A recent post featuring one of our Twin Horizontal Resaws generated plenty of discussion and questions about how the system works and where it fits within a mill. While a social media post only scratches the surface, the engineering behind the Twin Horizontal is what has made it a proven solution for hardwood and softwood operations around the world.
Since 2000, McDonough has supplied more than 85 Horizontal Resaws worldwide, including 12 Twin Horizontal systems. They are commonly installed in hardwood mills processing cants, slabs, and multiple products such as doubles and triples, while softwood operations often utilize them for grade sawing or slab recovery.
What distinguishes the Twin Horizontal is its opposing saw configuration. One saw is designed to cut left-handed while the other cuts right-handed. By opposing the cutting direction, the saw forces are balanced as the material enters the machine, reducing the tendency for the workpiece to shift during the cut. This improves stability throughout the sawing process and helps maintain consistent cutting performance.
McDonough Horizontal Resaws are designed to accommodate a wide range of production requirements. They can process material from less than one inch up to 12 inches in height while handling widths up to 36 inches, giving mills the flexibility to produce a variety of products on the same platform.
The Twin Horizontal shown here was installed at Niagara Sawmill in New Zealand in 2015 and is one of 12 Twin Horizontal systems McDonough has supplied over the past 25 years. While every mill has unique production goals, the twin configuration has proven to be an effective choice for operations seeking accurate sawing, stable material control, and dependable performance in demanding applications.
Sometimes a photo only tells part of the story. Behind the Twin Horizontal's distinctive appearance is an engineered approach to balancing cutting forces, improving stability, and helping mills get the most from every pass.