Success Stories: Baldor Electric Company, a leader in energy efficient electric motors, linear motors and adjustable speed drives industry


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Baldor Vector Drives Double Productivity!

Travis Lumber Company, Mansfield, AR, manufactures southern yellow pine lumber. The pine comes form logs within a 60 to 80 mile radius around Mansfield, is converted to lumber and shipped to lumber brokers and wholesalers all over the United States.

Travis has a very sophisticated laser/computer system (accurate to .030/inch) which ensures that they obtain as much usable lumber as possible form each log. The logs range from 8' to 20' in length and 5" to 21" in diameter. Travis processes 4000-4600 of these logs per day. An additional 1000 per day, 30" logs are also processed on another line.

A cutoff saw cuts tree-length logs into various lengths to send to Travis' sawmill. "We've got to cut these logs at an exact spot," says Fred Rix, electronic technician at Travis. "If they're cut too long or too short, we lose money."

Travis was using a hydrostatic variable speed hydraulic system to position logs for cutting but it was "very difficult to get precise control" continues Rix. "We bought a new system from Advanced Sawmill Machinery, Holt, FL. Arrow Speed Controls, a Baldor distributor in Vancouver, BC, Canada, has sold Baldor Vector Drives and also Baldor MINT^TM motion control products to Advanced. "We are really happy with our new system. Now we get � inch accuracy at a much higher speed. With the old hydraulic system, we could only process 200 feet per minute," Rix says. "Now, thanks to Baldor products, we've doubled our production to 400 feet per minute and it's much more accurate. We get a much more controlled rate of speed at start up and also at ramp down. And, because of the success we've had with Baldor products, we're looking at them for replacement motors at many other production locations."

Gilbert Travis, owner of Travis Lumber, remembers attending a forestry show in Atlanta and looking at Baldor products there. He had heard about Baldor and knew we were, "right at his back door." He also knew Baldor's CEO and President, John McFarland, since they lived in the same neighborhood in Fort Smith.

"I called John, since I knew him," recounts Gilbert. "I told him I was thinking of buying a new log positioning system that used Baldor products. I told him that an inventory of spare parts was critical and he said that if I'd send him a spare parts list, he would promise to have every one of them in inventory, 24 hours a day. That sealed the deal, right there. "In addition," continues Gilbert, "In dealing with McFarland, I found him to be as extremely knowledgeable and cordial as any company presidents I have ever dealt with. He does an excellent job for Baldor."

John McFarland provided the lead for this Success Story. Looks like he was a major part of the sale, too.

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