“We want to be considered the debarking experts, not just the Nicholson experts.”
– John Jennings, director of capital sales, Nicholson Manufacturing
More than 75 years ago, Bill Nicholson decided he was tired of removing bark — often up to 14-inches thick — from the hearty trees of the Pacific Northwest by hand. From this idea, he began developing a debarker that would mechanically separate the bark from the tree and, over the 70-plus years that followed, Nicholson Manufacturing has worked continuously on perfecting its product.
Headquartered in Sidney, BC, Nicholson Manufacturing is a provider of specialty debarking solutions. Producing both fixed-ring and sliding-ring debarkers, each Nicholson debarker is made-to-order (based on the customer’s milling need and available footprint). A mainstay in many mills, each Nicholson debarker represents an ongoing relationship with a support team that prides itself on, not only helping customers, but building new partnerships.
Quality is synonymous with the Nicholson Manufacturing brand. Of the thousands of debarkers the company has produced and delivered over the decades, John Jennings, Director of Capital Sales, estimates that “60 to 70 percent of those are still in the field.”
Jennings explained that while Nicholson no longer manufactures components for one of the original debarkers exported to New Zealand in the mid 1950s, the company remains committed to supporting the customer. “It’s one of a kind,” he noted, but Nicholson continues to assist by providing technical drawings to local vendors who can produce the necessary parts to keep the machine operational.
With a staff of approximately 140 people, Nicholson is anchored by teams of fabricators, assemblers, service technicians, sales professionals and engineers. Employees work in concert to create a service and customer support team that Nicholson considers one of its greatest offerings. “One of our engineers is a metallurgist,” Jennings said. “Who hires a metallurgist in the forestry industry? We do.”
Nicholson views every debarker sale as the start of a new relationship, placing great importance on customer connections. The company takes pride in its dedicated sales team and each member is equipped with industry insight, product expertise and a strong service-oriented mindset. Jennings highlighted the unique mix of personalities within the team, stating, “the range of personalities among them is second to none.”
Given the vital role a debarker plays in milling, clear communication between Nicholson and its customers is essential. Many of the company’s employees fulfill dual roles; for instance, in addition to the dedicated sales staff, each service technician also serves as a “sales guy.” This dual-role strategy allows Nicholson to communicate with customers more efficiently and effectively. Most importantly, Nicholson’s commitment to developing and retaining staff reflects its understanding of the significance of a business owner’s investment and its dedication to being available for any need that may arise.
In addition to its North American team, Nicholson is represented globally by agents and partners in regions such as South America, Australia, New Zealand, Europe and Scandinavia, among others.
Thanks to the ingenuity of its founder’s original model, the core design of Nicholson’s debarkers has remained largely unchanged over the years. Instead, Nicholson has focused on staying at the forefront of debarking technology. Jennings explained that Nicholson prioritizes upgrading its marquee equipment and enhancing existing technology rather than inventing new machines.
“However, even though not a lot changes in the make-up of a tree and the bark on it, and ring debarkers are proven and reliable, we can’t help but believe something might change on the horizon,” Jennings said. “That’s why we have an engineering team constantly asking, ‘What can we do to improve? Is there new tech, or materials that we can incorporate?’ We are trying to be proactive.”
Nicholson Manufacturing’s preemptive approach is exemplified by their recent decision to extend the warranty on its flagship debarker, the Nicholson A8, to 15 years — a move made easier by the machine’s durability.
“The A8 was introduced to the market in 2002 — 22 years ago. We are confident in the durability of the debarker,” Jennings noted. “We will be providing a 15-year warranty on that main frame. That will be the biggest, longest warranty in the business. No one else has that.”
Nicholson understands the wear that debarkers take and continues to develop its machines to protect its customer’s investment. “I don’t think there is anything more violent in a mill than the debarking operation,” Jennings said. “They take a lot of abuse”
With this in mind, Jennings continued by sharing a story that illustrates Nicholson’s commitment to quality:
“One of our sales guys, Eric, went to visit Gorman Bros Lumber in Kelowna, BC, and when he got there, Joel, the millwright, told Eric, ‘When I heard you were coming by for a visit next week I thought, ‘Great, I will have a chance to talk to them about any concerns I have,’ but I realized pretty quickly there was really nothing to bring up, as the debarker has been extremely reliable for us’.”
Nicholson debarkers are known for their reliability, and there are countless testimonials that speak to that, but even the best machines require parts replacement over time. The same skilled engineering team behind the A8, A5C, R2, A6 and A1 debarkers continues to produce quality components for these models. Nicholson’s factory-trained parts specialists are available 24/7 to ensure support when needed.
All debarkers and parts are manufactured and assembled in North America — with stocking facilities in Canada and Pell City, Alabama — to minimize downtime by shipping parts from the closest location.
To further support its customers, Nicholson also provides a mix of onsite instruction and hands-on training, led by experienced field service technicians.
The company aims to continue evolving by focusing on creating the best possible product and going above and beyond for its customers. Jennings emphasized the importance of trust in the forest products industry and stated his commitment to maintaining it: “We want to be considered the debarking experts, not just the Nicholson experts.”
Nicholson Manufacturing maintains memberships with the Southeastern Lumber Manufacturers Association, Hardwood Manufacturers Association, National Hardwood Lumber Association and Southern Forest Products Association.
Warwick Greene is the President of Nicholas Manufacturing and Gaetan Desmarais is the Director of Aftermarket Sales and Support.
To learn more about Nicholson Manufacturing, visit www.debarking.com.
