July 23, 2025
Wood-Mizer introduces the WM5500 industrial sawmill—its most advanced wideband sawmill. Replacing the WB2000 model, the new WM5500 has been redesigned to deliver greater flexibility, higher efficiency, and enhanced operator experience, setting a new benchmark for industrial-grade sawmilling technology.
Greater Capacity for Bigger Logs and Wider Blades
One of the standout upgrades in the WM5500 is its increased log diameter capacity. The machine can now process logs up to 105 cm in diameter, making it ideal for larger logs commonly found in industrial operations. Along with this physical upgrade, the WM5500 now supports a broader range of blade widths—50 mm, 75 mm, 100 mm, and now up to 120 mm, including the powerful Stellite-tipped wide blades.
Faster and More Precise Sawhead Movement
To improve productivity, the WM5500 features a new servo-driven sawhead positioning system. This upgrade reduces head movement time to just 5 seconds, enabling quicker height adjustments and more precise cutting. The sawhead is also built with a more robust, wider frame and is supported by a triple-row chain system for enhanced stability during vertical travel.
More Power and Smarter Cutting
While previous models offered 30 kW and 37 kW motor options, the WM5500 introduces a powerful 45 kW (60 HP) motor, specifically designed for high-demand operations that utilize wide Stellite blades. An integrated encoder continuously monitors the motor’s RPM and adjusts it as needed using an altivar, especially when blades encounter harder sections of wood.
Advanced Blade Lubrication with Compressed Air Assistance
To match the performance of wider blades, the WM5500 features a redesigned blade lubrication system. Using compressed air, the system sprays a controlled mix of fluid directly onto the working blade. Operators can fine-tune this mix using a regulation valve for optimal blade performance in varying wood conditions.
The compressed air system is also used to assist the debarker and board removal system, offering smoother operation and easier maintenance. With an air gun included for cleaning the sawhead area, every detail has been considered to optimize performance and operator comfort.
Blade tensioning remains reliable and robust, with the option of an electric pump upgrade, allowing the operator to manage tension settings directly from the cabin for added convenience.
Ergonomic Operator Cabin and Precision Hydraulics
Operator experience has been elevated in the WM5500 with a completely redesigned control cabin. It features a slanted screen to reduce glare, a touchscreen interface for intuitive function control, and integrated joysticks for ease of operation. For maximum comfort, the cabin can also be equipped with air conditioning.
Hydraulic system upgrades also offer more innovative functionality. Instead of the standard proportional valve, the WM5500 uses a bypass-controlled oil flow system.
Built for Flexibility and Customization
The WM5500 sawmill offers multiple bed size options: 4.5 m (standard), 7.5 m (medium), and custom lengths up to 12 m. Customers specify their preferred blade width when ordering, which determines the blade wheel configuration, guide blocks, and wheel alignment setup.
A New Era in Industrial Sawmilling
With the WM5500, Wood-Mizer introduces not just a new machine, but a new standard for industrial sawmills. It easily integrates into a sawmilling line, featuring log decks, sorting and transfer tables, edgers, and multirips, allowing for a productivity boost and a significant reduction in costs.
The WM5500 represents Wood-Mizer’s ongoing commitment to innovation, performance, and user-focused design. From improved cutting capacity and speed to more innovative operator controls and maintenance-friendly features, every element in the WM5500 industrial sawmill has been carefully refined.
For more information on the WM5500 and other Wood-Mizer industrial solutions, visit https://woodmizer.eu/contact or contact your local sales representative.
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