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SUNY ESF
New England Kiln Drying Association

2025 Fall Meeting

November 11 - 12 | The Holiday Inn Express, Brattleboro, Vermont

New England Kiln Drying Association (NEKDA) Officers and Board of Directors have put together an excellent meeting program with important and informative topics and opportunities for kiln operators and managers, including an interesting tour of Cerosimo Lumber Company.

Accommodation

The accommodations for the meeting are at the Holiday Inn, Allentown, PA.

Direction: The Holiday Inn Express & Suites Brattleboro,  100 Chickering Drive Battleboro, VT 05301 is conveniently located just west off of RTE 9 (Putney Rd) about 4 miles north of Cersosimo Lumber. Please call the hotel directly on  1-800-257-2400 for our special NEKDA rate for overnight rooms of $149/night. Be sure to note specifically that you are with NEKDA group. We are looking forward to seeing everyone!

Registration

Please mail your pre-registration form and check directly to Bill Smith, wbsmith@esf.edu (by November 3). There is $20 per person surcharge for late registration.

Register

NEKDA Meeting PDF

Tuesday | November 11

Tour participants should bring their own hard hats, safety glasses and wear close-toe shoes. 

1103 Vernon Street, Bratleboro, VT

Cersosimo Lumber Company saws and kiln dries high quality eastern white pine and northeastern hardwood lumber. Our tour of their operation will include the pine and hardwood sawmills, cross-flow predryer, pine planer mill, state-of-the-art grading line, kilns, and wood-fired boiler system.

From I-91 take exit 1; coming from the south bear to the right, from the north bear to the left - then drive ~ 2.5 miles on rte 5 north (Canal St) to the bottom of the hill, then turning to the right on Route 142 south (Vernon St) for ~ 2 miles. Look for the main office and mill on the west side of the road.

At the Holiday Inn Express

Registration and Lunch 

Welcome and Introductions, Bob Pole, NEKDA, President (SII Dry Kilns, Montpelier, VT)

Dry Kiln Set up

Preparation, Loading, Beginning Schedule

The NEKDA Kiln Operator’s Clinic – Basic and Advanced Drying

Led by Bill Smith, Bob Pope and Tom Graber. Informal and practical instruction and discussion on such things as the basics of kiln operation, maintenance, stacking, DH, conventional, and high-temperature drying, stain and discoloration, scheduling, changing species, wood-moisture fundamentals, kiln loading and baffling, moisture meters, restarting kilns, drying degrade, etc. Bring your individual problems, questions, and solutions! Please note any particular interests for discussion at the clinic on your registration form.

Refreshment Break

Stress Relief

Banquet

Wednesday | November 12

At Holiday Inn Express

7:00 am - 7:45 pm - Board of Directors Meeting

7:45 am - 8:00 pm - Registration and Coffee

7:55 am - 8:05 pm - Welcome and Introductions | Bob Pope, NEKDA President (SII Dry Kilns, Montpelier, VT)

Technical Session Topics

Moring Break

  • Automation and Optimization systems, robotics, stick laying | Patrick Lepage | Comac
  • Boiler Water Treatment
  • Business Mix Opportunities – panel discussion
  • Fundamentals of Quality Lumber Drying | Bill Smith | SUNY ESF

12:00 - Elections, NEKDA Business Meeting, and Lunch at the Holiday Inn

We are looking for several people interested in helping to lead the NEKDA by joining and serving on our Board of Directors. Please contact Bill Smith or Bob Pope if you can assist in this rewarding activity

In these challenging economic times it is important to remember that - 

Wood is the premier material for manufacturing, building and construction. It is renewable and produced from a sustainable natural resource. It is strong, lightweight, economical, long-lasting and attractive, and is made into countless products desired by society. It is also best used when it has been properly and effectively kiln dried. Because sustained profitability and competitive advantage in the marketplace is most assured by quality kiln drying, we encourage you to participate in NEKDA meetings. The NEKDA Officers and Board of Directors look forward to seeing you in Brattleboro!