News

Taranakipine Saw Shop Upgrade Project

February 29, 2024

The Taranakipine saw shop upgrade project all started with a conversation about a saw trial on site of the Thode designed Variable Pitch & Depth profile with the dream of the projected gains in productivity paying for a state-of-the-art re-fit.

 The Thode VPD profile differs from the more traditional ascending and descending patterns that had been more commonly used over the years, by using an alternate layout of the pitching to create a wave looking profile further enhancing the effects of the VPD concept.

 Working with Taranakipine’s saw shop contractor, Craig Robinson of Fred Robinson Saw Doctors and sawmill manager Rodney Baker, the trial got the go ahead and two saws were ordered “ready to run” meanwhile Craig and Rodney set about gathering as much information as they could to form solid base line data of where the sawmill was currently performing.

 In mid-September 2021, the Thode VPD saws arrived on site and the trial was underway.

There was noticeable difference in performance instantly and at the end of the trial with all the data collected the improvement in sawmill performance was significant!  

This information along with a list of the top-of-the-line Iseli machinery for a full saw shop fit out was then presented to John Sanders, Taranakipine’s Plant and Projects manager so the numbers could be crunched for justification.

 The capex put together by John and his team flew through board approval and the order for the Iseli machinery was placed.

 Meanwhile we set to work planning the new saw shop layout. We used 3D models of the Iseli machinery to generate several floor plans for different layout options, and through consulting with Craig we found the perfect layout to maximize space and flow through the saw shop for what he and the team needed for ease of day-to-day operation.

 

The team had a goal of “zero” sawmill down time for this project and to accomplish this we had to have a bullet proof installation plan, the timing and order of existing gear to be removed and the order that the new gear would be positioned and powered up would have to be perfection.  

Working with Craig and the Taranakipine maintenance team we crafted just that, removing as much of the old gear to give the floor reconditioners and painters as much time and space as possible before the new Iseli equipment arrived on site.

 In November 2023 five pieces of Iseli equipment arrived on site, this consisted of one RZ1 auto benching station, an SAA Stellite tipper, a BNF100 5 axis CNC side grinder and two BNP110 2 axis CNC profile grinders.

 The plan worked like clockwork, perfectly staged to maximize time for all trades involved.

Week one, the SAA, BNF and both BNP grinders were installed, power on and sharpening saws.

Week two, the last of the old gear removed and the RZ1 installed, tuned and training on all machinery commenced.

While this was a big task the “zero” mill down time goal was achieved with the sawmill never missing a beat! Something that everyone involved can be extremely proud of!

 At the start of week two, now with both BNP110’s up and running the new Thode VPD saws were unleashed on the mill and very quickly the gains become apparent! So much so that we had barely started the week and the operators no longer wanted the old standard pitch saws and Rodney made the call that they were to no longer to be used!

“We got everything up and running in the first week of November 2023. From that point on we noticed the difference in cutting speeds, sawing accuracy improvement, cleaner cutting no feather edges, less reprocessing due to accuracy of cutting, less intermittent saw changes, quieter cutting, motivation of saw doctors and production crews around upgrade of saw shop having new gear and technology in the saw shop. With wet grinders it made a huge difference to the air quality and the housekeeping was made easier as well with everything being contained. Overall, we are well on track to hit our targets for the payback time of this install. Thanks to all parties involved.”        Rodney Baker- Sawmill Manager.

 BEFORE & AFTER

A night & day difference, not only in presentation but in performance too!!

                   

                                                                                        

After a few months of running and the sawmill operation staff having the time to settle in, it has become clear that there have been gains in several areas as Rodney has mentioned above.

It is important to note that the only thing changed in the sawmill at this time was going from a standard pitch profile to the Thode VPD profile on all band saws.

The trial was a great success, testing in a controlled environment, removing as many variables as possible with the data recorded clearly showing that if you want a way to pay for your brand-new saw shop this is the way to accomplish it!

 Thode 100% recommend and stand behind the Thode VPD profile as the best option for sawmills to maximize productivity and drastically reduce their manufacturing cost / M3 making their business more profitable.

 We would like to take this opportunity to thank the team at Taranakipine for putting their trust in Thode to deliver another successful Iseli installation.

The new Saw Shop is light and bright with the new layout spacious and user friendly.        

 
 "All I can say is that the accuracy is Awesome! And the Iseli gear is very easy to
use” - Craig Robinson                                     

                                         

BELOW: Craig operating the new Iseli BNF100 side grinder. The BNF side grinds each tooth from start to finish using multiple passes which means the saw only has to do one full lap.     

     

    BELOW: Craig & Darryl with the Iseli RZ1 auto bench                                                                

 If you are interested in more information on the Iseli range of saw shop machinery or would like to talk about conducting your own Thode VPD saw trial, feel free to contact us at any time.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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A Positive Move For Thode Knife & Saw Ltd Christchurch.

February 29, 2024

As of 1st July 2023 Thode Knife & Saw Christchurch started the move to a new building better suited to our current size and customer base. The previous building had been fit for purpose for 25+ years and as the industry changed, the need for such a big building didn’t fit our needs going forward.

We are now situated at 29A Blakes Road, Belfast in a new building that we had some input into the design and layout of the office / store and staff amenities and are now firmly placed to service our customers from this site. Our staff are over the moon to have a new building and bright and airy working conditions. “The move gave us the ability to create a much better, more efficient factory layout and introduce new machinery in a controlled well-planned manner.

 

 During the planning stage of the move we decided to upgrade an area of our factory to meet the current needs of our customer base, namely our Tungsten Carbide (TCT) circular saw servicing area. The TCT area now has a fully automated circular saw grinder that is fitted with a self-loading arm. This machine has replaced two Vollmer CX100’s and increased our ability to service our customers saws 50% faster and saws serviced to date are showing a great level of both accuracy and sharpness. The robotic combination means when we have high levels of saws for servicing we can stack and load the trolleys and set the machine to run overnight so when we arrive in the morning all saws are sharp and ready to go back to the customers.

 

 

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Latest Iseli RZ1 installation AKD Caboolture Queensland.

February 12, 2024

Aaron McRae recently commissioned the Iseli RZ1 benching Station at AKD Caboolture Queensland.

This is the first stage of their Sawshop Machinery upgrades to further the Sawmills performance.

Aaron would like to thank Neil Hunter, Robert Dunn and the Team in the Sawshop.

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Recent Machine Upgrade at Pan Pac Otago

February 12, 2024

As part of a continuous improvement programme, Pan Pac Otago recently installed an Iseli KHF100 circular saw side grinder into the Milburn site sawshop. The KHF100 replaced an older North American machine that had worked well on site for many years but had reached its end of serviceable life.

Both Pan Pac’s sites have an array of Iseli equipment already, so the decision was made to replace the existing side grinder with an Iseli KHF100 Fully automatic 6 axis CNC machine. The KHF100 is designed for fully automatic grinding of the side angles on Carbide/Stellite tipped circular saws, and features space saving machine design that allows for high ergonomics and excellent usability, as well as ease of access to the electrical cabinet, coolant pump, pneumatics and fire suppression system.

Other notable features are:

  • automatic adjustment of all common angles
  • automatic detection of the tooth pitch with built in sensor technology on the feed finger
  • the ability for the positioned tooth to be finished in several passes (saw finish ground in one rotation)
  • high flow capacity oil coolant
  • automatic CO2 fire detection and supression system.

The machine is controlled via a 15.1 inch colour touch screen with Windows-based interface for fast saw parameter loading and has unlimited program storage.

The grinder was installed in November 2023 and commisioning and training was completed by Regan Eisenhut from Thode Knife & Saw Rotorua.

Thode Knife & Saw would like thank the team at Pan Pac Otago for choosing the Iseli machine and the help given to Regan while commisioning and training.

For any further information regarding the range of Iseli Sawshop/ Filing room equipment contact your Thode sales rep.

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Centrifugal Mobile Cleaning Station

January 31, 2024


Thode Knife & Saw Auckland recently purchased a mobile cleaning station marketed by Iseli.

The centrifugal system gives superior cleaning of oil coolant over their older filter system which was fitted to their manufacturing centre. 

When the machine was first connected to the top and face grinder the coolant was at a stage that it was due for a full change. After running the centrifuge for a week, the coolant was back to its near original colour.

They now rotate the RUMA on all their machines.

Darren Clissold, Auckland Production Manager, is thrilled with both the efficiency of the cleaner and the massive cost savings from not having to replace the specialized grinding oils they run in their machines.

He also enjoys the ease of set-up and the lock out switch which means the machine complies with H&S requirements.

Thode Canada and OFO Australia are also thrilled with the operation of their RUMA cleaning units

Contact your THODE REP to find out more about these machines.

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THODE TO SUPPLY UDDELHOLM BANDSAW STEEL

September 04, 2023

 Thode Knife and Saw are extremely proud to have secured a supply agreement with voestalpine for the supply of Uddeholm bandsaw steel.

As a result Thode will be supplying all wide bandsaws using the Uddeholm brand. We are excited to have this strong relationship and once stocks of our other brands of bandsaw steel run out we will be transitioning 100% to the Uddeholm brand.

This rationalisation of our bandsaw steel supply will create better raw material planning, and improved logistics in order for Thode to provide continued on time delivery of quality product to our valued customers.

We still have some inventory on hand of existing bandsaw steel so we will continue to supply your currently purchased brand on a stock item basis while stocks last, then transition to Uddeholm.

We trust that this progression will be seen as a positive move with the Thode supply of bandsaws to the Australian and New Zealand markets.

 

Above from left while at Ligna May 2023:

Kevin Parker

(Director - Thode Knife & Saw),

Christian Peterlechner

(Sales Director Saw Steel - voestalpine Austria)

Aaron Hartley

(Sales & Customer Service Manager - Thode Knife & Saw)

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Christchurch branch address update

July 03, 2023

Please note, as of 03/07/23 our CHCH branch is at a new location

29A Blakes Rd

Belfast

Christchurch 

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Happy Customers in Quebec Canada

March 09, 2023

Thode Knife & Saw  and Iseli thank Scierie St-Armand, Quebec on their purchase of their Iseli BNP200 Profile Grinder. The BNP200 is one of the most advanced Bandsaw Profile Grinder available and is becoming first choice amongst advanced Sawmills in Canada. Pictured is Renald Yergeau with his New Iseli BNP200. Renald is head filer (left) with Phil Higgins (Manager Thode Knife & Saw Canada) who completed the commissioning.

Thode Knife & Saw & Iseli also thank Affutage JL at St-Pamphile, Quebec on their purchase of a new Iseli RZ1. Kathy Pelletier on the left and Christopher Gagnon  on the right  with  their new RZ1.

The Iseli RZ1 is the worlds biggest selling Automatic Levelling & Tensioning machine and is a great addition to their filing room.

 

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One Forty One Jubilee Highway Australia BNP200 Left & Right Hand Bandsaw Grinders

January 26, 2023

One Forty One Jubilee Highway BNP200 Left & Right Hand Bandsaw Grinders Installation

December 2022

 

Aaron McRae & Regan Eisenhut Commissioned two new Iseli BNP200s with the latest Tooth Tracing System for One Forty One Jubilee Highway Sawmill in Mt Gambier South Australia.

These two machines will now complement the recently installed RZ1, BNF100 side grinder and SAA stellite tipper as part of their major capital investments in the Sawshop.

Aaron McRae (Thode) Mauro Rossi and Matt Bowering (OFO) going into the screen settings on the BNP200

 

Thode Knife & Saw Pty would like to Thank OFO for their ongoing support of the Iseli products.

Special Thanks to Barry Kuhl, Matt Bowering and staff for your Hospitality.

 

Aaron & Regan.

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Iseli Machinery commissioning in Canada Dec 2022

December 09, 2022

Over the past 12 months our CA customers have been anxiously awaiting the arrival of their new Iseli sawshop equipment. 

After successful comissioning, it's all smiles for this group of discerning buyers. 

Thode and Iseli thank you for your continued support. 

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Iseli principle Philipp Iseli visits Thode Canada’s manufacturing plant in Chilliwack BC

October 19, 2022

From left Philipp Iseli CEO Iseli Swiss Precision, Phillip Higgins Manager Thode Knife & Saw Canada, Kevin Parker CEO Thode Knife & Saw

Thode now in its fourth year providing filing-room solutions with Iseli Machinery and saw blades in Canada after expanding from Australasia where it has been operating for over 75 years. Iseli also in business for over 75 years has had a collaborating partnership with Thode for over 20 years in Australasia and since the inception of Thode Canada.

Our Canadian customers are very supportive of the world class technology being offered by Thode Canada. We have a growing order book of Iseli machines which follow on from installation’s that have proven to increase efficiencies in filing rooms across Canada.


Our bandsaw manufacturing plants also use the latest technology featuring Iseli equipment which is giving customers Canadian made saws of the highest standard and consistency using renown Uddeholm 000 material.

We would like to thank our customers for their support giving us confidence to build a new manufacturing plant in BC and we look forward to building on the relationships and business that is growing as a result.


Please direct your enquiries to Mr Phillip Higgins our Thode Canada Manager.

Tel: +1 (778) 684-6078
Email: phil@thodecanada.ca

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Iseli BNP200 featured on BC Saw Filers Convention 2022

June 05, 2022

Phil shows off an Iseli BNP200 bandsaw profile grinder at the BC Saw Filers Convention 2022.

Link to Canadian Forest Industries article here.

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Iseli RZ-1 Installation at Freeman Lumber Nova Scotia

June 02, 2022

Kendall Lawson of Freeman Lumber Nova Scotia stands proud of his new Iseli RZ1 Auto Bench. This was commissioned by Regan Eisenhut (Operations Manager from Thode Knife & Saw). The Iseli RZ1 is the benchmark of Bandsaw Auto Level & Tension Machines available in the world today.

If you are wanting high efficiency and consistency in your filing room contact Thode Knife & Saw to discuss the benefits this machine will give your Sawmill.

Thode Knife & Saw would like to thank Freeman Lumber for their purchase.

Kendall Lawson of Freeman Lumber Nova Scotia

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Downie Timber invests in Iseli BNP 100 CNC Bandsaw Profile Grinder

March 18, 2022

Phil Higgins (Thode Canada Manager) recently commissioned an Iseli BNP100 CNC bandsaw profile grinder for Downie Timber

Heath Hanson (pictured) the head filer at Downie Timber in Revelstoke BC Canada stands proud with the new BNP100 grinder which has just been installed.
This is a new filing room in their Selkirk Cedar plant where a variety of saw specifications are catered for as used in the production process.

Thode Knife & Saw Ltd thank Downie Timber for choosing Iseli equipment for their filing room. Iseli has become a brand of choice for many leading companies throughout the world due to the technology, precision and reliability which gives customers assurance of improved quality and efficiency.

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OneFortyOne Jubilee Sawmill Mount Gambier Saw-Shop upgrade

February 15, 2022
OneFortyOne is committed to ensuring they remain one of the most progressive and efficient mills in Australasia. By investing in new technology, they are continuing towards their objective of valuing every strand of wood fibre that they process. OneFortyOne has invested $40 million since purchasing the Jubilee Sawmill in 2018.

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Another Iseli Installation

July 21, 2021
Apollo Forest Products based in Fort St James, BC,Canada have taken delivery of an Iseli BNP200 3 axis CNC Bandsaw profile grinder. This was commissioned by Phil Higgins (Thode Canada Manager) and is one of 3 recent installations in BC.

Proud Filers Kevin Ransom (head Filer) & Shane Marin of Apollo Forest Products either side of their new Iseli BNP200

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Variable Pitch and Depth Bandsaws

July 07, 2021

Variable Pitch and Depth Bandsaws

By: John Eisenhut

A bit of background on myself, I’ve been in the Saw doctoring industry for quite a few decades now and in those years I’ve experimented a little outside the box with many things over those years.

Several in particular:

  • Hit and miss tipping
  • Variable kerf, something I have a huge passion for.
  • Variable pitch band saws off older cam Technology grinders.

Now most of us know and I would think agree that reducing vibration in a saw is beneficial.

A Variable Pitch or Variable Pitch and Depth saw will run quieter than a standard pitch profile. There is no doubt about this; it’s an actual fact and has been documented well over the years.

So a few points to consider

Firstly: from a health and safety point of view, quieter saws in the saw mill are an immediate benefit in itself, and for most in the industry reason enough to make the change to a Variable Pitch saw.

It is common to receive feed back from the operators that they can’t hear the saw and in the next breath say I don’t like it, I can’t here it how can I cut fast and smooth if I can’t hear it?

What he is actually saying is the saw has changed its cutting pitch.

This is nothing that a re-adjustment period and a bit of reassurance and coaching over a few days won’t fix and it is definitely not something that should dictate not changing to the Variable Pitch concept.

This is a free advantage, no outlay, no more expensive than a standard saw.

Old technology grinders or standard cam grinders can grind a three pitch scenario with not too much effort, so the gain is there for us all.

Another benefit from a VP saw is the ability of the saw to decrease or eliminate completely any wash board that may be occurring… This. again is achieved without any other investment or modification being required. It’s a free fix.

Some of the myths around using Variable Pitch saws are that they cannot be serviced on a cam driven grinder, this is absolutely not the case.

Yes care needs to be taken to not over grind the face of the tooth “and” the tooth shape may not be as “pretty” as a CNC machine, however the additional benefits are there to grab. Your choice

The assumption that a VP saw is harder to deal with is also misguided information, setting a Variable Pitch saw going on a cam grinder or a CNC grinder is a simple task.

Continued Benefits

Now the money maker advantages

Increased feed rates

A decrease in within board deviation or a combination of both and again these benefits are being harnessed without any other investment or upgrade, it’s effectively a free performance increase for your sawmill.

You have to buy saws for your saw mill; there is no difference in price between buying a standard profile saw or a Variable Pitch profile saw,

We at Thode can cut your saw to any profile you require

Water cut by Thode Knife and Saw / cold cut flat and true, with no punch deformation

Even if you only have a cam driven grinders we can cut a profile to suit what they produce,

Our CNC water cutter allows us to cold cut your profile to very close tolerances,

The cut is clean, accurate and without heat absolutely no deformation in the plate

This can save you hours of grinding time, and have your new saw up and running in no time at all.



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Massive leap in technology for Bandsaw Shop" self programming & self setting bandsaw profile grinder (Iseli BNP200)

July 07, 2021

Iseli Latest Technology 

 

ISELI TOOTH TRACING SYSTEM (TTS)

Programming tooth shapes is still a major challenge for many customers. The ISELI Tooth Tracing System (TTS) can help! The tooth shape of the saw you desire to be emulated can be probed automatically by an acoustic sensor and saved as the tooth shape of your choice. The data obtained is then used for sharpening in the recipe. Parameters such as tooth profile, hook and back angles, tooth height, variable pitch and depths etc, are automatically determined and saved by the program.

This process enables the exact reproduction of existing tooth shapes directly on the machine without a great effort. These can be used going forward on all saws you have in service. So an exact repeat of tooth profiles on every saws

Inaccuracies are also copied, which means that the removal and thus the costs can be reduced to a minimum, even if the profile is not precisely defined. In addition, inaccuracies on the grinding wheel are compensated for when probing and enables absolutely precise grinding of the profile, even with a worn grinding wheel.

Tooth shapes generated on a system using TTS can be read in other ISELI machines of the BNP series. 

 

AUTOMATIC INSERTION AND EXTRACTION

Automatic insertion of the blade is now possible. The machine inserts the blade until a height pre-set in the recipe has been reached; the machine then closes the saw clamp. The first saw tooth is determined and the tooth pitch is calculated. In the case of variable tooth shapes, the group of teeth is automatically detected. This significantly reduces operating errors and the effort involved in searching for variable divisions.

The saw blade can be inserted / lifted to the stop point automatically on demand in automatic mode. The search for teeth and the determination of the zero point takes place automatically and the grinding process is started. In summary, the operator can insert the blade and start the machine by pushing the start button. The rest of the work is done automatically by the machine. The option is completed with a revised height adjustment, which works faster and more precisely thanks to a variable-speed drive.

 

 

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Pan Pac Napier Invests in High Tech Iseli Saw-Shop Machinery

July 06, 2021

The Iseli BNP200 Bandsaw Profile Grinder

The BNP 200 automatic profile grinders are equipped with a 3 axes CNC system which gives automatic tooth finding functionality and different options for optimised accurate profile grinding. This also opens the door to many other saw machining options for the future.

A user friendly touch screen makes the machine very easy to use.

Pan Pac have opted to run a full oil immersed CBN wheel system. The Iseli machines were found to have the best oil containment details of all machines considered including close fitting wipers, oil mist extraction system and a fully automatic fire suppression system.

The machines run an electronically controlled central height adjustment system for saw blades, a pneumatic blade clamping system. The machine also has a Thode designed swarf magnet and back feed engagement device, both of which build upon the base machine from Iseli.

 

 

 

 

 

The Iseli BNF100 Bandsaw Side-Grinder

The BNF side grinder from Iseli is a 4 axes CNC machine; it runs a user friendly touch screen that makes the machine very easy to use.

The machine runs a full oil immersed CBN wheel system for the very best side grinding results with accuracies second to none.

The oil also assists in lubricating all moving parts keeping maintenance to a minimum.

The machine also comes with an oil mist filtration system and a fully automatic fire suppression system to mitigate against the risks of using an oil lubricant.

 

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Thode Knife & Saw Newsletter

October 22, 2020

We are now seeing the market return to normality post Covid lockdown with strong orders for knife steel and bandsaws, we have good stocks and capacity to process your orders quickly.

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Iseli KHB110 Niagara Sawmill

October 22, 2020
Our latest Iseli machine install is the KHB110 circular grinder, the machine has been purchased by Niagara and has been installed in their Kennington Sawmill Sawshop.

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Onefortyone Mt Gambier Australia Iseli RZ1

September 09, 2020
Onefortyone Mt Gambier Australia recently took delivery of a New Iseli RZ1.

Onefortyone's Matt Bowering on the left and Mark Barrington on the right after successful commissioning of their new Iseli RZ1 supplied by Thode Knife & Saw

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A World Leader in Saw Shop Machinery

July 29, 2020
Thode has been very busy in recent times with Saw shop machinery upgrades. Partnered with Iseli who are recognised as the world leader in Sawmill saw shop machinery Thode has delivered more saw shop solutions to industry in the past three years than it did in the previous ten years.

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Oil CBN versus Water Miscible

May 28, 2020
My thoughts on oil / CBN versus old school vitrified wheels and soluble oil in water

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