Tanzania’s sawmilling industry is experiencing a significant boost in efficiency and productivity with the widespread adoption of advanced bandsaw technology. These versatile cutting tools are revolutionizing the log breakdown process, leading to higher-quality sawn timber and improved resource utilization. With their precision, automation features, and versatility, bandsaws are becoming a cornerstone of Tanzania’s sawmilling operations.
The sawmilling industry in Tanzania plays a significant role in the country’s economy and forestry sector. Tanzania is known for its vast forest resources, which cover approximately 51% of the land area. The industry primarily involves the conversion of logs into sawn timber and other wood products.
The sawmilling industry in Tanzania contributes to the country’s economy, provides employment opportunities, and supports the sustainable management of its forest resources. Efforts to address challenges and promote sustainable practices are crucial for the industry’s continued growth and environmental conservation.
BSc. WTVA Year 03 observing the performance of Circular saw at Mafinga District, Iringa Region.
A Circular saw is a fundamental tool in the sawmilling industry, enabling efficient log breakdown, resawing, and speciality cutting. They contribute to the production of high-quality sawn timber and help optimize the utilization of logs during the sawmilling process.
In FPT Students were exposed to Sawmill Operations, Timber Species, Log Sourcing and Procurement, Quality Control, Waste Management, Value-Added Products, Safety and Environmental Considerations, Market and Distribution, and Community Engagement. Also, Students were exposed to Saw Doctoring Especially Circular Saw.
Circular saws are also used for recovering valuable lumber from flitches (the outer edges of a log) and offcuts. By resawing these sections, sawmills can maximize the yield from each log and reduce waste. The bandsaw’s precision and narrow kerf (width of the cut) allow for efficient recovery of usable timber from these sections. However Circular Saw has low recovery rate (cubic metres) compare to Band Saw
The supervision was under Mr. Justine Alistides from the Department of Forest Engineering and Wood Sciences at SUA.
