The donation is the result of feedback from industry partners that prompted NTC to launch a capital campaign for the necessary equipment needed to offer the training. According to feedback from industry partners, one of the most important skilled labor positions in wood mills is saw filing. Although this position is one of the highest paid, it is also the most challenging position to fill. With many vacant positions coast-to-coast, there is a large skills gap in the saw filing profession. That gap continues to grow due to the lack of accredited educational programs in the United States for saw filing training.

Starting in October 2022, the only accredited band saw filing certificate program in the nation will be offered at NTC’s Wood Technology Center of Excellence in Antigo. Over the span of four weeks, students will learn proven procedures to effectively bench, fit, and repair saws while learning to properly align band mills to increase saw longevity and sawing accuracy. The program is designed for current saw filers, saw filer trainees and sawmill managers. Phase two of the project includes a circular saw filing certificate that can be completed in three weeks.

Additional short-term training is being developed to further shrink the skills gap in this field. The time and talent it took to develop these programs and procure the necessary equipment needed for training would not have been possible without the generous support of area businesses, philanthropic organizations and anonymous donors.

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• Emberg Charitable Trust
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• Gary LeMaster
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• NTC Wood Sciences Advisory Committee
• NTC Wood Sciences program students
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• Ruth & Paul Schultz Foundation Endowed Fund
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• Anonymous Donors

For additional information on NTC’s saw filing training, visit: www.ntc.edu/academics-training/programs/all/certificate/band-saw-filer.