Saying Bye To The Bandmill

The Bandmill carriage sawmill at our Enniskillen site, dating back to 1983, no longer fits the high production ethos of the Balcas of today. Gradually phased out from multishift operations to occasional use, it cut it’s very last log today.

Moving forward, investment in a ‘log reducer’ will enable our largest logs to be processed through our more efficient, automated, and optimised chipper canter saw line in the CAE mill.

Fittingly, on the same day the Bandmill ceases operation, George Sheridan retires after an incredible 48 years of service. Captured here in this photo, George presses the red button to stop the saws for one final time—a meaningful moment, as he spent a substantial part of his early career in what many would consider a more traditional sawmill.

In the photo with George are Albert Armstrong, who has managed the mill in recent years, and operators Conor Maguire, Ronnie Graham, and Dermot Doherty. Together, they represent nearly 200 years of dedicated service between them!

We look forward to welcoming George back next week for a proper send-off but thank him for doing the honours for us today.