Boise Cascade Continues to Install SawTek Automated Sawing Systems

Boise, Idaho - Boise Engineered Wood Products is continuing to install SawTek automated cutting systems across the United States to help its dealers achieve faster, safer, more accurate processing of Boise BCI Joists, Versa-Stud® laminated veneer framing lumber and Versa-Lam laminated veneer lumber. SawTek systems are fast and accurate, typically cutting up to 30,000 lineal feet in an 8-hour shift with accuracy to 1/16". The saws are used in conjunction with BC Framer® integrated design software and a package of other Boise value-added services that are designed to help dealers and builders improve their profitability and reduce the cycle time required to build homes.

SawTek automated cutting systems can also combine and optimize several orders simultaneously and keep track of each piece.

SawTek and its peripherals are fully compatible with BC Framer to efficiently process long-length engineered wood products. Because of the accuracy of home plans created using BC Framer, SawTek cutting systems can also now deliver ready-to-install framing, which can reduce a builder's cycle time by eliminating most jobsite custom-cutting and cutting errors that are costly and can cause delays. SawTek can be instructed to precision-trim both ends of framing members, to quickly drop into place at the jobsite.

Designers can experiment with various HVAC, plumbing and electrical line placements and optimize them through BCI Joists at the time the framing plan is drawn. Information can be downloaded from BC Framer to SawTek to precision-cut the holes in advance for arrow-straight utility lines that are easier and faster to install - further cutting cycle time. Cutting the HVAC holes in advance means they line up perfectly and eliminate the need to use noisy, imprecise and potentially dangerous reciprocating saws to cut the holes after the job has been framed. A mis-cut at that stage can create problems and possibly hold up the job pending an engineer's designed repair and code approvals. The holes are structurally reviewed, and information is transferred to the saw as well as to design reports that can be made available to building inspectors and the general contractor. This seamless information transfer provides quality assurance to ectors and to the general contractor, who often finds it difficult to keep track of all subcontractor activities on the jobsite.

SawTek automated cutting systems can also combine and optimize several orders simultaneously and keep track of each piece. SawTek order optimization lets dealers intermix cut lists of several jobs to get the most out of every length. SawTek is so efficient that it virtually eliminates waste, with as little as 1/2" waste in a 66' length. Besides reducing material costs, optimization simplifies inventory control, with engineered wood products usually ordered in the longest available lengths for greatest cutting flexibility.

Inkjet printers are another adjunct to SawTek and are used to mark every piece for delivery to the jobsite, and relate back to the color-coded framing placement plan for proper installation in the structure. Because of the clarity of the color-coded framing placement plan supplied by BC Framer, even framers who can't speak fluent English can frame the home without errors.

For 2007, Boise is working with its SawTek dealers to help them expand their business by providing SawTek services to increasing numbers of builders. "We have been busy installing SawTek saws in 2006 and early 2007," said Denny Huston, Boise Engineered Wood Products sales & marketing manager. "SawTek is giving our dealers a unique capability to serve their current builders as well as new ones by cutting their jobs earlier and delivering them sooner, helping them build more quickly and reduce cycle time," said Huston.

About Boise Cascade
Boise, headquartered in Boise, Idaho, manufactures engineered wood products, plywood, lumber, and particleboard and distributes a broad line of building materials, including wood products manufactured by the company. Boise also manufactures a wide range of specialty and premium products, including imaging papers for the office and home and papers for pressure sensitive applications, as well as printing and converting papers, containerboard and corrugated boxes, newsprint, and market pulp. Visit Boise's website at www.bc.com.

Media Contact
Dale Robley
503 720 1220

Engineered Wood Products Contact
Denny Huston
208 384 7454