What Industrial Equipment You Need for Your Lumber Business

Are you planning to start a lumber business? You’ll need more than trees for success!

Fencing and building supplies are in high demand. A lumber yard can be an excellent way to join the supply chain and benefit from the construction industry—but you’ll need the right industrial equipment to support your business operations. 

Where do you start? If you’re new to the lumber industry, choosing the tools and machines you need can be overwhelming without the right insights. Follow this guide to make smart sources when selecting equipment for lumber yards!

Storage

Starting a lumber business means you need space and equipment to store lumber. An efficient lumber yard makes it easy to find different types of lumber to meet customer needs. However, piling boards on the ground can ruin the quality of your lumber and send your products to the scrap yard. 

When setting up your storage system, consider categorizing inventory by:

• Hardwood vs. softwoods
• Size
• Use

After creating a plan for organizing different types of lumber, it’s time to buy storage pallets and racks. A sturdy system of racks keeps wood off the ground and dry. Arrange pallets and racks to accommodate your storage plan with easy access for equipment to move and stack lumber as inventory arrives and customers place orders. 

Forklifts

Moving lumber from place to place requires a forklift for a lumber yard. This is one of the most critical pieces of equipment you’ll need when setting up your lumber business. 

When choosing the best forklift for your needs, consider:

• How much power you need to lift heavy loads. A small lift might not do the trick. 
• The type of forks to work best with lumber. The wrong forks can drop boards and create a safety hazard.
• New vs. used. A quality, reconditioned forklift can handle the job while saving you money. 
• Diesel vs. electric. Based on your facility, which type of power is best?
• Where you’ll use the forklift. Make sure it’s the right size to fit between storage shelves and travel throughout the lumber yard. 

A forklift is a significant investment in your equipment inventory. Don’t settle for a cheap machine that can’t handle the inventory size or volume. The wrong forklift can be dangerous and won’t serve your needs when running a lumber business. 

When adding a forklift to your business, make sure you also hire a trained and certified operator. Moving lumber with this kind of equipment can be a dangerous liability without understanding forklift maintenance and safe operation requirements. 

Commercial Saws

You’ll need to cut wood! Even if the bulk of your lumber inventory arrives pre-cut, starting a lumber business without a saw can make it difficult to serve customers well. 

Research the best type of commercial saws for your business needs, including:

• Deck saws
• Portable yard saws
• High-speed chop saws
• Cross-cut saws
• Chain saws
• Edgers

If a customer requests a size that isn’t one of your standard cuts, having a commercial saw in your lumber yard helps you meet customized lumber needs. Edgers help you trim boards to meet design specifications for contractors or other building needs. 

As your business grows, the right saws can help you become the go-to lumber supplier in your area. 

Trucks

Will you deliver lumber to customers? Having a delivery option can help you serve more customers and supply lumber to construction sites throughout your market. 

Choose a truck that makes it easy to get around your lumber yard while effectively hauling lumber to customers. Excellent delivery vehicles include pickup trucks and a trailer for larger orders. 

When offering delivery, make sure your truck drivers have the proper training to load and carry heavy loads of lumber. Your truck also needs the right safety equipment like tie downs, bundling, and wraps to make sure the load arrives safely at its destination. 

Woodchipper

Old wood and scrap pieces don’t need to go to waste. With a woodchipper, you can also offer mulch through your lumber yard business. 

Woodchippers come in several options, including fuel-powered, electric, and commercial-grade. If you process and sell a large volume of wood, a large commercial woodchipper could be the best option for your industrial equipment inventory. Many electric chippers are small and lack the power to handle large pieces of wood. 

Using a woodchipper not only adds mulch to your inventory. A chipper also reduces the size of scrap wood for easier disposal. 

Wood Planer

Salvaging a rejected customer order or warped board is easier with a wood planer. With this piece of equipment, you can reshape wood and resell it as “scratch and dent” pieces without a complete loss on wood that doesn’t meet your or your customer’s standards. 

Take standard-sized pieces of lumber and plane them down into customized sizes for unique projects. Sell reclaim wood by resurfacing old, used boards with a planer. Flatten and smooth rough-sawn boards that would otherwise go into the scrap pile. 

Having a wood planer can add more customization and salvage services to your lumber business!

Set Yourself Up for Success With the Right Industrial Equipment

When starting a new lumber yard, you don’t need every piece of industrial equipment right away. Start with a few essential pieces and a truck to begin, then add more saws and other equipment as your business grows. 

In addition to heavy commercial equipment, create a storefront and set up business operations. Choose a wood supplier that delivers quality lumber and meets your customer demand. With the right structure and business partners, your new lumber business will succeed for the long haul!

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