Hardwood specialist Danzer completed the sale of its hardwood sawmill in Bradford, Pennsylvania/USA on 15 April. Danzer sold the mill to a joint venture between Rossi Group, a hardwood processing company, and Lyme Timber Company, which specialises in forestland investments. The sale secured the 85 existing jobs at the Bradford site. In addition, the new owners plan to create at least 20 new jobs. Danzer continues to be represented in the North American lumber business with its lumber drying plant in Shade Gap, Pennsylvania.

Danzer started the Bradford sawmill in 1988 to provide high-quality American lumber to customers around the world. In recent years, Danzer has invested in modern technologies, such as the so-called “curve-saw” technology, which saws straight boards from bent logs, resulting in better utilisation of the valuable hardwood resource. “However, competitive dynamics did not allow us to sufficiently differentiate the sawnwood product to achieve the strong competitive advantages Danzer expects from all business units,” explained CEO Hans-Joachim Danzer. Greg Lottes, Managing Director of Danzer Lumber North America, added: “We have found an excellent buyer and operator for the Bradford sawmill. With the Lyme/Rossi Group, our qualified and dedicated employees are in good hands at the Bradford site. This also benefits the local community. Rossi’s existing sawmill capacity and Lyme’s larger Pennsylvania forest holdings are an excellent complement to the Bradford complex.”

Greg Lottes, vice chairman of Danzer’s North American holding company, will continue to lead Danzer Lumber North America’s operations. However, Lottes handed over leadership of Danzer Veneer Americas (DVA), which he has headed for the past 12 years, on 1 January 2021. The company’s new chief executive officer is Dan W. Sullivan, who has served as Danzer North America’s chief financial officer since 2010. Sullivan will be supported by a team of experienced Danzer executives: Tracy Rowlett (executive vice president), Vijay Reddy (vice president, sales and marketing), Dan Rastatter (vice president, manufacturing and engineering) and Greg Hartog (vice president, procurement).

The Danzer plant in Shade Gap, which is still in operation, purchases fresh hardwood and dries it homogeneously. Almost all American hardwood species are dried here in chambers with a capacity of 1.4 million board feet. The plant’s focus is on white oak and walnut species ranging in thickness from approximately 4/4 inch to 12/4 inch. For walnut, two steaming chambers are available on site and planing and cutting services are offered.