Samuel Strapping Brings Better Bander Performance to Boise Cascade EWP


Samuel Strapping Systems, a leading supplier of industrial packaging supplies and equipment, recently partnered with Boise Cascade's Engineered Wood Products division to install a bander in their White City, Oregon facility.



Boise Cascade EWP's Oregon facility is one of the largest laminated veneer lumber (LVL) and I-joist manufacturing plants in the world, and must meet the needs of over 60 dealers across North America. Unfortunately, their existing single bander configuration could not process product as quickly as it was being delivered. This resulted in a bottleneck that slowed down operations.



As it turns out, Samuel Strapping Systems had previously outfitted one of the White City plant's sister mills in New Brunswick, Canada. Armed with this previous experience, Boise Cascade approached Samuel Strapping Systems and asked them to provide a solution.



In response, Samuel Strapping Systems offered a top-sealing strapping machine set up with a VK30 polyester strap head and a CD12SJ powered dispenser, which was installed on the same production line as another brand of strapping machine. When asked about the performance of the Samuel Strapping bander, Dennis Ekstrand, Manager of EWP Maintenance and Construction, said, "After we put the [Samuel Strapping bander in with the second [Brand X bander, we reduced our cycle time by approximately 33%. Additionally, the [Samuel Strapping cycle rate exceeds the cycle rate of the other brand."



Boise Cascade EWP took a great risk in bringing Samuel Strapping Systems in, considering that Boise now had to deal with a completely new set of spare parts for a totally different brand of strapping machine. But that risk has paid off in huge dividends. "We put the numbers together and it looks like the ROI is under two years," Dennis says. "I've followed the life cycle of that [New Brunswick strapper, and the life cycle is very good. Very low maintenance, real reliable, and a quick cycle rate."



When asked what the White City plant's next step would be, Dennis said, "I've asked for potential capital in 2014 for another strapper, so I can take advantage of the [Samuel Strapping machine's higher cycle rate." This additional investment should increase the cycle time even more, while also improving the overall uptime of the plant's strapping line.



Boise Cascade is a large, vertically integrated wood products manufacturer and wholesale distributor of wood products and other building materials with widespread operations in the United States and Canada. The company is headquartered in Boise, Idaho.



Boise Cascade Engineered Wood Products manufactures and markets engineered wood products, which are building products with improved structural characteristics and use our forests more efficiently.



Samuel Strapping Systems is one of Canada's leading suppliers of industrial packaging supplies and solutions. Their products cover multiple industries, including the forestry, metals, container, and print, and feature a full range of packaging solutions such as strapping, stretch wrapping, coding and labeling, and baling.


All Topics