Pictured: Leaders from Northcentral Technical College, the Wisconsin Technical College System, UW-Stevens Point, and the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. during the ribbon-cutting event at the sawmill training facility.
Northcentral Technical College has opened a state-of-the-art sawmill at the NTC Antigo Campus. This marks a significant investment in hands-on, industry-aligned education for students entering or already employed in lumber manufacturing fields.
The new sawmill stands as the only commercial-scale training facility of its kind in the United States. It’s designed to prepare students for careers in the lumber industry. The facility features advanced commercial equipment and emphasizes safety, efficiency, and best practices without the pressure of full-scale production.
Logan Wells is the wood science program director at NTC. He tells Mid-West Farm Report why the sawmill is significant, including how students will use it to prepare for a career in the forest products industry:
Inside the sawmill, students work through the entire lumber production process—from debarked logs to finished, quality-inspected boards. Key equipment includes a 54” head saw, a horizontal band resaw, a two-saw optimized edger, and a two-saw trimmer. All machine centers are elevated for better teaching access. The machines are supported by a complete residue handling system that recycles byproducts.
The sawmill is being funded as part of the $8 million state Workforce Innovation Grant that UW-Stevens Point received to address the forestry industry’s workforce shortage. The WIG program is a joint effort between the Wisconsin Economic Development Corp. and the Department of Workforce Development.
The sawmill supports multiple NTC programs, including the Wood Science Associate Degree, Wood Technology Technical Diploma, and various specialized certificates.
Learn more: www.ntc.edu/about/locations-facilities/wood-technology-center-excellence/sawmill
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