Wood Tech Center Meeting Its Goals In Langlade County

The Wood Technology Center at Northcentral Technical College is meeting its goal of providing accelerated training for one of the northwood’s most sturdy industries.

The center, constructed through a cooperative effort by Langlade County, the city of Antigo, Northcentral Technical College and private industries, concluded three industry-based accelerated training sessions.

The sessions —including a hardwood lumber grading short course, a kiln drying short course and an advanced lumber drying course— attracted students from across the Midwest, including individuals from Illinois, Iowa, Michigan, Minnesota and Wisconsin.

“All three of our training sessions were extremely successful,’’ Travis Allen, wood technology instructor, said. “We were fortunate to have a number of high-quality instructors who are experts in their field, and our students really enjoyed both the hands-on training approach and being able to network with other professionals.’’

The hardwood lumber grading short course, presented by Lake States Lumber Association, NTC and University of Wisconsin-Extension, was held from June 25 to 28. Topics covered included wood structure, the National Hardwood Lumber Association, standard grades, lumber breakdown by grade and hands-on inspection of lumber.

The kiln drying short course, entitled “Drying Quality Lumber,’’ took place from Aug. 6 to 9. Presented by NTC, the Great Lakes Kiln Drying Association and University of Wisconsin-Extension, the course covered wood structure and drying science, drying systems, controlling lumber quality and species specific quality drying.

The advanced lumber drying course, held Aug. 9 and 10 and presented by NTC and Great Lakes Kiln Drying Association, focused on objectives and advanced drying concepts, as well as advanced operations.

As the fall term opens, the technology center is switching gears from summer short courses to training students in NTC’s wood programs