Key Knife exhibiting at 2006 Wood Technology Show in Portland, OR
If you plan on attending the 2006 Wood Technology Show in Portland, OR make sure to stop by Key Knife’s booth (#476) to see the latest in indexible knife chipping and planing technology.

Key Knife Inc. structures for the future
The owners of Key Knife have decided to ensure the company's integrity for the future by transitioning the ownership of the company to the employees through an Employee Stock Ownership Plan [ESOP]. After investigating numerous alternatives company principals decided the best transition option for Key Knife clients, stockholders and employees was to maintain the company's culture and industry commitment by selling the company to the valued employees who have helped make Key Knife what it is today.

Key Knife was founded in 1986 by Bob Bayly, Tom Carpenter and Dudley Smith; operating out of a section of Cecil Ostrander's barn in Hillsboro, Oregon to provide disposable knives to the forest products industry. From this meager beginning of limited resources, through passion and industry commitment, Key Knife has become an innovative, world class manufacturer and committed customer server of the forest products industry. Key Knife currently has over one hundred employees generating annual sales exceeding thirty million dollars from service offices worldwide providing value to whole log chipping, pulp mill, sawmill, planning, OSB, molding and particleboard operations.

Key Knife's success comes from a unique culture and vision of “Going Beyond All Limits" to provide clients guaranteed value.

Key Knife is celebrating their 20th anniversary
2006 marks Key Knife's 20th anniversary of serving the Wood Products Industry. Over the last 2 decades Key Knife has developed innovative chipping, flaking, and planing systems that have helped mills around the world to improve recovery, quality, production, and operating efficiencies.

Potlatch-Gwinn upgrades Sawquip canter
Recently Potlatch-Gwinn (MI) upgraded the chipping heads in their Sawquip canter to a Key Knife High Recovery XL system. The mill is benefiting from improved surface finish, chip quality, and longer knife life

Weyerhaeuser-Big River upgraded curve gang (Saskatchewan)
Recently upgraded the chipping heads in their McGehee curve saw to a Key Knife SLICE XL system. The SLICE XL system has reduced knot tear depth by 30%, decreased knot tear surface area by approximately an inch, and lowered amperage draw by 10%.

Weyerhaeuser-Philadelphia upgrades curve gang
Weyerhaeuser-Philadelphia (MS) upgraded their McGehee curve saw to a Key Knife SLICE XL system. The SLICE XL system has reduced knot tear depth by 38% (.092), and reduced fiber pull area by 23% (1 1/8”). The mill has also reported a chip quality improvement, and doubled knife life.

West Fraser-Smithers upgrades small log line
West Fraser-Smithers (B.C.) replaced the chipping heads in their Optimil Chip N Saw with a Key Knife HY2 system. The mill has reported improvements in both surface finish and chip quality.

Weyerhaeuser-Pine Hill replaced conventional knife system with Key Knife
Weyerhaeuser-Pine Hill (AL) upgraded their 132” 16 knife Konewood chipper to a Key Knife KPS system. The Ridge XL knives in the KPS system last twice as long as the mill’s previous conventional knives. The KPS’ quick knife change feature is enabling the mill to change knives in under 30 minutes. Due to the KPS’ longer knife life and quick knife change feature Weyerhaeuser- Pine Hill has been able to increase production time by 1 hour per day.

Fraser Paper Inc. installs Key Knife planer top and bottom heads in Yates planer
Fraser Paper Inc-Juniper (NB) replaced their 16 knife conventional knife top and bottom heads with Key Knife 24 knife Key Planer Heads. The mill reported Key Knives last 9 times longer than the conventional knives. Additional gains include improved surface finish and a 30% production increase.

Canfor-Houston installs Key Knife Planer top and bottom heads in Gilbert Tech Planer
Canfor-Houston (B.C.) replaced their 32 knife conventional knife top and bottom heads with Key Knife 40 knife Key Planer Heads. The mill has reported Key Knives are lasting between 4-6 times longer than their conventional knives. Other gains include improved finish and increased uptime due to fewer and quicker knife changes.

Weyerhaeuser-Drayton Valley installs Key Knife planer top and bottom heads in Newman Whitney planer
Weyerhaeuser-Drayton Vally (Alberta) replaced their 20 knife conventional knife top and bottom heads with Key Knife 30 knife Key Planer Heads. The mill has reported the Key knives are lasting 4 times longer that the conventional knives. The 30 knife Key Planer Heads have enabled the mill to increase production by 10%, and improve finish.

Hampton-Tillamook upgrades Stetson Ross Planer with Key Knife planer heads
Hampton-Tillamook (OR) replaced their 20 knife conventional knife planer heads with a Key Knife 28 knife Key Planer Head system. The mill reports Key Knives are lasting 5 times longer than their conventional knives. The 28 knife Key Planer Heads have enabled the mill to increase production by as much as 19%, and significantly improve board finish.