There’s a long list of reasons why New Zealand contract sawmiller Robert Mansell chose to buy a Peterson portable sawmill. In November he took delivery of a Giant Frame WPF Swing blade Sawmill.
After comparing the various brands and models available, the main characteristics that sold Robert on the Peterson were the ease of use and speed of cut.
Other contributing reasons included – competitive price, cutting efficiency and accuracy, reliability, quality finish, and high production.
Robert has also been impressed by the portability of the mill, which is able to be carried into remote areas by foot. Within 15 minutes, the mill is set up and ready to go.
“It’s awesome; a beautiful machine,” said Robert. “For the price I paid, I’m getting a very well engineered machine.”
In August 2002 Robert started his contract milling business, R M Timberworks, hiring himself out to cut up other people’s timber as well as milling his own timber. He employs one other full time person as a tailer-outer. Since then, he has built a successful enterprise milling a variety of hardwood and softwood timbers into a wide range of sizes.
The maximum production his two-man operation has achieved is 11 cubic metres (4800 bft) in a day, but the average is 6 to 7 (2400-2800 bft).
Robert has found the sales and back up service from Peterson to be very good and, as he is based in Rotorua, they are just a “stone’s throw away”.
So far, he hasn’t had any major problems with the mill, which he praises for its reliability and accuracy. “If I ever have an error, it’s not the machine’s fault – it’s mine,” he said.
Robert plans to expand, milling more of his own timber to on-sell – like a timber yard. To achieve this goal, he has his eye on another two Peterson mills to build production capacity.
