Armstrong’s sales manager, Terry Blessing, demonstrates the Armstrong CNC VariSharp band saw sharpener to Christian Nicolas (center) and Philippe Siat (right) in Armstrong’s demonstration area.

Mike Gish (extreme left without hard hat) of Willamette’s Dallas, Oregon sawmill aligns resaw teeth. French visitors in background are taking notes after filing supervisor Mike Neveau explained that Willamette uses a conventional slant headrig, horizontal resaw and curve sawing edger to produce 425,000 board feet (1,000 cubic meters) of lumber per shift.

Willamette’s innovative filing supervisor Mike Neveau (right) discusses benching techniques with (from left to right) Christian Nicolas, Brigitte and Luc Batard. Mike’s successes have been featured in several Armstrong Saw Engineer articles.

Luc "fast saw" Batard inspects a band saw at Willamette’s Dallas sawmill with (background center) Vincent Colineau and Christian Nicolas. Head filer Mike Neveau (extreme left without a hardhat) generously shared information about his mill and filing program with his guests from France.

Language was only a momentary barrier to communication. Quick sketches, hand gestures and quickly referenced French/English dictionaries allowed a free flow of ideas. French and American sawmillers are involved in a spirited discussion of saw maintenance at Willamette’s Dallas sawmill.