Innovation describes the products manufactured by Boises Cascade at its engineered wood products plant near Alexandria, La., but not the old inventory marking system.

"We used a rubber stamp applicator, but the printing wasn't crisp or clear," says plant engineer Albert Hamblin.

There was also a significant amount of maintenance involved. Furthermore, Boise had to stop the line and remove the print wheel to change a product code or logo.

Now a computer-controlled ink jet marking system (Matthews International Corp., 412-665-2500, www.matthewsmarking.com) that prints company and association logos as well as important production and building code information, is every bit as flexible as Boise's products.

Hamblin explains that product codes and manufacturing dates can be easily and quickly changed with a keypad. The system also electronically stores a variety of building codes and logos. What's more, new detailed information, like the exact time a product was manufactured, can be added to the printed information and tied into the bar code applied to packaging material.

"That allows us to more effectively trouble shoot in the field if we have a manufacturing problem," says Hamblin. "We know exactly when a product was manufactured and what else was manufactured at the same time." Just as important, the weather- and UV-resistant inks used stand up to the elements.

Ink-jet marking systems were installed on two different production lines.

The first is a high-speed line that produces laminated wooden I-beams for floor joists and rafters. I-joists are assembled first, then pass under the ink jet head where information is printed every 12 feet. Down the line, a cut off saw cuts the material to the desired length. A special mounting system allows the print heads to adjust to varying heights of material and still maintain the 1/8 to 1/4 inch distances required to apply the marking without coming into contact with the product.

At the packaging line, an operator reads the time and date of manufacturing information printed on the product and adds that to the bar code for tracking in the yard and after the sale.

A separate slower speed line produces laminated veneer lumber (LVL) headers and beams for framing supports, windows, doors, and garage columns.

Boise installed 13 printheads and seven controllers to manage the message input on the LVL headers. The software package includes a drop-down window that allows the operator to download different logos and text to any or all 13 printheads.

Hamblin says that savings in maintenance and changeover have been important. But the biggest benefit to Boise has been in the clear crisp logos and product information produced by the new system.

"We measure the success of the system by improved customer satisfaction," says Hamblin. "If they can't read the data and it doesn't meet their needs, then we're not doing our job."