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
| Time | Event | Description | Location |
| 9:00 am ET |
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 Phone: 603-449-2200
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Welcome and Introductions |
|
Chuck Sackett, NEKDA President |
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| 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. |
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| 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 |