About Mitchell Bros Sawmillers Darfield

The Mitchell family have been saw millers in Darfield since 1946 when George Mitchell started the business after gale force winds and a snow storm flattened many trees throughout the province.  The next generation Roy, Howard and Barry continued to develop the business until George's grandsons Tony and David became the current directors. The fourth generation Brad and Scott have taken up roles in the company too.
Initially the business concentrated on making blue gum stakes and farm gates known as hurdles. Once chemical timber preservatives came on to the market in the 1960s it was possible for Radiata Pine to be used as a building timber and also in outdoor and ground contact applications. For a number of years our air dried timber was carted into Christchurch for treatment. In about 1973 a treatment plant was installed at the sawmill site and the company has never looked back.

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Technology

Each generation of Mitchells has invested heavily in sawmilling and timber processing technology. 
Our plant includes:

Sawmill

• Debarker: Nicholson A-6 900mm Ring Dearker fitted with 2 way tilt tray.
• Log Decks: in feed deck are 3 strands 12 meter long fitted with log stop loader. Out feed decks total 14 meter.
• Headrig: CAE High strain 6’ fitted with turndown roller and wedge
• Power Bench: One stationary main saw and one moving popup fitted with 2 power feed Hobbes

Timber Processing

• Building: 2240 m3 Processing Shed
• Stacker: Tilt hoist Green and Dry chain fitted with Ecoustic grader and sorting area with auto stacker
• Planner: Recently installed new 60 meter per min Leadermac Planner molder fitted with auto in feed and out feed
• Resaw: 36” Stenner with 2 packet in feed and out feed skids

Kilns

• 3x 30m3 Foggarty Medium temp drying Kilns

Heat Plant

• 2 Megawatt Scotts bio-fuel Heat Plant feed with walking floor fuel handling (wet and dry separate floors)

Treating Plant

• 2 x 3’6” 12 meter long CCA Pressure Plant

Other Plant

• Cross cutting Snip saw
• Bin and pallet making equipment

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People

We employ 20 people in the saw mill, saw mill maintenance, sawmill saw doctor, timber machining, treating plant, drying kilns, timber stacker and grading line, cross cutting and bins and pallets production, management,  office administration and sales and dispatch.

Ongoing staff training is important and we encourage employees to complete qualifications such as the national certificate in wood manufacturing.

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Values

Our reputation for quality and service is built on the following values:

• We deliver what we promise
• We are open, honest and respectful
• We focus on team work
• We will do our best for our customer
• We are committed to safety, the environment and our local community

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Quality Standards

Working with MiTek NZ and Verified Timber we helped develop a new propriety timber grade for farm buildings. Heartland grade timber is verified to a bending strength of 14 MPa.  It is graded visually to No 1 Framing as per NZS3631 and verified for stiffness and strength to NZS3622.

Click here for product information

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