Biewer in McBain- $31M expansion

Anything pertaining to railfanning in Michigan.
TC Man
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1065
Joined: Sat Mar 08, 2014 11:25 am

Biewer in McBain- $31M expansion

Unread post by TC Man »

MCBAIN — Responding to increased demand for their products, Biewer Sawmill plans to build a brand new facility on their property in McBain and hire 17 additional workers.

Shawn Johnstone, director of Michigan sawmills for Biewer, said they will be constructing a 50-by-350-foot addition to house new sawmilling equipment and a continuous dry kiln.

"We needed to increase our drying capacity," Johnstone said. "This will increase capacity by 50 percent."

Johnstone said the production improvements are being made to keep up with demand for their products from companies such as Menards, retail lumberyards and home centers primarily throughout the Midwestern United States and in Canada.

He expects construction will begin in April and should be finished by November or December.

Between now and then, Johnstone said they will be making additional hires in every area of production, including general laborers, machine maintenance and programmable logic controllers.

Biewer plans to invest $31,026,000 in the new facility. The company selected Michigan over a competing site in Wisconsin.

“Our additional investment in our McBain sawmill demonstrates our commitment to the local community as well as our belief in the future of the forest products industry in Michigan," said Biewer Sawmill President Tim Biewer. "We thank the city of McBain and the MEDC for sharing that commitment and belief and for their support in helping this project move forward.‘

The city of McBain has offered property tax abatement valued at $311,000 in support of the project.

To help with the construction, Biewer is working with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

“We’re working to spark business growth, revitalize communities and create more and better jobs for our residents,‘ said Jeff Mason, CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the state’s chief marketing and business attraction arm that administers programs and performs due diligence on behalf of the Michigan Strategic Fund.

“The decision by Biewer to expand in Michigan rather than in another state underscores our business-friendly environment and talented workforce,‘ Mason said.

Biewer Sawmill, Inc. is a family-owned manufacturer of dimensional lumber, timbers, decking and fencing.

Based on the expectation of the expansion creating new jobs in the area, the Michigan Business Development Program awarded Biewer a $170,000 performance-based grant.
CEO of the Waving Institute- teaching great wave forms.

MiRailProductions
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 337
Joined: Mon May 22, 2017 6:19 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Re: Biewer in McBain- $31M expansion

Unread post by MiRailProductions »

TC Man wrote:MCBAIN — Responding to increased demand for their products, Biewer Sawmill plans to build a brand new facility on their property in McBain and hire 17 additional workers.

Shawn Johnstone, director of Michigan sawmills for Biewer, said they will be constructing a 50-by-350-foot addition to house new sawmilling equipment and a continuous dry kiln.

"We needed to increase our drying capacity," Johnstone said. "This will increase capacity by 50 percent."

Johnstone said the production improvements are being made to keep up with demand for their products from companies such as Menards, retail lumberyards and home centers primarily throughout the Midwestern United States and in Canada.

He expects construction will begin in April and should be finished by November or December.

Between now and then, Johnstone said they will be making additional hires in every area of production, including general laborers, machine maintenance and programmable logic controllers.

Biewer plans to invest $31,026,000 in the new facility. The company selected Michigan over a competing site in Wisconsin.

“Our additional investment in our McBain sawmill demonstrates our commitment to the local community as well as our belief in the future of the forest products industry in Michigan," said Biewer Sawmill President Tim Biewer. "We thank the city of McBain and the MEDC for sharing that commitment and belief and for their support in helping this project move forward.‘

The city of McBain has offered property tax abatement valued at $311,000 in support of the project.

To help with the construction, Biewer is working with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation.

“We’re working to spark business growth, revitalize communities and create more and better jobs for our residents,‘ said Jeff Mason, CEO of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the state’s chief marketing and business attraction arm that administers programs and performs due diligence on behalf of the Michigan Strategic Fund.

“The decision by Biewer to expand in Michigan rather than in another state underscores our business-friendly environment and talented workforce,‘ Mason said.

Biewer Sawmill, Inc. is a family-owned manufacturer of dimensional lumber, timbers, decking and fencing.

Based on the expectation of the expansion creating new jobs in the area, the Michigan Business Development Program awarded Biewer a $170,000 performance-based grant.
Well, now we don't have to worry about that traffic all moving to Grayling!
"If you are ever chasing trains, you're bound to end up on a 2-lane, double-striped road with a slow poke in front of you." -Danny Harmon
YouTube - Michigan Rail Productions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPgdn ... wZHDIyfk_Q

penn central
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1416
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:07 pm

Re: Biewer in McBain- $31M expansion

Unread post by penn central »

I go to PCA in Filer City all the time and talk to the log haulers i ask a few of them if its ok to ship logs from the UP they said its okay to ship because there is inspectors that inspect the wood before it leaves, And the general public cannot take wood from the UP because there wood has not been inspected, That pretty much answers are question, So there should be an abundance of wood for everyone.

hoborich
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 2992
Joined: Thu Nov 13, 2008 1:05 am
Location: Northern Michigan

Re: Biewer in McBain- $31M expansion

Unread post by hoborich »

But they will deplete the nearby areas first before they start hauling logs from the UP! This will be in addition to the Arauco Particle board plant in Grayling, and the other sawmills in the area. There is absolutely no way Michigans forests can sustain this level of logging, given that it takes about 50 years for a replanted forest to reach maturity. These companies, operating with huge local subsidies and incentives will deplete the forests and close down and move on in a few years. Michigans forests were totally depleted a hundred years ago using axes and horses and wagons. How long will it take this time to deplete all of Michigans forests with modern methods.
"Ask your doctor if medical advice from a TV commercial is right for you".

KC8RBK
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 6600
Joined: Sat Oct 23, 2010 11:41 pm
Location: Charlotte, Mi
Contact:

Re: Biewer in McBain- $31M expansion

Unread post by KC8RBK »

The pine they use is harvested and replanted every 25-30 years. The best way to be sure there will be lots of a certain plant is to find a market for it. They will always plant plenty of extra so they never run out. The lumber business is heavily regulated these days. The days of clear cutting land and just leaving it empty are gone for the most part unless there's a reason for it to be open land.

User avatar
AARR
Ann Arbor RR Nerd
Posts: 37905
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:39 pm
Location: Washington, MI

Re: Biewer in McBain- $31M expansion

Unread post by AARR »

The wood chips currently being shipped to WI by rail is the commodity that may go to the new plywood mill in Grayling. The destination of the mills dimensional lumber will not be affected but the opening of the plywood mill in Grayling.
MiRailProductions wrote:Well, now we don't have to worry about that traffic all moving to Grayling!
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

MiRailProductions
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 337
Joined: Mon May 22, 2017 6:19 pm
Location: Ann Arbor, MI

Re: Biewer in McBain- $31M expansion

Unread post by MiRailProductions »

AARR wrote:The wood chips currently being shipped to WI by rail is the commodity that may go to the new plywood mill in Grayling. The destination of the mills dimensional lumber will not be affected but the opening of the plywood mill in Grayling.
MiRailProductions wrote:Well, now we don't have to worry about that traffic all moving to Grayling!
Oh, I see.
"If you are ever chasing trains, you're bound to end up on a 2-lane, double-striped road with a slow poke in front of you." -Danny Harmon
YouTube - Michigan Rail Productions
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPgdn ... wZHDIyfk_Q

User avatar
DaveO
Read more, think more, post less
Posts: 1453
Joined: Thu Dec 14, 2017 12:57 pm
Location: Between here and there

Re: Biewer in McBain- $31M expansion

Unread post by DaveO »

He really meant to say particleboard.
Let's hope he didn't do any home improvement work today :lol:

penn central
Railroadfan...fan
Posts: 1416
Joined: Tue Oct 02, 2007 9:07 pm

Re: Biewer in McBain- $31M expansion

Unread post by penn central »

hoborich wrote:But they will deplete the nearby areas first before they start hauling logs from the UP! This will be in addition to the Arauco Particle board plant in Grayling, and the other sawmills in the area. There is absolutely no way Michigans forests can sustain this level of logging, given that it takes about 50 years for a replanted forest to reach maturity. These companies, operating with huge local subsidies and incentives will deplete the forests and close down and move on in a few years. Michigans forests were totally depleted a hundred years ago using axes and horses and wagons. How long will it take this time to deplete all of Michigans forests with modern methods.
I know what's in Grayling my company has a terminal there from 2010 to 2016 they had a shortage of personnel. I spent more time in the Remada Inn there then at home lol.
Last edited by penn central on Sat Mar 17, 2018 6:46 pm, edited 1 time in total.

User avatar
AARR
Ann Arbor RR Nerd
Posts: 37905
Joined: Wed Dec 22, 2004 7:39 pm
Location: Washington, MI

Re: Biewer in McBain- $31M expansion

Unread post by AARR »

Thanks for the correction :)
DaveO wrote:He really meant to say particleboard.
Let's hope he didn't do any home improvement work today :lol:
PatC created a monster, 'cause nobody wants to see Don Simon no more they want AARR I'm chopped liver, well if you want AARR this is what I'll give ya, bad humor mixed with irrelevant info that'll make you roll your eyes quicker than a ~Z~ banhammer...

Post Reply