Learn how IFG sawmills work from start to finish!
Oct. 9, 2024 – Follow our path each month as we highlight a different employee and showcase how their role is an important part of the process. This month, we’d like to introduce you to a crucial role in the lumber production process ─ a portal crane operator. Below, read an overview of the importance of the portal crane operator from both Johnny, and his supervisor.
Johnny
IFG Portal Crane Operator
Watch this video!
The role of portal crane operator at IFG:
“Johnny is the quarterback of the log yard, he sees everything that is going on, he is a great mentor to all the junior team members. Johnny organizes and facilitates all the long logs under the crane. He rotates the inventory and makes sure all the decks are getting enough water. We store most of the log volume under the portal crane, so Johnny is a busy man! Johhny keeps track of where certain size logs are at under the crane for certain cuts to optimize the sawmill production.
Johnny is the #1 senior hourly employee here in our mill in Laclede and is a top-notch operator who can operate every piece of equipment in the log yard at a high level. When the portal crane job came up, Johnny was the # 1 choice.
We all call Johnny the EYE IN THE SKY because we can’t get away with anything in the yard, he always sees what we are doing and has no problem telling me I’m doing it wrong!”
─Eddie Gordon, lead scaler, Laclede log yard
Learn more about portal crane operating at KoneCranes.com or ifg.com/careers to contact any member of our HR team!
Hear from portal crane operator, Johnny, in his own words:
1. What does a portal crane operator do? As a portal operator I’m responsible for keeping logs to mill and stacking sorted loads from sorters and organizing decks.
2. Why is the portal operator role so important?
Keeps flow of logs to mill and keeps most of log deliveries put away for storage.
3. How did you become a portal crane operator?
The portal was being installed and I thought it would be something interesting since I already worked in logyard. I trained at Chilco for 3 weeks and took a 2 day course from Kone Cranes.
4. What’s your favorite part of your job? I really enjoy running the portal ─ I have a great view of the mountains and river and I have most of my area to myself. It keeps me busy and most days fly by.
5. What do you like to do in your free time? Any fun facts? I enjoy being on the lake riding jet-skis with my wife during the summer and I’m always working on miscellaneous projects. I love spending time with family and grandkids.
