Wood Pole Manufacturing & Supply

Utility Pole Production & Logistics

Hydrolake is a wood pole manufacturing and wood treating company. Operations are conducted in accordance with procedures established by the American National Standards Institute and American Wood Protection Association. With foresters available for on-site evaluations, we welcome the opportunity to work with private landowners to implement a red pine quality management program.

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Utility Poles

FROM THE FOREST TO THE POWER LINE

Hydrolake products are manufactured from Michigan Red Pine, selected for straighter wood grain resulting in straighter end products. The treatment procedure utilizes CCA (Copper, Chrome, & Arsenic), a clean and environmentally acceptable preservative. All manufacturing is conducted in accordance with procedures established by the American National Standards Institute and American Wood Protection Association. To date, Hydrolake has manufactured over 600,000 utility poles.

Utilizing over 75-years of combined forestry management and sourcing expertise, quality control begins in the forest with the hand selection of each Michigan Red Pine.

WOOD PEELING

  • The hand-selected Red Pine is shipped to Hydrolake, where employees use a Morbark Peeler to debark up to 2,000 poles per week
  • Bark and chips are then shipped to a local cogeneration plant 

WOOD DRYING

  • Debarked poles are then air dried 
    • Air drying procedures allow us to greatly reduce the use of natural gas
  • Poles are then placed in one of the three large dry kilns

POLE FRAMING

  • Offering the ability for customized utility pole framing specifications for contract customers

POLE TREATMENT

  • Utilizing a State-of-the-Art Arch/Lonza Designed CCA Treating System, Hydrolake has the ability to treat up to a 65' wood pole
  • Pole Treatment is water-based, which gives the treatment process an environmental advantage
    • Throughout the pole's life, the CCA Treatment stays in the pole and does not saturate into the ground 
  • CCA Treatment allows for cost effective and stable pricing 
  • Short treatment cycle time allows increased flexibility to meet customer needs

QUALITY CONTROL

  • WQC Standards
  • In-process, computer generated quality control reporting.
  • Utility Poles are warrantied for 50 years

Logistics & Inventory Management

POWER & EXPERTISE BEYOND CARGO

As the industry leader in inventory and logistics management, Hydrolake's expertise includes consigned distribution and transmission pole inventories. Hydrolake has specialized yard and storage equipment, including rail siding, capable of managing to a capacity of 20,000 poles. 

  • Customer specific site-inventory levels for utility poles
  • Rail siding for utility pole receiving & storage
  • Procurement of other wood species such as Cedar, Southern Yellow Pine, & Douglas Fir
  • Physical Inventory Mangement (receipts and control as well as min/max inventory management)
  • Utility Pole Shipment Management
  • Well-equipped tractor trailer fleet, capable of delivering poles up to 125' in length 
    • Experienced drivers and crane operators
    • Service center delivery
    • Construction site stake drop

  • Industry-specific yard equipment
24/7/365 EMERGENCY SERVICES AVAILABLE WITH IMMEDIATE STORM RESPONSE LOGISTICS

Other Wood Services

DEDICATED, VERSATILE & INNOVATIVE

Hydrolake has the ability to treat fence posts and hops poles, as well as the capability to dry kiln cabin logs and the versatility to treat and dry other wood products. 

As with utility poles, Hydrolake utilizes a State-of-the-Art Arch/Lonza Designed CCA Treating System for wood product treatment.

COPPER, CHROME & ARSENIC (CCA)

  • Wood Product Treatment is water-based, which gives the treatment process an environmental advantage
  • CCA Treatment stays in the wood and does not saturate into the ground 
  • Short treatment cycle time allows increased flexibility to meet customer needs
  • CCA Treatment allows for cost effective and stable pricing 

WOOD QUALITY CONTROL

  • In-process, computer generated quality control reporting
  • Flexibility for individual customer needs, specializing in high-quality wood treatment and drying services