TIMBER FOREST PRODUCT RECOVERY EFFICIENCY OF HORIZONTAL BAND SAW, CIRCULAR SAW AND CHAIN SAW MACHINES IN SAWMILL INDUSTRIES IN NIGER STATE, NIGERIA

Abstract

THIS STUDY WAS CARRIED OUT IN ZONE-B COMPRISING BOSSO, GAWU-BABANGIDA, KAGARA, KUSHERKI, MINNA, SHIRORO AND TAFA LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREAS OF NIGER STATE TO DETERMINE THE EFFICIENCY IN THE RATE OF TIMBER RECOVERY OF HORIZONTAL BAND SAW, CIRCULAR SAW AND CHAIN SAW MACHINES. THE PRODUCTION LEVELS WERE INVESTIGATED IN PERCENTAGES AND COMPARED TO MACHINE OUTPUT RATING OF 17M3 OR 600FT3 OF TIMBER PER EIGHT HOUR WORK PERIOD FOR NON AUTOMATED MACHINE PLANT. RESULT SHOWS RECOVERY RATES OF 27.11%, 75% AND 14.15% FOR HORIZONTAL BAND SAW, CIRCULAR SAW AND CHAIN SAW MACHINES RESPECTIVELY. RESULT ALSO SHOWS VERY LOW PERFORMANCE OF HORIZONTAL BAND SAW, CIRCULAR SAW AND CHAIN SAW. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE INDUSTRY SHOULD INVEST IN ADVANCED MODERN TECHNOLOGY OF TIMBER PROCESSING TO ACHIEVE HIGHER RECOVERY RATES AND REDUCE WASTAGES OF FOREST PRODUCTS; MAKE THE WORK SAFER MORE ATTRACTIVE, TRAIN EMPLOYEES ON MAINTENANCE AND SAFETY PRACTICES TO IMPROVE EFFICIENCY OF MACHINE AND LABOUR.