In the forest products industry, equipment and service providers encountered several issues in 2024, such as struggles with labor, competition with imitation wood products, transportation and fuel prices. One respondent detailed, “The high fuel prices are still challenging with high transportation costs from vendors and freight companies.” Many businesses intend to combat these issues with new product line releases, technological improvements in machinery, AI and hopes for lower fuel and transportation costs. A respondent from one company noted, “There are areas of the country where labor is reliable but for most, technology is replacing day laborers as fast as vendors can get equipment installed.”
Brian Turlington
SII Dry Kilns
Lexington, NC
We provide equipment for hardwood and softwood companies, including many industrial wood sectors, pallets, poles, firewood and crosstie companies.
As for hardwood companies in 2024, although we were busy, it was primarily with repeat customers and not with as many new customers. We have built projects that are expansions of existing operations and some replacements of antiquated kilns with modern energy efficient kilns. As the cost of energy rises in the future, many companies are finding that running older equipment with poor energy efficiency will become too costly to operate. For the concentration yards that need to move with the market, many are needing kilns that have extra airflow, heat and venting to have more flexibility for drying all species to take advantage of changes in the market. In 2024, the softwood market is feeling a bit of the roller coaster life the hardwood sector knows all too well. Several softwood companies have slowed some of their expansion but others are still pushing forward with major projects. We are currently working on dual path kilns and batch kilns for various customers.
Pallet kiln sales in 2024 were strong because of the ever-increasing demand for dried pallets versus green.
In 2025, we expect to see both hardwood and softwood sectors improving by the 2nd or 3rd quarters. For the hardwood industry, there will be improvement but overall concern about competition from “look alike” products will continue to eat away at market share. Emerging technology such as thermal modification is beginning to get some traction and we have seen a rise in interest and expect to see more this coming year.
SII has not had any issues with material shortages or transportation availability this year. We have a low turnover rate for skilled labor and are fortunate to have an excellent local community college that we partner with when new skilled labor is required.
For Walnut producers, we have a new line of “fully welded” stainless steel steamers available in both track and package loaded models. The major benefits to customers are the ability to steam without using steam “spray,” versus a closed loop steam system that boils a pool of water contained in a “vat” and returns all condensate to the boiler in addition to the fully welded interior that keeps the “Walnut juice” inside the unit and prevents leakage onto the ground or storm water sewer.
For kiln operations using gas or oil boilers, we offer our SII-HX heat exchanger for new or retrofit projects. According to our supplier’s data, these units can save up to 70 percent of the latent heat that is exhausted while moving all the moist air out of the kiln. SII is continuing testing to validate those efficiency numbers by utilizing these heat exchangers on actual hardwood kilns. The SII-HX heat exchangers are designed specifically for hardwood kilns and are compatible with other dry kiln manufacturers’ controls.
The SII computerized control system provides customers with the tools for real-time kiln management utilizing in-kiln moisture measurement with “sample watch,” our integrated weight-based platforms and/or moisture probes. “Utility watch” as a part of a customer’s control system is a powerful tool to help them manage their energy load when approaching “peak load,” thereby reducing the customer’s electrical costs. Operating in the background, the SII “steam management” system allows customers to prioritize the steam load for their kilns, which in turn allows them to maximize their drying operations when available steam drops below their normal operating range. These systems, combined with the support offered by SII Dry Kilns, provide customers with the tools they need to improve their profitability and maximize product quality.
SII is a full-service dry kiln manufacturer offering custom designed kilns for all North American species. We also provide kiln retrofits ranging from reroofing projects to controller upgrades, complete replacement panels and piping jobs and everything in between. For over 54 years, we have put our experience to work for our customers while building long-term relationships and friendships.
For hardwood, we offer package kilns, track kilns, large capacity center fan wall package kilns, crossflow and down-draft predryers, fan sheds, Walnut steamers, pallet and firewood kilns.
For softwood, we offer dual path kilns and batch track kilns, which are heated with high pressure steam or direct fired heat with biomass or gas burners.
The design of our control systems are based on the idea that our customers know what is best for their operation rather than assuming that we know your lumber better than you do. We utilize AVEVA System Platform software, formerly known as Wonderware, to create the “kiln dry” system that is recognized throughout the industry.
Thermally modified wood is finally beginning to take hold in the United States. SII Dry Kilns have been involved with thermal modification since 2008 and have been representing WDE Maspell’s thermal vacuum kilns since 2015. WDE Maspell is the world’s most respected name in vacuum drying. Through a unique technology that combines attributes of vacuum drying with accelerated heating for thermal modification, WDE Maspell has developed a superior system to any other on the market. Not only does the vacuum allow the remaining moisture in the wood to be removed very quickly but also removes the odor causing “by-products” from the wood during modification and produces an “odor free” product. As thermally modified wood becomes more popular, the opportunities for many of our customers to produce these products for a fraction of the cost that custom treaters charge becomes a considerable improvement in their bottom line.
Our sample watch and moisture probe computerized control systems are popular because of the automation that it provides for the kiln operators. By providing real time monitoring based either by samples or probes, it allows the kiln operators an efficient way to see the kiln charge MC percent, versus weighing a large volume of samples, which can be labor intensive.
Jeremy Mortl
Messersmith Manufacturing
Bark River, MI
We work with both hardwood and softwood companies.
In 2024, we saw a lot of hesitancy in major equipment purchases until after the November elections. We expect a lot of projects will move forward in 2025. We have been able to get parts and equipment as needed with minimal delays. Labor continues to be a struggle, especially in skilled trades but we have been able to retain a good workforce through the labor shortages.
Messersmith now offers a new wood-fired combustion system for burning bark and low-grade fuel types. The combustion system offers better control of fuel bed grate temperatures to reduce emissions and prevent clinkering of low-grade wood fuels.
Messersmith offers boiler control systems for wood boiler systems of any make or age. Our customers see significant increases in boiler operating up-times and in ease of operation, resulting in less labor and maintenance required for operating their boiler. Other benefits are notifications sent via email or text for any boiler related faults and programmable dashboards to view boiler operating parameters.
Messersmith offers full wood boiler systems for both hardwood and softwood customers for drying lumber, heating facilities and power generation. Messersmith offers a full range of material handling and conveying systems, wood fired combustion and boiler systems, controls and emissions control equipment. Messersmith also has a full parts and service team and do their own equipment installations. Customer service is the top priority for all Messersmith’s customers.
Technology is constantly advancing, allowing sawmills and manufacturing facilities to operate more efficiently with less labor. We will continue to see technology advancing, resulting in higher production.
Lee Stiles
A.W. Stiles Contractors Inc.
McMinnville, TN
We work with both hardwood and softwood companies.
Many of our clients have postponed larger expansions and new installations due to economic indicators, political uncertainty and less than ideal lumber markets. Many customers have chosen to revamp their existing kilns and drying systems as opposed to replacing with new. We do have some customers that continue to expand with new equipment but the majority have postponed the larger projects until they have more long-term faith in markets. We do still see some supply issues from time to time but most items have gotten back to reasonable lead times.
In our section of the industry, I don’t see a lot of new technology hitting the market. I do see many customers placing more focus on energy consumption/improvements. This is common when things slow down in lumber or any other industry. We must look at what we’re doing, how we’re doing it and figure out ways to get better. Our company tries to do that in both good and bad markets.
Kiln Controls are getting upgraded often these days. It’s surprising how many drying facilities still do not have remote access to their kilns. We’re all “connected” everywhere one looks. Folks seem to be pushing to have access to their kiln settings around the clock and are looking for ways to minimize people being onsite every single day to check kilns, especially in hardwoods.
We fabricate and install our own lumber drying equipment. In hardwoods, we supply and install pre-dryers, Walnut steamers, kilns, boilers, steam piping, pallet treaters and firewood kilns. We have a heavy focus in rebuilds/refurbishments, energy efficient improvements in all those systems as well. In softwoods, our main focus is kiln (batch and continuous), piping and boiler installations. We also furnish and erect Chief metal buildings for warehouses, manufacturing, etc.
Automation has been growing in our customers’ mills for years. Machines show up to work every day, no hangovers, no days off, no workers’ compensation premiums, etc. Technology advances quickly and so are our customers. Labor was problematic pre-covid. Post-covid is even worse to hear customers talk about. There are areas of the country where labor is reliable but for most, technology is replacing day laborers as fast as vendors can get equipment installed.
Paul Cleereman
Cleereman Industries & Cleereman Controls
Newald, WI
We work with both hardwood and softwood mills.
In 2024, Cleereman Industries observed a surge in capital expenditure within the hardwood and softwood sawmill sectors. Numerous mills have decided to replace outdated equipment and controls, aiming to optimize operational speed and enhance yield recovery. A shared challenge faced by both sawmills and equipment manufacturers alike is a shortage of available labor.
In 2021, Cleereman Industries introduced the innovative Cleereman edger line tailored to the sawmill industry. Fast-forward to October 2024, and the successful installation of over 40 of our enhanced edgers has yielded promising results. Customers are reporting notable spikes in production output and yield. The newly designed edger seamlessly integrates into existing edger locations with minimal adjustments required for surrounding equipment. Our edger was meticulously designed to elevate production efficiency, alleviate operator fatigue and ultimately maximize mill yield. Customer feedback highlights their satisfaction with both the competitive pricing and superior quality. We have heard time and time again from our customers that have installed our optimized edger, that they can just stand by the chipper and watch the edgings and see the savings. More boards and less chips.
Cleereman Controls specializes in crafting carriage controls, edger controls (both optimized and non-optimized), along with debarkers, trimmers, resaws, slabbers, and material handling solutions. Complemented by an in-house engineering division, Cleereman Industries is poised to address diverse customer needs. Our offerings span from individual equipment components to comprehensive turn-key sawmill designs along with our custom sawmill controls and on-site consultation and installation services. Over the last several years we have seen our industry go more towards the one stop shop style of purchasing. Our in-house engineering department has allowed us to handle not only equipment but electrical MCC/starter design of cabinets and building/foundation layouts. In addition, we maintain a comprehensive stock of all parts for our machines in-house, enabling same-day shipments or pickups. We’re dedicated to guiding our customers through every phase of their sawmill projects.
Our extensive product line encompasses stave mills, lumber-pro thin kerf bandmills, debarkers, log hauls, metal detectors, log decks, log turners, track frames, rails, husks, drop-belts, rollcases, transfers, resaws, edgers, trimmers, material handling lines, carriage drives, operator cabs, and custom purpose-built sawmill equipment.
One of the biggest concerns we hear from customers is labor. It’s not only the cost of labor but also not being able to find quality labor. Ever since the pandemic, sawmills have struggled trying to find labor. Manufacturers have focused on technology to replace or improve labor struggles. This trend will continue as manufacturers keep working towards automation and replacing hard to find quality workers with modern technology and automation of traditional manual lines.
Henry German
DMSi Log & Lumber
Omaha, NE
DMSi provides software products to support the building products industry, including both hardwood and softwood companies.
The DMSi product team is working to integrate AI technology to deliver insightful information for faster, more effective decision-making in our customers’ daily business operations.
Built with both hardwoods and softwoods in mind, our log and lumber solutions empower customers to maximize their efficiency. With automated systems delivering information in real time, their workers can spend less time searching and more time doing. Full ERP systems simplify the tracking of inventory data. Automate business processes like costing, inside sales and other administrative tasks, eliminating the need for manual entry and follow-up by teams. This means the hours of manual work can be reduced to one click of a button.
DMSi offers a full ERP solution with an integrated CRM, log and lumber inventory products and an AI hardwood end tally system.
At DMSi, we are your partner in delivering personalized, on-site utilization reviews. Our team is dedicated to enhancing the efficiency of operations and ultimately, making the lives of our customers easier.
It is undeniable that technology can ease the burden of labor shortages. For instance, software is designed to decrease the workload for your team. This will only get faster with the adoption of AI technology, which will let people do more with less and tasks will continue despite a shortage of staff.
Eric Michaud
Carbotech Group
Plessisville, Québec
We deal with both industries, softwood and hardwood.
2024 was a very quiet year for both industries compared to the years before. I see more spending in the wood industry in 2025 with the elections behind us and with the interest rate going down. We had no issue getting parts, transportation and labor during the last year.
We will improve our actual equipment to make them easier to operate and to maintain.
Optimization systems with vision in order to grade wood in softwood and hardwood mills will continue to evolve in 2025 thanks to the artificial intelligence. Carbotech will invest money and effort to get great automatic grading systems for the industry. That will definitely help our customers to get more competitive and improve their bottom line.
Carbotech Group offers log and lumber handling equipment solutions to the industry. Since 2024, Carbotech can also manufacture sawlines for hardwood and softwood mills. Autolog has the experience and expertise to offer optimization and automation solutions for any process involved in the softwood and hardwood sawmills and planer mills.
We’ve been lucky so far; we haven’t suffered too much about labor shortage. Our two locations in Quebec are in excellent spots for finding good quality labor and professionals.
Norvin Laudon
MiCROTEC
Corvallis, OR
MiCROTEC provides solutions for both hardwood and softwood companies.
In the hardwood sector, we observed high interest in both recovery and value, especially with the CT log and its remarkable capabilities with hardwood species. The market is at a record low, and many are waiting for a recovery in 2025. In softwood, there has been strong interest in the CT log, MiCROTEC connect, and analyzing the value change. We anticipate continued high demand for recovery and value-based solutions and a better market for mills to make discretionary investments.
We expect value-based optimization technology to make a significant impact on the industry, especially MiCROTEC’s goldeneye transverse for softwood and the CT log for both hardwood and softwood.
MiCROTEC’s AI-integrated scanning solutions and proprietary CT log scanning technology offer substantial benefits for the entire breakdown process, from log to final product. We anticipate that the first North American MiCROTEC connect application for softwood at Two Rivers Lumber will set a new industry standard.
MiCROTEC offers scanning and optimization solutions for the complete wood processing industry, covering everything from the log yard to secondary processing, for both hardwood and softwood. We are committed to providing our customers with the most economical and sustainable wood utilization.
MiCROTEC’s solutions reduce the need for specialized expertise, such as sawyers and lumber graders, which have historically been essential in sawmills and manufacturing. These advancements leverage the knowledge of experienced industry professionals, shifting their roles from machine operation to optimizing and assessing production processes.
Bob Bell
McDonough Manufacturing Co.
Eau Claire, WI
McDonough Manufacturing works with both hardwood and softwood companies.
In 2024, we saw a strong trend toward equipment purchases aimed at enhancing recovery rates and reducing labor demands in both the hardwood and softwood industries. Optimization remains a top priority, as companies look to improve efficiency and maximize the utilization of every part of the log. With consistently high log prices, there is a growing focus on minimizing waste and ensuring that all fiber is fully utilized. Additionally, there is a clear shift toward automation and ease of operation. Many of our customers are investing in technologies that streamline processes and simplify operator tasks, such as advanced control systems that reduce operational strain. Looking ahead to 2025, we anticipate this trend will continue, with further advancements in technology driving efficiency and automation. While challenges around labor, transportation and parts availability remain, companies are increasingly prioritizing solutions that address these issues, particularly by investing in machinery that requires less human intervention and improves overall workflow.
Two of our systems, the AutoMaxx resaws and optimized edgers, are already making a significant impact in the industry. These advanced machines are designed to boost mill efficiency by improving recovery rates and maximizing material utilization.
In both hardwood and softwood operations, our AutoMaxx resaws feature advanced control systems that significantly streamline traditional resaw processes. The key innovation is the automated movement from chain turners to the resaw, which minimizes gaps between cants. This seamless transition not only boosts efficiency but also allows operators to focus entirely on optimizing the rotation and grading of the product. By reducing manual intervention, these enhancements improve overall production flow and ensure more consistent, high-quality output, making them a valuable addition to any sawmill or manufacturing facility.
We offer a full range of equipment and services for both hardwood and softwood sawmills, designed to support the entire process of turning logs into lumber. Our product lineup includes carriages, bandmills, gangs, edgers, resaws, slabbers and comprehensive material handling solutions—everything needed to efficiently break down logs. In addition to our equipment offerings, we provide maintenance and preventative maintenance services for both hardwood and softwood operations. Our team of skilled technicians is available for on-site support, offering training and assistance to help customers maintain their equipment for optimal performance and longevity. This ensures that the machinery continues to operate reliably for years to come.
Technology is playing an increasingly important role in addressing labor shortages within the forest products industry but there’s still significant room for improvement. Many mills are operating with technology that’s up to 30 years old, largely because modern upgrades can be too costly. At McDonough, we’re focused on bridging this gap by developing advanced yet cost-effective technology that’s accessible to mills of all sizes. Our goal is to provide solutions that not only boost efficiency and productivity but also make it feasible for smaller operations to modernize without breaking the bank.
Stacy Mellott
Mellott Mfg. Co., Inc.
Mercersburg, PA
We provide equipment for both hardwood and softwood industries.
New equipment sales have been trending down throughout 2024. We were fortunate to begin the 2024 year with a strong backlog of orders that carried through the year. Current sales are geared more towards smaller projects and retrofits. We are hearing positive thoughts for 2025. The affects related to inflation are slowly stabilizing at the new normal base prices. Suppliers are returning to implementing moderate to normal increases and purchasing power to negotiate is improving. The high fuel prices are still challenging with high transportation costs from vendors and freight companies. If 2025 brings lower fuel prices, this would ease costs of transportation that would trickle down through all industries.
Mellott is investing in new equipment designs to be released in 2025.
Since 1965, Mellott Manufacturing has been designing and manufacturing quality log and lumber handling equipment for primarily hardwood but will also work for softwood applications. Mellott has an onsite engineering and design team available to provide solutions for our customers’ next project and will consult and work with them to present the best options for their application. We offer material handling integration with new and existing systems. Mellott offers a full line of log and lumber handling equipment along with debarkers, log flare butt reducer, bandsaws, linebars, drop saw trimmers, tilt hoists, crane mat drilling and a full line of tie handling equipment (sorting, stacking, dapping and end plating).
Mellott uses the latest “off the shelf” control components from Rockwell Automation and Delta Computer Systems. Machine troubleshooting and logic changes are provided remotely via the internet.
Jerry Johnson
Paw Taw John Services, Inc.
Rathdrum, ID
We work with both hardwood and softwood companies.
In 2024, we observed very little new equipment purchases for sawmills during the log breakdowns. We don’t just do system stuff, we distribute product, too. New Temposonics® sales dropped for the year, thus more users were willing to repair these items rather than replace them. Our facility is an authorized repair facility in the U.S. for the Temposonics® product line.
What we expect for 2025, there will be some increases in new equipment sales but only based on what the economy is doing right now. We also expect to see an increase in our products that we sell like Temposonics® products and other items that we distribute. We don’t expect it to be big; we think it will be a marginal increase. Labor is average. It’s not always easy to get the right people. Transportation and freight costs have gone up again tremendously, which is kind of bad for some of the clients we have, such as when we have to ship something to those in the East. Our parts supply can be marginal at times and deliveries slow because nobody seems to have much on the shelf anymore and have the “build on demand” idea and also overseas problems.
Our company has new computerized control equipment for primary log breakdown and secondary log breakdown controls in the sawmills. Temposonics® is also launching a whole new line of sensors that will definitely cause huge upgrades in existing manufacturing machines and further enhance wood products machine capabilities of what it can do and the wood products industry should be able to use it quite well. We do have new designs for scanning wood products and should be available after Jan 15.
As the computer systems have gotten faster and faster, our breakdown algorithms are going to be faster. Data acquisition that’s kind of a subset of actual machine operation will increase information. Due to supply and demand, some of the supply issues that we’ve dealt with in 2024, we’ve actually modified our systems with other new technology. This should alleviate any supply shortages. These upgrades and changes are for both the hardwood and softwood industry.
We offer set systems for carriages, head rigs, edgers, trimmers and resaws in both the hardwood and softwood industry. Anything that has a hydraulic cylinder that moves a saw, we have systems for. We are a Temposonics® stocking distributor in the Pacific Northwest. We have stock on our shelves so we can assist the clients a lot faster. I think technology will continue to advance the efficiency of sawmills due to the better performance and capabilities. The new machines don’t need as much labor to operate or maintain and the data acquisition of operations is becoming a big deal. AI is still based around man; man still makes those algorithms and AI just uses them. If anything, what we expect is that it will be our knowledge that’s going to do more with increasing productivity of the machinery.
I would say with the new year and with the new administration, I think that, tentatively, it should get much better but there can always be headwinds from overseas and we have to always watch out for that.
Claus Staalner
American Wood Technology, LLC.
Atlanta, GA
We work in both the hardwood and softwood sector of our industry, where we have equipment catering specifically to both.
Across industry, we see a much higher demand for plant automation! We provide treating equipment for industry – preservation type plants for the softwood sawmills and Thermo modification process plant for the hardwood folks. In both cases we are almost always selling plants with fairly automated feeding and handling lines associated with our processing plants. This trend will continue in 2025 where labor will continue to be of issue for production facilities across the country. We have seen lead time increase since the pandemic and though many components are becoming more and easier available, we are still experiencing longer lead times on small and simple supply items. Pricing has increased significantly across our supply chains in 2024.
As mentioned, we see more and more automation coming into the plant i.e. we will be offering more elaborate handling systems that will offer our client less dependencies on labor.
I believe we will see more and more integration where the equipment will be controlled from central locations and provide instant feedback to the operation for immediate adjustment to current needs, yields and alike. There will be much more focus on efficiency and utilization of raw materials in all corners of the mills.
Though it is becoming more blurred we have been offering our unique Thermo modification processing plant to the hardwood side of the lumber business. This process is not coming into the softwoods side for sure and we will see more and more softwood being Thermally modified as this market increases in volumes. For the softwood mill we offer our preservative treating plants for dimension lumber, posts and poles, ties and fire-retardant processing.
