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Where NZ Pink Timber is Made // Red Stag Timber
We had the privilege of being given a tour of the Red Stag Timber Sawmill, located in Woodhill, New Zealand. It covers an area of over 200 hectares and has an annual production capacity of more than one million cubic meters of sawn timber. The sawmill employs over 300 people and uses state-of-the-art technology to process timber from sustainably managed forests in New Zealand.
From being put into receivership in the early 2000s, the company has managed to transform itself into the largest sawmill in the southern hemisphere today. We're excited to share this remarkable journey of growth with you and unpack why they are world-class.
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Пікірлер: 164
This efficiency is why timber and building costs in NZ are so reasonable oh wait…
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
haha I love it
@bungee7503
Жыл бұрын
A friend in Wisconsin, next to Canada where there are a few trees, sent me the price tag for NZ pine sold in his local hardware store. Cheaper than we can buy it for here.
@reubs91
Жыл бұрын
Cause Australians and New Zealanders are suckers. Western Australia just banned logging…. Apparently the regenerative process was “unsustainable”
@kaymish6178
Жыл бұрын
@@bungee7503 Typical.
@andrewgoodwin1473
Жыл бұрын
@@bungee7503 because nzers are paying for the dicounted export pricing so us mugs here pay retail plus 40%! Fuk them go steel framing.
Great watch. I love seeing stories like this where the guys running the company actually have some vision of what is going to happen in the future rather than what they need right this second.
Since you got to go through Red Stag you might be able to convince them to take you through Timberlab (formerly McIntosh Timber Laminates) up in Auckland, now that Red Stag owns them. My old man currently works for them as their machinist and maintenance fitter, and I worked for them when it was under the old name, when Grant was still alive, and it was a pretty full on factory back then, these days its jam packed with glulam beams. Grant merged the company with Timberbond Ltd. about 7 or 8 years ago, sunk millions into the business and bought new machinery throughout the factory, but after Grant died, his widow sold the company to Red Stag and has been going strong ever since
Being an ex fitter at redstag, its crazy seing all the gear i used to pull apart and fix on youtube
Great video. I love working with timber but I’m now seriously looking to build a tiny house using steel framing. The price of timber in New Zealand is so ridiculously overpriced now, I can not justify its use.
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
Cheers A S, I thought the same when building “the section no body wanted” and looked at all the options including SIPS, but standard timber framing was best price point for me, still allowed for upgrades and a method I prefer
Thanks for sharing the long-term view that Red-stag cleary has. The owners know their game is the “Infinite game”
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
you’re right - sustainable timber is an infinite game
Great Video, I have dealt with the boss at Red Stag in another life, he is an impressive guy, thanks for sharing
Great work, good to have Red Stag in Rotorua. Nice to watch.
Well Done for the turn around Red Stag Timber
Hey bro that was awesome 👍 u should do more videos like this, I personally really enjoyed what the video was about, it was very informative and very well filmed/produced and I genuinely enjoyed learning about red stag, never heard of them befour, probably because I'm not a builder but I am from wellington 😅 🇳🇿
Josh , I love the fact that you are very knowedgale about not only the building industry , but how to run a business in general . your rival Scott Brown Carpentry is more on the intricate of the building . I think both channels give a good broad spectrum indeed
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
thanks Rob! I have a lot of respect for Scott, it’s not a competition - plenty of building chat to go around
@bigrobbo75
Жыл бұрын
@@nzbuilder indeed. I watch both channels on Saturday morning with a cup of tea . Then head off to watch some club rugby, GO MANUREWA !!!
Great video thanks I can remember when every town in NZ had a few saw mills Now there are only a few in the whole country.
I was just in New Zealand last week and saw heaps of stockpiles of timber but the way that plant works all round is brilliant 😮
@roxannepaul4124
Жыл бұрын
Covid has impacted supply and demand, however Red Stag is still above the bottom line and steadily recovering with the global market opening back up again... I work here, we were told this at our site meeting 😊
Wow impressive video. Please do more stuff like this.
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
Thanks - Im keen to do more of these, just need to line up some more factories to visit
LOVED the treatment plant at Waipa.
This was super interesting
Yes at 13 minutes you hit the nail on the head Investing in new plant and machinery to keep up to date. Far too many factories let their machinery get old and then they can't afford to replace it, so they close down.
Great video mate, awesome ad for your business but also interesting content
As a pump guy, I would nerd out on this site. They would have some very impressive pumps, drives motors etc Good video!
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
There was lots there to nerd out on :)
Thank you very informative and narrated wow awesome showcase of a business :-)
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
cheers chickennchips - it’s cool to show all the aspects of what we’re doing
Awesome stuff thanks
Enjoyed this, thanks for posting.
Great video and its nice seeing whats going on at home that doesn't always get shown. I would be interested to know the quality difference in timber is between someone like Red Stag and some of the smaller local ones around the place our ITM is shocking considering they do some milling onsite which if your paying similar price quaility can mean alot. Thanks :)
Thanks a lot Josh, that was damn interesting.😊
Seems like the only thing they need is a rail connection, the most efficient and sustainable way to move goods around. Just as well the Rotorua branchline still exists, even in somewhat dilapidated, mothballed state. Rails on the ground are better than no rails on the ground. The trouble would be the last 2 k's to the factory from the current end of line through Rotorua. The old formation, yard, and station site was pulled up, demolished, and sold ages ago. So new track would probably have to street run through some large enough main roads, like they do in Kawakawa .
Nice content 👍🏽👍🏽
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
thanks Dry Weetbix - ever tried Vegemite on your bix?
And a pretty good recreational forest park around it.
cool video, thanks Josh
good video bro =)
Impressive and innovative... 🙂
Love this. You're a great presenter too!
Worked there when it was owned by Fletchers. Decent mill.
This was the largest. Im pretty sure the largest sawmill in the southern hemisphere is owned by AKD in Australia its the newer version of that USNR line.
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
good to know - hopefully I get too check out that one too
Actually Hyne Tumbarumba NSW has same output as red stag, but both are toothpicks compared to Canadian and European mills..oh and Auckland base hospital is not the biggest in the southern hemisphere either (as kiwis constantly claim) that is Royal North Shore, Sydney, a city with a population of New Zealand.
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
nice to know - hopefully I get to check out that one next :)
@Alan_Hans__
Жыл бұрын
@@nzbuilder . There's a few mills in Chile and possibly other South American countries with production in the multi million m3 range. The Amazon rainforest provides so much wood to work with it makes all the wood in Aus and NZ look minuscule.
@roxannepaul4124
Жыл бұрын
The difference is that Red Stag Timber is a family-owned business - not owned by a big corporation, and it only has the one mill operating... not several across the country.
@steveboy7302
10 ай бұрын
@@Alan_Hans__doesn't make australian or nz mills miniscule whatsoever
@steveboy7302
10 ай бұрын
Lol we're you waiting to say that
Old school NZ advertorial style. Love it.
Hey Josh cool vid bruv
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
cheers
4:50 "The people behing the sawmill" maybe spelling mistake there. Great video Josh.
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
ahh the typo strikes back - thanks for spotting
@Kolan_Koala
Жыл бұрын
@@nzbuilder mate im from wellington I know the area well, good wishes to your business mate and having a go on youtube best of luck
why is log price not up much in the last 5 years, but the 4x2 price has doubled? i think that mite be the key to there success
Timber Mill in Victoria Geelong has this setup .
Can do something about nog and stud centres based on different types of cladding! Single story!
A quad quad, I like that idea.
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
Me too!
No questions were asked why the timer prices are still so high...
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
not the purpose of my trip - just interested in how it all works and understanding the process and business
@martyverry954
Жыл бұрын
@@nzbuilder NZ's logs are the most expensive in the world., mimimum wages up, costs up like everyone else. Steel and concrete have increased by more in recent years.
I've seen a similar set up at kiwi lumber in the wairarapa.
@nzbuilder
10 ай бұрын
It would be cool to check them out
I work as a maintenance fitter at a similar sized mill here in Canada. Neat to see how similar it is to operations here. Are they hiring?! 😂
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
nice - I’m sure they’re always looking for more likeminded people to join their team. hit them up
@martyverry954
Жыл бұрын
@@nzbuilder yes, continuously. More shifts going into CLT facility now too.
@roxannepaul4124
Жыл бұрын
They are looking for a weekend fitter supervisor actually.
My understanding is NZ now has the highest grade pine in the world for building houses etc , and the export logs you see at the port of Tauranga...didn't make the grade!
I wark at waiph mill in the 80s
Alots changed since I worked in the mill at taupo
@nzbuilder
11 ай бұрын
It was pretty impressive
Well done NZ. Keep it at home.
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
That's the plan!
@bigboy0625
Жыл бұрын
@@nzbuilder haha NZ will sell it overseas where you can pick it up cheaper NZ business love to rob kiwis blind.
We get the rejects.
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
I know the feeling, we discussed this with them anc pretty sure majority of their product actually stays in NZ, sounds like Aussie is a small portion of their output
👍
Are they on the exchange?
i thought tasman in kawerau was the largest south.
Smart maintenance team wrt reliability
Great idea for a video, can’t help but wonder if they paid you to do this?
@DunedinFarSouth
Жыл бұрын
why would they pay lol
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
Thanks Edward, it a compliment you think it’s good enough to be paid for. Like I say at the end of video, definitely not an ad - just a builder and big kid at heart super interested in the process if I’m that way surely others are - hence the video :)
I have 14+ years of experience in timber industry of all types of imported and local timber for sales supervision l lam looking for a job in Newzealand in same field
Wow
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
👍🏼
Great video but please consider changing your background music it's hard to concentrate with it constantly cuting in and blasting loud.
Thays the amazon model that helped them become dominant. They made no profit for a long time because all profits were reinvested so less tax paid, shareholders were aware of their growth and domination plan and it paid off to position them in a absolute market dominant position.
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
🤙
Did you say 4x2? 👀
waipa forest not at woodhill, but good stuff
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
Thanks - I love geography!!!
Why do you say "up" in Rotorua? Is that place at high alititude?
@craigshrimpton5765
2 ай бұрын
Higher in latitude.
@mm5aho
2 ай бұрын
@@craigshrimpton5765 I get it, thanks. Further south (greater latitude) is "up".
Hated working at the mill nearly as bad as a fish factory ⛳
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
cool man sounds like factory’s aren’t your thing - what do you do now?
So what about the carbon from the furnace?
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
From their website.. "We have recently added a new biomass boiler and steam turbine generator. This allows the site to process all of its waste residues, supply all its own thermal energy, all of its own electricity and exports power to the national grid - all carbon neutral from local sustainable plantation forestry. A true biomass powered sawmill."
What is the primary species processed here ?
@DiscoFang
Ай бұрын
Pinus radiata. It takes the pressure timber treatment extremely well.
Well hope west fraser doesnt buy you out. Its a neat process yo see from log to boards the process. Trezt your EMPLOYEES with respect , without them your mill isnt able to run.
Does he know what to do with his hands?
@commiedoge747
Ай бұрын
When you're reading a script from the company, it's hard to be natural
I wish you slow down on filming
Definitely no heart wood coming out of those matchsticks treated sapwood
All they need now is a rail line into the site so they can lower their carbon emissions by sending their product to the Port of Tauranga via rail rather than road. If the Rotorua branch (rail line) was still in operation they could use that!
So who owns Red Stag now?
@thelostgeneration2000
28 күн бұрын
Fletchers elephant joined the chat 😂
Still can’t provide a decent salary 100k freak out!! For a heavy diesel electrical fitter with welding experience!!!
Largely sawmill in the southern hemisphere processing low quality logs. A species that was native to North America and never exploited commercially. What's that tell you....
@DiscoFang
Ай бұрын
It tells you a lot about the shit-show that is timber preservative treatment in North America.
Someone needs to tell this dude to put his hands down when he talks... And seeing the staff red stag have on the floor it's no surprise they can never get the gauge consistent..even though they have calibrated machines doing the job. Redstag timber is subpar at best
The homes in New Zealand are a mess so cold in the winter made from crap wood and cotton wool dor insulation with aluminum window frames that make great condensation every morning like it's 1970s again.
@kaymish6178
Жыл бұрын
Yeah. It is pretty typical for good quality NZ products to get exported to foreign markets with NZ left with the rubbish or inferior imported products.
@martyverry954
Жыл бұрын
@@kaymish6178 NZ gets the best cuts from the log, whilst lower grade timber goes to Asia.
I had the misfortune to go to Red Stag on a regular basis to collect the finish product. Treated like sh*t, bullied, shouted at and even threatened by a forklift driver who was going to drag me out of my cab. I banned myself and refused to go there again. Boss didn't like it but never stood up for me, so I no longer work for him.
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
sorry to hear that Marc
Yet we are paying the premium price for it
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
The price of a being on small island tuck away at the bottom of the world :)
Terribly shot. The fast pan, zoom and rapid cutaways gave me vertigo.
If only that timer was stone. Maybe nz houses would feel like a real house rather than a mouldy shed.
Just a pure commercial? Sure feels like it.
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
Like I say at @11:20 definitely not an ad - just a builder and big kid at heart super interested in the process if I’m that way surely others are - hence the video :)
@cameronhamer9432
Ай бұрын
@@nzbuilderinfomercial , that chemical shouldn’t be used in a dwelling . Breathing the dust when sawing that wood covered with crap will make your carpenter’s ill . 👍🇨🇦
JNL?
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
I used their Jframe for a bit when it was available, from what I understand they’re directing a lot of their product back to Japan now
4x2 and 8x2. Don't use those measurements here.. cmon chief.
@DiscoFang
Ай бұрын
So you're not a builder then. Standard vernacular for the last 50+ years since going metric.
@DiscoFang
Ай бұрын
and btw, "here" is different from North America where they call it 2x4, 2x8...
Until the Chinese buy it
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
it’s a family owned business that’s proud to be Nz owned
@Koalabrothers
Жыл бұрын
@@nzbuilder you say that but wait and see
@sw6188
Жыл бұрын
It is rare to find any business owner who will refuse the lure of a large cheque pushed into their hand. So many NZ businesses have sold out to the chinese - iconic companies like Fisher and Paykel. At the end of the day it's nothing but greed. If china came knocking on my door I would send them packing, it wouldn't matter how big the cheque was.
@Maverick46nz
2 ай бұрын
Anything can sold
This guy remind people of Gromit? 😂
@nzbuilder
Жыл бұрын
haha Having a Grand Day Out?
Red Stag is not the biggest. Just saying.
poor animals
Big river sask has a bigger mill just saying
@martyverry954
Жыл бұрын
That's in the Northern Hemisphere Olie