Northern Industrial Completes $5M Mill Modernization Project
October 20, 2025 | Seattle, WA
Northern Industrial, LLC today announced the successful completion of a comprehensive $5 million modernization and upgrade project at its primary planing mill facility in Seattle, Washington. The investment, which began in Q2 of this year, introduces cutting-edge technology designed to significantly enhance production efficiency, dimensional accuracy, and overall product quality.
Key Upgrades and Technology
The core of the modernization focused on replacing aging equipment with high-speed, precision machinery. Key installations include:
- **High-Speed Planers:** New planers capable of processing lumber at faster rates while maintaining tighter tolerances, reducing processing time and improving surface finish quality.
- **Automated Stacking and Sorting:** Implementation of a fully automated stacking and sorting system, which minimizes manual handling, reduces the risk of product damage, and increases throughput speed.
- **Optimizing Scanner Technology:** Integration of advanced laser and vision scanning systems that analyze each piece of lumber for defects and optimal cutting solutions before it enters the planer, maximizing yield and grade recovery.
Elias Vance, CEO of Northern Industrial, LLC, commented, "This $5 million investment is a testament to our long-term commitment to operational excellence and our customers. By embracing the latest in milling technology, we are not only increasing our capacity to meet growing demand for high-quality industrial wood products but also reinforcing our position as a leader in precision manufacturing."
Benefits for Customers and Sustainability
The modernization project is expected to yield immediate benefits for Northern Industrial's customers, primarily through improved product consistency and faster turnaround times for large-volume orders of surfaced lumber and custom patterns.
Furthermore, the new optimizing technology contributes directly to the company's sustainability goals. By increasing the yield from each log and reducing waste, the mill operates more efficiently, minimizing its environmental footprint. The reduced energy consumption of the new machinery also aligns with the company's environmental stewardship pledge.
The mill is now fully operational, and the company is already seeing positive results in its production metrics.
For media inquiries, please contact the Media Relations team at media@northernindllc.com.