Dunkley Lumber Completes Modernization of Edgewood Forest Products Sawmill in Saskatchewan

Dunkley Lumber has completed a three-year, $240-million (CAD) modernization of its sawmill in Carrot River, Saskatchewan, according to a feature by Forestnet (12-18-24).

The new state-of-the-art, two-line stud mill owned by the BC-based company leverages some of today’s most advanced digital and AI technologies for sawmills. The mill is now capable of producing 70% more lumber on a two-shift basis than what they were able to produce previously with three shifts on a single line.

The company still employs roughly the same number of workers, as with this production uplift and investment in new technology they were able to reassign some staff and add a third shift at their planer mill.

Production has increased from about 130 million board feet annually to 200 million board feet of 1×4, 2×3, 2×4, and 2×6 framing lumber in 9’ lengths. While the facility is a stud mill, the capability has been built in to also produce 10’ stud lumber as well as wider lumber up to 2×8 in the future.

“Our future intent is to be able to run this entire sawmill with three operators,” Mark Novak, Dunkley Lumber Capital Projects Manager, told Forestnet. “That will consist of one individual operating the entire log infeed including two saw lines, another individual operating the trimmer, and a third individual operating the stacker, with support staff to react to or fix unforeseen conditions.”