Ledwidge Lumber
Enfield's Ledwidge Lumber Company Ltd. is the quintessential family business. Three generations contribute to the enterprise which began in 1943.
The company's chief product is stud lumber. The USA accounts for about 70 per cent of Ledwidge Lumber's production. The rest is directed to Nova Scotia and New Brunswick with some to Quebec and overseas.
As communications coordinator Cassie Turple - a third-generation family member - explains, not a bit of the tree is wasted. For example, sawdust is used for wood pellets, wood chips for paper and bark and wood shavings for fuel.
When the company is running at full capacity, it employs 100. The difficult economic environment, however, has demanded restructuring and Ledwidge Lumber is currently operating at half-capacity. "The important thing is we're still running, which is getting extremely difficult to do in this industry considering the current economic climate," says Turple.
The provincial government's Industrial Expansion Fund is providing welcome assistance. "We really appreciate the support of the government," says company president Douglas Ledwidge. "To us it means we can continue to employ our staff and continue to serve our customers and partners as we go through these tough economic times."
And, looking ahead, continue to welcome new generations to the business.
Wood chips:- Ledwidge Lumber is the third largest sawmill in Nova Scotia.
- Last September the company hosted Demo International® 2008, a forestry equipment show which attracted more than 6,500 people from all over the world.
February 17, 2009
