2022 NEKDA Spring Meeting
As we recover and move on from Covid restrictions, your NEKDA (New England Kiln Drying Association) Board of Director's has decided it is again time to bring back our NEKDA meetings. For Spring 2022 we will meet May 11 in Concord, New Hampshire, a central location with good highway access.
The details of the meeting program is below or you can download the Meeting Program (PDF).
Registration
Please mail your Registration Form and check directly to Bill Smith, wbsmith@esf.edu (by May 6). All tour participants are required to pre-register.
Program
WEDNESDAY, May 11
9:30 AM to 4:30 PM
HHP—Henniker Hardwood Products
9:30 AM ET
Wednesday Plant Tour
HHP Inc. is a multi-faceted forest products company that includes a state-of-the-art hardwood sawmill, dry kilns, paper-quality chip producer and manufacturer of pallets and skids.
All participants are welcome to tour HHP—Henniker Hardwood Products as they travel to the meeting.Pre-registration is required.
Tour participants should bring their own hardhats and safety glasses and wear appropriate footwear.
Directions:
14 Buxton Industrial Drive
Henniker, NH 03242
Take exit 5 off of I-89, and drive ~ 4 miles west on routes 202&9. At Old Concord Road turn left (south) and head ~ 1 mile: 14 Buxton Industrial Drive and the mill is on the right.
At the Holiday Inn
Welcome and Introductions
Chuck Sackett, NEKDA President (King Pine Industries)
12:30 - 1:15 PM ET
Fundamental Wood Properties Important to Drying
Bill Smith, SUNY ESF, Syracuse, NY
1:15 - 2:00 PM ET
Dry Kiln Maintenance, Repair, and Upgrade
Bob Pope, SII Dry Kilns, Montpelier, VT
2:00 - 4:30 PM ET
Kiln Operator's Clinic
Informal and practical instructions and discussion on the basics of kiln operations, maintenance, stacking, DH, conventional, and high-temperature drying, stain and discoloration, scheduling, changing species, wood-moisture fundamentals, kiln loading and baffling, moisture meters, restarting kilns, drying degrade, and more. (Coffee and refreshments will be available at 3 pm.)
Please note any particular interests for discussion at the clinic on your registration form.
Past Meeting Presentations - Please look to the Past Meeting link (to the right) to see some of the topics presented.
Click here to view the technical presentations from our past meetings.
- Our 2009 Bill Rice Acheivement Award was presented to Scott Ferland, Cersosimo Lumber, Brattleboro, VT, by NEKDA Life Member, former President, former Executive Secretary, and Professor Emeritus Dr. Bill Rice (below).
- NEKDA Student Scholarship Award Applications - Click here for an NEKDA student scholarship award application.
- Please contact Bill Smith at wbsmith@esf.edu if you have any ideas or suggestions for topics, tours or locations for upcoming NEKDA meetings.
Date and Time
Wednesday, May 11
Location
Holiday Inn
172 North Main Street
Concord, New Hampshire
Phone: 603-224-9534
Be sure to tell them you are with NEKDA to receive the group rate ($129/night)
Directions
Head west off of I-93 exit 14, then south on Main Street
Forms
Contact
Bill Smith
Email: wbsmith@esf.edu
Phone: 315-470-6832
