Another year goes by and MacDirect are loaded with plantation logs that will keep us busy for next 4 months. These logs are stunning! Thumbs up to the farmer. These 31-year-old lusitanica were well grown pruned and thinned. We were pleased to learn this farmer feels very satisfied, after visiting MacDirect sawmills and seeing his high-quality timber, supplying the local market.
31 years ago I started MacDirect and like that very satisfied farmer, I also feel very satisfied at the achievements of our Sawmill.
In the early 90s macrocarpa was usually considered the timber for the “alternative home builder”, but a lot has changed and today it is often featured in “home of the year” exclusive builds.
Yet it has always been a battle against the entrenched mindset of the mainstream building industry, particularly some bureaucratic regulators who have no appreciation of natural products. Fortunately, most timber scientists have always recognized the undeniable and historic attributes of the cypress species. There are however some good people working hard to allow our customers to continue to dream and build with natural products and government bodies interested in the increased supply of natural durable timbers. From our perspective, the future is bright.
It was noticed when MacDirect first started that the merchants had given up supplying cypress because of the lack of consistent well graded availability of supply. MacDirect from earliest days set out to overcome that barrier by guaranteeing quality control and a ten day turn around for most orders. Today we supply merchants and builders throughout NZ and our market turnover has been growing consistently, doubling approximately every 7 years.
Scott Kelso became part of MacDirect after a few years on a part-time bases, because of the exciting prospects he saw going forward. He brings new energy and expertise especially in marketing and staff and production innovation.
Although this year has seen a lot of changes for MacDirect in a challenging economic market, we feel really positive for the future use of cypress as a mainstream building option especially for the discerning builder. We have developed a market today in cladding, joinery, sarking, large piece size beams up to 8mtrs, structural SG8 framing, as well as outdoor furniture and garden kitsets. Most timber supplied is in “tight knot visual grade”. We also have ready supplies of clears for joinery, sarking and weatherboard.
We have log supply offered to MacDirect that will keep us busy for the foreseeable future. This has been a concern in the past, but we are excited by the future of log procurement for MacDirect.
We are embarking in the new year on major upgrades in our sawmill processing. Replacing our aging electrical switchboard, plus a new multirip resaw, chipper, and large sorting grading table with associated roll gear. With the new high-tech horizontal bandsaw and new molder/four sider recently purchased we feel ready to meet future demand.
We feel sure 2025 will be a new and better year in general and wish you all the best and a relaxing and peaceful summer break.
Merry Christmas
From Murray, Scott, Cindy and the team at MacDirect
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