WholeTrees Structures to Open New Facility in Ashland, Maine

Madison, Wisconsin-based WholeTrees Structures, a company that produces structural roundwood timber, has signed a lease agreement for the vacant Moosewood Millwork building in Ashland, Maine, the Bangor Daily News reported (2-20-24). This will be the company’s first facility outside of Wisconsin, though it has worked with Maine businesses in the past.

Jocelyn Harmond, WholeTrees Communication Director, told the Bangor Daily News that creating structural round timber involves culling trees from forests and leaving most of their natural structure in place when they’re used in building projects. Trees are minimally processed, and unlike laminated products, there’s no glue. Logs are cut, sanded, and lightly stained before they go to builders, where they are usually used whole as part of the design, she said. The timber can be used in projects such as playgrounds, grocery stores, zoo habitats, and event canopies.

Speaking about WholeTrees’ plans, Mark Hensley, WholeTrees’ Maine operation manager, told the Bangor Daily News that “Ashland will serve as the gateway for the northern Maine source for structural round timber, all the way down to Raleigh, North Carolina.”

Hensley noted that there is still some refurbishing to do inside the Ashland plant, but he expects that production should start the last week of March. He anticipates hiring seven employees this year and adding another seven the following year, with more possible after that.

WholeTrees aims to maintain sustainable forests and low carbon emissions. Using solid timber that needs little processing can benefit the climate, improve forest health, and safeguard natural resources, Hensley said.