Sawmill

The NTC Sawmill is a state-of-the-art modern lumber manufacturing facility, created to help train students in the latest technologies, safety practices and career skills in the lumber industry. The NTC Sawmill is the only commercial scale training sawmill in the United States.

All of the equipment in the facility is elevated to improve access for maintenance and space for teaching. As a training lab, the focus is on learning about the lumber industry and its best practices. While learners operate top of the line commercial scale equipment, the focus is always about safety and learning best practices.

State-of-the-art sawmill facility featuring industrial machinery, conveyor systems, and a bandsaw, designed for hands-on training in lumber processing techniques.

A One-Of-A-Kind Facility

This one-of-a-kind facility allows students the opportunity to experience the industry that feeds raw material for furniture, cabinets, windows, doors, flooring, trim, pallets and countless other wood products people use every day.

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From Log to Lumber

Lumber Processing

What makes this facility unique is the opportunity to learn on commercial scale equipment but not be under the pressure of production. Students are focused on learning the best practices of safety and efficient lumber manufacturing before replicating the pace and scope of commercial production. Students grow and gain confidence and bring their knowledge and skills into the industry and beyond. This mill allows NTC to offer the full range of wood industry manufacturing education in one central Wisconsin location.

Backside view of the head rig with large orange flywheel, control booth, and red log clamps, part of the advanced sawmill equipment at the training facility.

Head Saw

The primary breakdown occurs when round logs are first sawn into squared up cants. This is done using a tilted two knee carriage and a 54” double cut band head saw. This head saw is fully optimized with scanners and precise technology to help the sawyer be efficient and waste no fiber.

Interior view from a control cab overlooking conveyors and sawmill machinery, featuring a joystick control system, touchscreen, and safety glass window.

Resaw

After the head saw, squared up cants are sent to a 54” horizontal band resaw for secondary breakdown. A sawyer and pre-turner work together to pick the best face on the cant, feed cants through the saw and route the pieces cut to the next appropriate workstation.

Overhead view of a Cleereman scanning and sorting line with mounted JoeScan log scanners, rollers, and monitoring equipment inside the sawmill training center.

Optimized Edger

After the resaw, rounded edges, referred to as wane, are removed using a two-saw optimized edger.

Scanner

There are scanners and advanced automated controls on the optimized edger to assist the operator in removing just enough wane to meet industry standards while preserving as much usable lumber as possible.

Training Offered

Programs and courses that utilize the Sawmill provide students with hands-on training and practical skills, preparing them for careers in the wood manufacturing industry.

Close-up of a large circular saw blade mounted in a green and orange machine, part of Northcentral Technical College’s sawmill training facility.

More Information

Have Questions About the Sawmill?

If you have any questions or would like more information about the technology in the sawmill, please contact Logan Wells.

Logan Wells

Program Director and Faculty, Wood Science