Innovation and efficiency are critical for staying ahead in the plywood manufacturing industry. Weyerhaeuser, a leading player in the industry, has embraced the future by adopting Argos Solutions’ Panel Repair System (PRS) at their Kalispell plant. In this interview with Kyle Cram, the current plant manager at Kalispell, we look in to how the Argos PRS has benefited their production.
Kyle Cram, an electrical engineer by trade, has been the plant manager at Kalispell for the past three years. With a background in upgrades and optimization, Kyle joined Weyerhaeuser in 2015 as a controls manager. He notes, «The PRS was a strategic investment to improve efficiency and safety in our operations.»
“The timing was right.”
Weyerhaeuser’s Kalispell plant, under Kyle’s management, prioritized safety, ergonomics, and efficiency for their employees. The PRS was introduced to enhance worker ergonomics and safety while maintaining and improving production capacity. Kyle stated, «The automated system allowed us to produce the same volume with only a third of the staffing. Our team members, even those with over 30 years of experience, welcomed the automated system.»
The transition to the PRS provided improvements in precision and repairs within a few months. Kyle acknowledged a learning curve, especially in tuning issues. “How much did we actually want and need to repair?”. The consistency of the system made it easier to pre-define what we needed.
Regarding the decision to choose Argos Solutions’ PRS, Kyle mentioned, «We had looked into the scanner technology in the past, and we had heard many positive things about the Argos/Con-Vey partnership. We selected Argos due to the maturity of the technology, its overall reputation, and the flexibility the system offers in adjusting production to various end products. Now, we have implemented the best combination of conveyer, scanner and repair system to our production line.»
Improved quality, lower cost, optimized production.
Kyle emphasized that the PRS positively impacted Weyerhaeuser’s production, with significant savings on poly and putty usage.
«In addition to a 40% reduction of poly, we’ve seen a reduction in sander belt changes, demonstrating the system’s efficiency and potential for ongoing improvements.»
Operators at Kalispell welcomed the PRS, allowing human resources to be utilized more efficiently. Kyle remarked, «The PRS aligns with our sustainability goals, reducing material waste and optimizing industry processes. The installation, executed during the challenging times of the COVID pandemic, demonstrated Weyerhaeuser’s commitment as well as Argos Solutions determination to deliver.»
Support as a success factor.
Kyle commended Argos Solutions for their exceptional support, timely responses, and knowledge transfer.
«Argos Solutions provided excellent engineering support pre-project, and that support has continued with further optimization after installation and commissioning,»
“For Argos Solutions, this has been a collaboration that has provided fantastic results and experiences that we can use to develop our systems even further. In addition to gaining knowledge from the Weyerhaeuser production, we truly appreciated the cooperation. The project’s success is a result of good planning and communication from both parties.”, says Richard Lepine, General Manager for Argos Solutions LLC.
Weyerhaeuser’s success with Argos Solutions’ PRS is a testament to the company’s commitment to innovation and sustainability. The collaboration has streamlined production and positioned Weyerhaeuser as a forward-thinking industry leader. As the demand for sustainable products continues to rise, Weyerhaeuser stands ready to meet these challenges with a winning combination of values, technology, and a dedicated team.