Wood drying kiln operator

Wood drying kiln operators control the process of applying heat to moist or ‘green’ wood in order to obtain usable dry wood. Depending on the type of kiln, the drying operator will be responsible for moving the wood into and out of the kiln, temperature control, and ventilation.

The following job titles also refer to wood drying kiln operator:

dry kiln technician
wood-drying kiln specialist
drying kiln specialist
drying kiln operator
wood-drying kiln operator
wood drying kiln operative
dry kiln operator
wood drying kiln specialist
wood drying kiln technician
wood drying kiln worker
drying kiln technician
wood-drying kiln technician
dry kiln specialist

No formal educational credential is generally required to work as wood drying kiln operator. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

• the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
• the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
• the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Wood drying kiln operator is a Skill level 2 occupation.

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to wood drying kiln operator.

wood treater
debarker operator
kiln firer
chipper operator
nailing machine operator

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of wood drying kiln operator. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of wood drying kiln operator with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

metal furnace operator
pulp control operator
automated assembly line operator
timber trader
incinerator operator

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of wood drying kiln operator.

• Wood moisture content: The amount of water contained in wood materials. The effect of wood moisture on the size and physical characteristics of the wood. Suitable moisture contents for different uses.
• Timber products: Key features, advantages and limitations of the different timbers and timber based products sold at a company and where to access this information.
• Construction products: The offered construction materials, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
• Kiln types: Kiln characteristics, operation and types such as periodic kilns, updraft kilns, downdraft kilns, sprung arch kilns, or catenary arch kilns.
• Wood products: The various wood products such as lumber and furniture, their functionalities, properties and legal and regulatory requirements.
• Types of wood: Types of wood, such as birch, pine, poplar, mahogany, maple and tulipwood.

These skills are necessary for the role of wood drying kiln operator.

• Stack timber: Stack and align timber in neat and separate layers to make it ready for kiln drying.
• Measure furnace temperature: Monitor the product temperature using the available tools and measuring instruments and adjust furnace temperature if needed.
• Identify drying defects: Identify a range of possible drying defects and their mutual causes.
• Control kiln firing: Control and monitor the kiln so that it fires ware (greenware or decorations) according to specified thickness and hardness.
• Acclimatise timber: Acclimatise wooden materials to make sure they will not change size after installation, which may cause damage or produce an otherwise inadequate result. Leave the material in climatic circumstances very similar to those in the location where they will be used. Allow several days for the wood to acclimatise, depending on the type and circumstances.
• Wear appropriate protective gear: Wear relevant and necessary protective gear, such as protective goggles or other eye protection, hard hats, safety gloves.
• Load materials into furnace: Load materials in furnace with correct positioning, fastening and levelling when needed.
• Prepare kiln schedules: Prepare kiln schedules, which consist of predetermining a set of temperatures and humidity conditions for different periods or stages of drying.
• Handle timber-based products: Identify the main types of timber based products to be received at your company. Stack and store timber based products safely and in compliance with company procedures.
• Dry wood: Adjust machine settings to adapt drying processes, drying times, and special treatments to the requirements of the requested wood to be dried.
• Heat materials: Put the materials in an oven and heat them for a certain amount of time and to a specific temperature to shape or cure the material.
• Handle timber: Identify the main types of timber to be received at your company. Stack and store timber safely and in compliance with company procedures.
• Apply wood kiln drying technologies: Dry timber stacks with modern and dated kiln technologies, such as dehumidification, solar, vacuum and conventional drying.
• Manage kiln ventilation: Managing a product specific and energy efficient kiln ventilation.

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of wood drying kiln operator. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Ventilation systems: The types of mechanical ventilation systems that permits the exchange and circulation of air.
• Methods of drying timber: Be acquainted with methods of chamber drying timber, such as air and artificial drying.
• Industrial heating systems: Heating systems fuelled by gas, wood, oil, biomass, solar power, and other renewable energy sources and their energy saving principles, applicable specifically to industrial buildings and facilities.

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of wood drying kiln operator. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

• Inspect quality of products: Use various techniques to ensure the product quality is respecting the quality standards and specifications. Oversee defects, packaging and sendbacks of products to different production departments.
• Monitor gauge: Oversee the data presented by a gauge concerning the measurement of pressure, temperature, thickness of a material, and others.
• Record production data for quality control: Keep records of the machine’s faults, interventions and irregularities for quality control.
• Operate forklift: Operate a forklift, a vehicle with a pronged device in front for lifting and carrying heavy loads.
• Carry out measurements of parts: Operate measurement instruments to measure parts of manufactured objects. Take into consideration specifications of manufacturers to perform the measuring.
• Operate grappler: Operate a hydraulic grappler, an attachment to heavy machinery used to grab and manipulate cylindrical objects such as trees or pipes. Lift up the object, safely manoeuvre it, and set it down in the desired position.
• Perform kiln maintenance: Perform small maintenance tasks on drawing kiln such as replacing the cooling pads of the jacket and plugging in the kiln with mortar.
• Work as a team in a hazardous environment: Work together with others in a dangerous, sometimes noisy, environment, such as a building on fire or metal forging facilities, in order to achieve a higher degree of efficiency while heeding the co-workers’ safety.
• Monitor storage space: Supervise and organise the area in which products are stored.
• Assess felled timber volume: Measure the amount of timber felled using appropriate equipment. Take care of the equipment. Record the measured data.
• Identify hazards in the workplace: Perform safety audits and inspections on workplaces and workplace equipment. Ensure that they meet safety regulations and identify hazards and risks.
• Move treated wood: Unload, prepare and move freshly treated wood to an appropriate post-treatment drying area.
• Clean equipment: Perform cleaning routines after equipment use.
• Prepare production reports: Prepare a comprehensive and unbiased report on wood technology production and progressive development of wood based materials.
• Report defective manufacturing materials: Maintain required company records and forms in order to report any defective materials or questionable conditions of manufacturing machinery and equipment.
• Distinguish wood quality: Distinguish different types of wood quality schemes, grading rules, and standards. See how quality differs between certain kinds of wood, such as hardwoods and softwoods.
• Manage timber stocks: Inspect the stock to find out how much is left. Identify any damaged, faulty, or out of date items and move them to the appropriate location. Follow stock rotation methods to ensure stock is used effectively. Handle goods using safe and approved handling methods.
• Keep records of work progress: Maintain records of the progress of the work including time, defects, malfunctions, etc.
• Drive timber piles: Use any of various types of pile drivers to drive piles made of timber into the ground for structure stabilisation purposes. Take care to position the pile and pile driver correctly and apply the correct amount of force to drive the pile while preventing damage and physical stresses.
• Assess felled timber quality: Evaluate the quality of the felled timber.

7521 – Wood treaters

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References

1. Wood drying kiln operator – ESCO