A Postcard from the South Tirol - Forestry-Journal-essentialARB

(Left) This model, designed for the glulam industry, can be tilted up to 90º. (Right) ES 1050 working on a spruce log taken from the surrounding hills.Johann Resch began the productionof new saws.After operating the company for50 years, Johann and Ignaz Reschhanded it over to three of their longtermemployees in January 2006.Thus it became Resch & 3, with anew logo and corporate style.Resch & 3 now has 10 employeesand turns out 8 to 10 machines ayear. Each machine is different, andthe company makes the parts itself.The static bandmill predominatesnowadays, since it is no longer soproblematic to transport logs. Infact, the ratio of static to mobilemills is 10 to 1. Resch & 3 sawmillsare high-end machines costingbetween e100,000 and e200,000,and are tailored to the customer’srequirements.The sawmills are available in electricor diesel powered models, withwheel diameters of 1,050, 1,200 or1,400mm. The Profi models comewith a cab, the Eco models without.There are also versions designedspecifically for the glulam industry,on which the whole headrig can betilted by up to 90º.Accuracy of cut on Resch & 3sawmills is assisted by pressureguides that support the blade whencutting, and automatic log measuringgives a readout of the volumecut over the day.The list of optional extras isimpressive. They include doubleprecutters that pass along the rawlog, removing any dirt and debris,ensuring a good entry and exitfor the sawblade. This dramaticallyincreases the maintenance intervalfor the saw teeth.A cross-cutter is available that willtrim planks to the desired length,meaning finished lengths of timbercan be taken directly from the mill.Hydraulically actuated, the crosscutsaw can also be rotated by 90º andused as a ripping saw. In beech thiscan be used to relieve tension in thelog to stop it breaking when cutwith the bandsaw.Resch & 3 also make much oftheir long experience in caring forthe saw blades, and they offer aportable automatic sharpener. Thiscan be attached to a sawmill and setto work sharpening one blade whilethe mill continues cutting usinganother one.Then there are automatic plankremovers or gripper tongs to liftthe sawn wood clear. There is evena double-sided brush machine toremove sawdust, especially frombeech, where it would otherwise(Top left) The touch-screen in the cab of the ES 1050. (Top centre) The crosscutting circular saw can be used to trim to length, and can also be turned through90º to cut longitudinally. (Top right) Pressure guides keep the blade in position to ensure an accurate cut. (Bottom left) Turning chains can be used to rotate thelog to the desired position, and are also used to eject sawn timber. (Bottom centre) Precutters clean the log to ensure a clean entry and exit for the saw blade,dramatically extending maintenance intervals. (Bottom right) The automatic blade sharpener in action.26www.forestryjournal.co.ukForestry Journal 10/11