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U•C Coatings is proud to announce the addition of Jim Higgins to the U-C Coatings family. Entering the timber industry as a teenager, Jim brings over 30 years of practical logging knowledge and sawmill experience to our account team. His UCC sales territory encompasses Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois,
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LogSavers Inventor, Jim Higgins, Joins U•C Coatings’ Sales Team |
Indiana, Kentucky, Iowa, Missouri, Arkansas and Tennessee and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
As a professional logger in Pennsylvania, Jim Higgins created the original LogSavers in 1989 to be safer and easier to use. Swinging the backside of an axe – at his left hand – to drive steel “S” irons into logs, never seemed like a great idea to Jim. After dislocating his index finger on his left hand while working, he knew there had to be a better way to stitch existing log splits.
The innovative idea was to let the hammer do the holding. Designing the LogSaver to clip to the face of the hammer, kept the logger’s hands out of the striking zone. Notches in the hammer allowed the LogSavers to be held by the LogSaver hammer at a variety of angles. The LogSavers “staple” design yielded many other benefits. By using a special high-impact plastic, all the problems caused by metal parts in logs were prevented. There was no need to remove LogSavers “staples” from the log; you could cut right through them with no damage to saws or veneer knives. Black iron stains in log ends were eliminated.
The LogSavers System was quickly accepted by numerous logging operations and in 1992 Higgins approached U•C Coatings to sell and distribute his new invention.
“Since U•C Coatings was the leader in wood protection products, and I’d used ANCHORSEAL for many years,” said Jim Higgins, “I knew it would be a good fit.”
While maintaining his job as a log buyer Higgins collaborated with UCC president Tom Johel and CEO Norm Murray to bring the LogSavers system to a wider market.
From the outset it was a win-win situation for U•C Coatings and our customers,” said Tom Johel. Over the years, customer feedback led to various refinements in the design of the System. A smaller version, called the FlitchSaver was developed, the “I-beam” configuration was re-engineered to a curved version, and circular grooves in the hammer faces replaced the notches. This customer–centered approach improved the ease of use and increased the accuracy of staple placement, thereby providing the premier system to control existing checks and stress splits in logs.
“Our 20-year history with Jim Higgins and the LogSavers product line”, remarked Norm Murray, “is another example of the way we strive to build strong relationships and provide the best wood protection products we can for our customers.” Like his invention, Jim fits right in with the company’s mission to keep the clients’ needs at the forefront, and he looks forward to meeting all of his customers and supplying the with the full range of U•C Coatings’s products.
U-C Coatings has announced the addition of two new interactive tools on its website. These calculators will enable users to find out how much Anchorseal is needed to cover a certain amount of wood, and how much extra yield will be obtained by using Anchorseal.
The numbers speak for themselves, the more valuable the wood the more potential for money earned for each piece of wood. It’s a very graphic way to show that “not using end sealer” is throwing money away. You can’t afford not to use it. Minimal investment with great return…enough to make Wall Street jealous!
See the U*C Coating product showcase.pdf in the March issue of Great Lakes TPA Magazine
