Niagara Sawmilling Company, located in Invercargill, New Zealand, has selected Comact for a large-scale modernization project to enhance Niagara’s production capabilities and strengthen operational performance.
Executed in close collaboration with Lakeland Steel, Comact’s key partner in New Zealand and Australia, the project reflects a shared commitment to delivering cutting-edge technologies supported by strong local expertise.
“Comact sincerely thanks Niagara for its trust in our people and our company,” said Simon Potvin, CEO of Comact, an associate member with the Southern Forest Products Association. “Our team is fully committed to delivering this project on time and on budget, with the highest standards of engineering, execution, and customer support. With Comact’s global expertise combined with Lakeland Steel’s strong regional capabilities, Niagara can rely on world-class service and long-term support at every stage of the project.”
This brownfield project includes the supply of a new log infeed equipped with a Versa Ring Debarker. The primary breakdown will feature a Hybrid Sawline combining triple profiling, circular saws, a splitting module, and a 7-foot CETEC bandsaw, followed downstream by a dual-profiling CPG (canter profiler gang).
The mill will also include a complete trimmer line equipped with an AI-powered TrimExpert™ optimizer. The new installation will be equipped with a suite of Smart Vision systems deployed throughout the process, along with full integration of the sawmill into the OPER8™ industrial IoT platform.
“We are excited to move forward with this new sawmill in partnership with Comact,” said Ross Richardson, CEO of Niagara. “The technology and expertise they bring will allow us to significantly enhance reliability, efficiency, and fiber optimization across our operations. This investment represents an important step in strengthening our mill for the long term.”
Equipment delivery is scheduled for late 2026, followed by commissioning in 2027.