Work was immediately begun in contracting for construction of the Wood Utilization Center, and in procurement of logging, sawmilling, and wood processing equipment. The Center was dedicated on October 19, 1963. The Wood Center is 50 feet wide by 280 feet long. It is appropriately constructed of wood - featuring the use of laminated wood arches and timber roof decking with hardwood paneled walls. A wooden block floor further demonstrates the versatility of wood.
The Center was equipped with representative examples of most industrial woodworking machines including: a edge belt sander, a automatic lathe, a automatic spindle sander, a table saw, a horizontal two-spindle bore, a moulder, a vertical multi-spindle bore, a joiner, a rough mill planer system, a double-end tenoner, a triple drum sander, a finishing planer, a overhead router, a band saw, a double spindle shaper, a straight-line rip saw, a hand operated lathe, a drill press, a mortise machine, a radio-frequency panel and beam laminating press, a finger joiner, a finishing spray booth, and support equipment for sharpening and maintenance of the woodworking equipment. Some of the same woodworking machines are still in the Wood Center Laboratory today. Some of the machines purchased in the early 1960's have been replaced with machines that are state-of-the art for the hardwood products industry. Today computer controlled and optimizing machines are common through the Wood Center Laboratory.
EMPHASIS ON EDUCATION
Through the 39 years of service to the Citizens of the Commonwealth of Kentucky, the Wood Center has been the leader in technical education and technology transfer for Kentuckys forest products industry. The major educational emphasis at the Wood Utilization Center has been the Forestry and Wood Technology School or Program. The school was started in 1962. The first two years the program consisted of eight weeks applied training in basic forestry subjects and operations, fourteen weeks of primary forest utilization and fourteen weeks of secondary processing subjects and activities.
September 1965 the College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky in cooperation with the University of Kentucky Community College system offered an associates degree in Forestry and Wood Technology. The curriculum was designed so that a student would take his or her first year of study at a Community College or Regional College. The second year of study was offered here at the Wood Utilization Center. In 1982 the program ceased to enroll students. Two hundred and eighty students went through this program from 1963 through 1982.
In 1995-96 the University of Kentucky and Hazard Community and Technical College opened the Forestry and Wood Technology option offering an Associates of Science Degree. This program is in operation today with approximately 70 students enrolled.
EMPHASIS ON EXTENSION
Cooperative extension efforts through out the years have propelled the Wood Center and it's staff into a state and regional leadership role among surrounding land grant colleges. The Wood Center Staff provides major support for a multi-state hardwood lumber drying group. The Staff also provide state-of-the-art technical training for the hardwood products industry in Kentucky and surrounding states. The Wood Utilization Center is the only facility in Kentucky capable of customizing it's laboratory to meet any hardwood manufacturers technical training needs. ( Photo of cross-cut saw)
Recently, the Wood center staff has been involved with an area economic development group that was successful in locating a major hardwood cabinet manufacturer into the area. This manufacturer will hire over 200 people in the next year. Most of these folks will have participated in training programs developed especially for them by Wood Utilization Center staff and most of these training classes will be held at the Wood Center Laboratory.
The following is a partial list of technical training classes and services available through the cooperative extension staff of the Wood Utilization Center:
Moulder setup and operation
Profile Knife Design and Manufacturing
Advanced Moulder Maintenance
Cabinet Vision Training
Forklift "Train the Trainer" class
Hardwood Lumber Grading Short Course
Hardwood Log Grading Short Course
Hardwood Lumber Drying Short Course
EMPHASIS ON RESEARCH
Current research at the Wood Utilization Center includes a cooperative research project with the Forest Products Laboratory at Mississippi State University. On test are several finishing materials which are being tested for degradation from ultraviolet light. Also, several of the finishing materials are being tested for their resistance to molds and mildew.
