Konkolville Lumber undergoes renovation

by Nancy C. Butler

Phase I of a major renovation at Konkolville Lumber Mill was recently completed and the first log over the new system was scheduled last week, Alex Irby told Orofino Chamber of Commerce members Wednesday.

Irby is Resource Manager for the company. He said they originally traveled all over to investigate the latest in small log mills. Then they decided to do large logs and switched their research focus.

The old mill building has been torn out and replaced with a full metal structure. Crews have been working hard to get the renovation completed, but there have been delays caused by such events as Hurricane Katrina. The concrete poured for the walls is being jokingly called the "Great Walls of Konkol". It has taken 450 yards of concrete so far.

The debarker and head rig are the only parts left from the old mill. The rest of the equipment is new and computerized for specific cuts. The equipment is optimized to get the best cut of the logs.

Irby said the construction crews for the saw mill are from Oregon, the electrical from Culdesac and the building from Pierce. A lot of local people were hired to help with parts of the construction and some may stay with the companies doing the various parts of the renovation. There were two accidents during the work involving falls.

There were a few people laid off from the mill during the renovation, but most stayed on to help with clean up. Only about the 1/2 the previous number of people will be needed to run the mill due to the computerization. The positions that are not needed will be moved to the planer because it will take extra crews to keep up with the new mill equipment. Irby said they do plan to increase production, but it will take less logs with the optimized cuts.

The power system has also been changed from a substation to an underground transformer. That will cut the energy needs 1/3 to 1/2, he said.

Logs are coming from primarily from state and Potlatch land in the central region. Logs cannot economically be shipped as far now as they were in the 1990s due to the increased fuel costs. Most of the logs being purchased now are within a 100 mile radius. The railroad is being utilized for shipping.

Expansion will continue in the future and houses around the mill will be coming out as people move out. Konkolville is the largest private employer in the county with 85-90 people, he said. It has been a positive move for Greg Konkol to come back and be involved in the company.