Skip to main contentSkip to main navigationSkip to footer content
 

SUNY ESF
New England Kiln Drying Association

2022 NEKDA Fall Meeting

New England Kiln Drying Association (NEKDA) Officers and Board of Director's have put together an excellent meeting program with important and informative topics and opportunities for kiln operators and managers, including an interesting tour of Milan Lumber Company.

Meeting location is the Town & Country in Shelburne at 2 Main Street, Gorham, NH. The Town & Country in Shelburne is conveniently located about 0.25 miles east of Gorham on the south side of Route 2.

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 | October 26

The Town & Country Motor Inn

Time Event Description Location
9:00 am ET

Milan Lumber

Wednesday Plant Tour

Milan Lumber Company saws and kiln dries high quality spruce-fir dimension lumber, manufacturing over 70 MMBF per year. Our tour will include their sawmill, sorting, new kiln, new high-speed production planning and grading operations, and wood-fired boiler system.

Pre-registration is required.

Tour participants should bring their own hardhats and safety glasses and wear appropriate footwear.

Directions:

318 Milan Road
Milan, NH 03588

Phone: 603-449-2200

 

 

Welcome and Introductions

 

Chuck Sackett, NEKDA President 
(Kennebec Lumber, Wentworth, NH)

12:30 - 1:15 pm ET Registration and Lunch   Meeting Room
1:15 - 2:00 pm ET Custom Kiln Drying - Managing Variables Expert Panel Discussion  
2:00 - 5:00 pm ET

Kiln Operator's Clinic

Led by Bill Smilth, others

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. Bring your individual problems, questions, and solutions!

Please note any particular interests for discussion at the clinic on your registration form.

 
3:15 - 3:30 pm ET Refreshment Break    
3:00 - 6:30 pm ET Stress Reflief with Vendor Displays Relieve your stress with hors d’oeuvres and beverages while visiting with vendors displaying the best in various kiln drying equipment, supplies and services.   
3:15 - 3:30 pm ET Banquet    

 

Thursday | October 27

Time Event Description Location
7:00 - 7:45 am ET Board of Directors Meeting    
7:45 - 8:10 am ET Registration and Coffee    
8:10 - 8:15 am ET Welcome and Introductions   Chuck Sackett, NEKDA President(Kennebec Lumber, Wentworth, NH)
8:15 - 9:00 am ET Wood Moisture Meter Advancements   Tom Laurenzi, Delmhorst Moisture Meters
9:00 - 9:30 am ET Milan Lumber   Steve Halle, Milan Lumber, Milan, NH
9:30 -10:30 am ET Steam Production, Utilization and Management   Sam Fox, FW Webb
10:30 - 10:45 am ET COFFEE BREAK and questions    
10:45 - 11:15 am ET Heat Treatment and Certification   Matt Pomeroy, NELMA, Cumberland Ctr., ME
11:15 am - 12:00 pm ET Dry Storage of Lumber – Basic Knowledge for Best Quality   Bob Pope, SII Dry Kilns, Montpelier, VT
12:00 - 12:15 pm ET NEKDA Annual Business Meeting, Elections    
12:30 - 1:15 pm ET LUNCHEON BUFFET