Industrial Conveyor Success Story
Bullet proof - that is what Charles Duffrin of Forté Industries Inc. calls Patz equipment.
"We characterize a good piece of equipment at Forté as being 'bullet proof' which means it runs day in and day out with no problems," says Charles, "because it is made heavy duty. Patz equipment is bullet proof."
Charles and his brother Richard started their sawmill in Stephenson, MI, from the ground up, 25 years ago. The company has two mills and specializes in the hardwood lumber business. The first mill is a conventional grade mill cutting hard maple lumber. The second mill, built in 1998 uses a computer-controlled overhead Scragg saw with double blades to break down the hardwood logs. The Scragg mill produces cut to size boards for the Wisconsin pallet market.
According to Charles, a sawmill has to constantly add new equipment, take equipment out and move equipment. He states that their local Patz dealer, Martin Sales & Service in Wallace, MI, has been a big help in setting up new systems.
"We have always used Patz conveyors and material movers because of their reliability and dealer service and parts," says Charles. "Patz equipment has benefited the operation because it can handle multiple waste products at one time in the same material mover - one conveyor doing the work of three."
At Forté, two Patz Model 400 Material Movers are used for moving sawdust, wood blocks, and bark. A Patz Model 162 chain conveyor assists in this process at one of the mills.
"A very, very big part of any successful sawmill is the handling of its wood waste," says Charles. "We have always used Patz because they are problem solvers when it comes to moving bulk waste."
Patz dealer Jack Martin recently installed an extension to one of Forté's material movers to raise it higher off the ground. Jack also installed a trap door on the conveyor to allow material to drop into an open top trailer, allowing Forté to divert material to a second open top trailer when the main trailer becomes full.
"When one trailer is full, you either open or close the trap door and the waste is diverted to the other trailer," explains Charles. "We did have a concern when we changed over that some of the big pieces that come out of the mill might get caught between the chain and the door opening, however this has never happened. The pieces always drop away before the chain can hook it because the chain is moving at a slow speed."
Charles speaks highly of Martin Sales & Service who has all parts on hand 24 hours a day if ever the mill needs to service or replace worn parts on their Patz equipment. Jack has served as the mill's Patz dealer for nearly ten years, and prior to that was employed at the Patz dealership he now owns.
Forté Industries, Inc. has relied on Patz since purchasing their first material mover in 1995 and Charles credits this long-term relationship for the role it has played in their success. Adds Charles, "Material movers can be redesigned to handle new applications. We have done this over the years with Patz; they're very adaptable."
Patz has been and continues to be Forté Industries' choice for dependable and reliable material moving equipment.
