40 | Dunedin-based Proforest Services runs a staff that can grow to around 40 or 50. Servicing the big players T T Hugh de Lacy Just reward for young wood processor T T Hugh de Lacy TIMBER INDUSTRY Proforest Services Mitchell Bros Sawmillers Converting farmlands for forestry has been a big driver of Proforest Services’ work over the past few years, and while demand for such work has tailed off a little lately, company owner William Oldham is hoping for an imminent boost as log market and carbon credit prices rise. “We just this past year finished a four-year contract converting the 4000ha Wisp Hill Station in the Catlins to forestry, and it’s the latest in a number of such projects we’ve delivered,” William says. “These big farm conversions have been a feature of our work over the past five years as farmers have tired of poor livestock and wool prices, and decided to sell to the big forest- development companies who employ us. “We’ve also completed conversions of farms to manuka honey production up in the Wairarapa – essentially re-planting manuka where it was largely cleared for grazing. This sort of work has slowed down this year but it’s an industry in which changes can come quickly, and while we haven’t any big conversion jobs lined up for next year yet, we’re confident they will emerge – time will tell.” Dunedin-based Proforest Services runs a staff that can grow to around 40 or 50 during Long-established Canterbury sawmilling company Mitchell Bros’ support and encouragement of its young staff has paid off with Ben Miller winning the 2024 Wood Processing Excellence Award run by the Canterbury/West Coast Wood Council. Ben, who has been with the Darfield company for seven years, joined them fresh out of Darfield High School, 35km west of Christchurch, working as a planer operator in the processing area of the company. Ben showed a willingness to learn and take on responsibility at Mitchell Bros, moving on to become a qualified treatment plant operator where he gained his level two and three qualifications in timber treatment before an opportunity came up to take on a new role as kiln operator. There, Ben gained his level three qualification in timber drying. Cousins Scott and Brad Mitchell, fourth-generation directors of Mitchell Bros, say they are extremely proud of Ben’s achievements, and winning the Processing Excellence Award is recognition of the hard work he has put in. “If youngsters are willing to learn and upskill, the opportunities are there to better themselves,” Scott says. Mitchell Bros sawmill was established in 1946 by George Mitchell, who had five sons that all worked for the company at various times. The business focus is on structural timber, but it also produces treated products for landscaping, fencing and cut-to-length grades. The company also supplies roundwood to the wholesale market as both farm fence posts and building poles that can be purthe May-to-September planting season, and for the rest of the year the company is engaged in silviculture work like thinning, chemical releasing and pruning. It has a number of big forestry players on its books, including Southern Forests, Ernslaw One, IFS Growth, Carbon Farming NZ, Wenita and Venture Forestry. William started out as a wool-presser in the shearing sheds with his shearer father in the Taumarunui district, but followed his mates into forestry and became a foreman at the age of 19 in partnership with another contractor. He ended up shifting to Otago when his wife, Elaine, enrolled in a business management degree course at Otago University, and he set up his own company two years later in 2004, initially staffing it with mates from the King Country. Taumarunui continues to supply William with staff, and he also has a big contingent of Fijians working for him. In an industry notorious for its daily dangers, William has put a powerful emphasis on safety and training. He personally trains his staff and has them assessed by trainer Alistair McKenzie from the support agency Competenz, which otherwise organises training and apprenticeships for employers and workers across no fewer than 37 New Zealand industries. chased throughout Canterbury and the West Coast. Mitchell Bros also produces potato bins and pallets supplied direct to the growers. “We operate in a very competitive market, buying logs and selling timber at similar rates to other mills, so it’s about how well you can do the bit in the middle that counts,” Scott says. “Our logs are sourced from all round Canterbury, including Geraldine, Banks Peninsula and the West Coast, and our location means we are pretty well situated.” The company has two main divisions, the sawmilling activity and the timber processing plant. Structural timber is kiln-dried, graded, planed and treated ready for dispatch. Mitchell Bros’ four-hectare site at Darfield is “fairly well maxed out in terms of the volumes it’s producing, and we feel the future is more about tweaking production systems to improve efficiencies,” Scott says. “We always have an open mind to looking at ways we can improve We’re also very proud of our staff, over half of whom have been with us for 10 years or more, and they contribute greatly to us enjoying strong relationships with customers and suppliers. “Today we have 25 full-time staff working on a very productive site with good manufacturing systems in place,” he says. “Producing good-quality products along with good service and strong relationships with customers and suppliers is the key to getting through these tough times.” Mitchell Bros’ website provides images of the pioneering years of the business and those who stamped their mark on its long journey. Port Blakely Ltd are proud to support Mitchell Bros Sawmillers PO Box 13-980, Christchurch | Ph: 03 338 6741 | Fax: 03 339 1689 info-NZF@portblakely.com | www.portblakely.com NZ Forest Owner 49 Sala St, Rotorua | Ph: (07) 349 1608 | www.graderight.co.nz Helping companies produce good, compliant wood products fit for purpose. RIGHT Treat Ernslaw One is proud to support Proforest Services Ltd www.ernslaw.co.nz
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