Denver de Kock, MD of RD Sawmill near Maclear in SA's Eastern Cape Province, defies harsh trading conditions with a thriving sawmilling business.  

The multi-generational De Kock league of aunts, uncles, brothers and cousins have used their shared legacy of sawmilling experience and tradition to build a sawmilling empire that prospers across the Eastern Cape.

Denver stayed true to this tradition as a third-generation sawmiller born and raised in Maclear within earshot of the De Kock clan in Tsolo near Qumbu. RD Sawmill was launched in 2010, and Denver and his cousin gave early direction to the business before he became the sole proprietor. 

The sawmill's primary focus is wet-off-saw timber, distributed through retail or directly to the public for use in construction applications, pallets, and furniture-grade material for manufacturing.

Wood-Mizer increases recovery

RD's initial momentum came from circular mills. However, recovery losses saw Denver opting for a Wood-Mizer LT10 to claw back recovery and improve the sawn quality. 

"We soon saw the light when we got our first Wood-Mizer LT10. The circular blade mills weren't giving us good recovery", comments Denver.

The initial results of the first Wood-Mizer LT10 prompted a mill closure, which saw the two new LT15s and HR200 resaws replacing the mill's previous line. The single Wood-Mizer LT10 was duplicated into two LT15s with two Wood-Mizer HR200 resaws, adding to RD Sawmill's current capacity. 

"When we changed to the LT10, our recovery and cut size accuracy improved significantly", Denver explains. "The bandsaws leave fewer marks on the timber, which opened the doors to new markets with furniture grade material going to manufacturers".

Sawmilling is tough

Several challenges in the Eastern Cape sawn-timber market have made it increasingly crucial for sawmillers to streamline their businesses to remain competitive. Electricity supply constraints and a steep increase in diesel prices make it expensive to run generators to supplement power and get products to market by truck.

A growing sawmilling sector that competes for an ever-thinner slice of the log supply pie, combined with high log prices, has put margins under pressure. Operational cost increases brought on by various factors have also eroded margins further. 

Commercial plantations in the area are closely linked to key offtake markets like board and sawn timber production, with the remainder up for grabs by the higher bidder. 

"The demand for logs and constraints on the supply side has made it tough for small and medium-sized sawmillers," says Denver. "Although the retail sector in the Eastern Cape dictates pricing. We're finding new markets willing to pay a premium". 

Denver says, "We're using Wood-Mizer's thin-kerf narrow bandsaw tech to recover every scrap of saleable material to boost profits". Although diesel costs have spiked, RD is offsetting some of it through the lower rolling resistance of Wood-Mizer's thin-kerf, narrow bandsaw technology. 

"It's become tough," says Denver de Kock. "It's hard work, and it's up to the individual to think innovatively around making the most from what they love doing.

Sawmilling in the blood

"In my instance, sawmilling is in my blood. I work on the business from early to late. I think about the company when I wake up and go to bed. And importantly, I'm hands-on. 

RD Sawmill stands out for several reasons. The mill signage welcoming visitors is new and well-maintained, testimony to Denver's careful hand over the entire business. The sawmill uses its sawdust for extra revenue. Blades are maintained in its saw shop for a sharp cut in the morning. The sawn product is precise, and the stacked sawn timber is standing regimentally straight and ready for delivery.

"We're privileged to have a business and a supplier network like Wood-Mizer that partner with us to build forward and prosper", comments Denver.

Source: Wood-Mizer.