to a rotating dryer where moisture is removed, then to a chamber where a mixture of glues and waxes is sprayed onto the chips.
The chips are dropped into trays 16' long by 4' wide which move to a heated press. Once in place, the trays (and chips) are pressed and heated to bond the chips into a board. 8' x 4' sheets are then cut and passed to a dryer where they are rotated until cool, then stacked and prepared for shipment.
With fibreboard, it is fibres being pressed into board rather than chips or wafers. Otherwise the processes are similar.
Plywood:
Trees (mostly white spruce) are debarked, cut into peelers (8 ft. 6 inches long), sorted, and conditioned or steamed for 10 to 35 hours. The logs are then placed on a lathe and strips of veneer are peeled off from 1/10 to 1/8 inch thick. A clipper cuts out any defects, the veneer is trimmed and sent to the plywood mill. At the mill the sheets are sorted into grades, then lined up in presses. The interior cross banding (narrow strips) are glued on both sides and placed by hand between the layers. The sheets are glued and built up to the required thickness. The ends are trimmed and the units are placed in a loading basket and put in a hot press automatically. The plywood is heated under pressure for 3 to 7 minutes, then ejected automatically. The plywood is trimmed to 4 ft. x 8 ft. sheets and sent to another line where it is graded visually. The plywood is then separated and stockpiled for sale.
Workers may include process operators; machine and equipment operators; quality control inspectors; and maintenance, shipping and receiving, delivery and administrative staff.
Underwriting Considerations:
In Alberta, it has become common for mill operators to hold the logging rights (generally under Forest Management Agreements - FMA’s) and contract out the harvesting. The mill operators coordinate the harvesting through "woodlands administration" divisions. Woodlands administration refers to forest technicians, foresters and other support staff. Woodlands administration is considered to be a normal function of a mill and when conducted by the mill operator’s own workers, does not require a separate classification. Woodlands administration, when conducted by independent third parties under contract to the mill, will be classified according to the service provided, generally industry 03902, Timber Management.
A mill operator, with its own workers engaged in operating equipment related to the logging or transportation of logs to the mill (stump to dump), will require an additional classification in industry 03100. Such situations should be referred to the Classification Unit for confirmation of classification and reporting of general and woodlands administration earnings.
This industry encompasses all related activities including the wholesaling and warehousing of board products.
Businesses in this industry will conduct the mechanical staining or treating of products manufactured. Staining is a simple process of passing a board through a mechanical stainer (often called an Olympic Stainer). The stainer will apply stain (or paint) to both sides and the edges of the board and then stack to dry. This entire process can be handled by one person. Often such operations stain on a custom basis for building supply centers or other forest product manufacturers and do not require an additional classification.
Stand alone, independent businesses performing this type of mechanical treating and staining are classified in industry 25901, Treating of Timber.
Strawboard mills are also included in this industry. Although strawboard is not manufactured out of wood, the process to manufacture strawboard is similar to that of the manufacture of fibreboard and strandboard, except straw is used rather than wood.
Rate Group History:
This industry makes up the entire rate group. There has been no change within this rate group since 1986, the date of inception.