In a community where the unemployment rate is over 50% the proprietors of the $15M Seven Sisters/Torrington Sawmill agree that establishing their business at Linden would allow them to cut costs and create jobs.
Cousins Sean and Michael Torrington opened their sawmill on September 23 at Lot 30, Industrial Site, Blue Berry Hill, after years of planning to diversify into forest products. Michael said Linden is a prime business location because of the ease of securing sufficient timber which they intend to source from the Region Ten Forest Producers Association. The company has five employees and plans are in train to hire another 12-15 workers. It is also seeking export markets in the Caribbean with persons from St Lucia and Barbados already indicating an interest.
“Our end goal [is the] overseas market,” Michael said. He said persons have already asked about the components for pre-fabricated houses, green heart and other species of hard wood. It was noted as well that Seven Sisters plans to use lesser-known hard woods which are harder, more reliable and durable than some of the more known hard-wood varieties. The company produces V-Joints, lap edges, groove and tongue, planks and moulding and is now seeking a sawdust market.
In terms of its domestic market opportunities, the newly opened operation is already making a name for itself in Linden lumber yards as a supplier. Michael said they are not worried about competition from sawmills in the community, as Seven Sisters plans to produce high quality products. Later, the company will open a city outlet to cater for customers in the capital.
Sean, a mechanical engineer by profession and Michael who owns a transportation business decided five years ago to start the sawmill. They started to buy the equipment in 2004. Michael said he had decided that he did not want to drive every day for the rest of his life and Sean, who had spent many years at sea agreed that he would rather start his own business.
The duo secured a loan from the Linden Economic Advancement Fund two years ago, which they have since refinanced. Both the loan and the refinanced amount totalled more than $6M. (Nicosia Smith)
