Södra started its first sawmill in 1943. The production was not big, but it corresponded to the demand of the customers in the near vicinity. Since then the clientele has grown to encompass the whole world. The production has multiplied and continuously changed to live up to new requirements on timber products. Market demand is an important guiding star in the development of Södra’s sawmill enterprises.
After the Second World War the demand for timber products expanded. The seas were free and open to all again making exports to both old and new customers possible. A great many buildings for housing and other activities were erected and in need of timber. More and more timber was required from the forest owners of southern Sweden when the sawmills increased their production.
The capacity and production of the sawmills kept changing in line with new market requirements. Small sawmills were replaced by big ones with a more modern equipment. Old technology was replaced by new. Wood processing and refinement grew increasingly common. Artificial drying became the standard and by degrees Södra has installed new driers living up to the new requirements.
The start of Södra’s sawmill at Kinda in 1968 was a milestone in the sawmill history of southern Sweden. This was the first major sawmill that had been built for a very long time. Here new technology was employed, which contributed to taking the development one step forward.
The next step was taken in 1974 with the sawmill at Värö. This was built close to Södra’s pulp mill, thus enabling the utilization of joint resources. The sawmill has since been modernized and recently provided with a planing line.
In 1999 the Mönsterås sawmill was completed. This, too, was advantageously located in the vicinity of one of Södra’s pulp mills. The advanced technology was adapted to the export market, later changes being made with consideration taken to requests from the wider clientele.
The production of timber commodities made a great leap with the purchase of Geijerträ in 2002. Entrepreneurship and refinement characterized the company joining Södra.
Market-adapted products and good service have as a matter of course been important to Södra’s sawmill enterprises throughout these years. Today structural timber and other construction commodities are the biggest product area. Refinement has become the standard: planing, drying, cutting, finger-jointing and strength grading. Customer-controlled deliveries, precision logistics and good packaging are being developed continuously. Everything done today will be looked upon in retrospect as history. The improvements have already led to advantages that both customers and Södra can benefit from.