Robbins Lumber Acquires Two Sawmills In Maine

Robbins Lumber, Inc., based in Searsmont, Me., has acquired two sawmills from Pleasant River Lumber Co., expanding the company’s footprint from two locations to four locations. The sawmills in Hancock and Sanford, Maine, will retain all 74 employees between the two locations. The company says the acquisition will allow it to build upon its eastern white pine production, which the company already produces at existing locations in Searsmont and East Baldwin.

“Robbins Lumber is recognized for its quality products, safety and great employees,” says co-owner Catherine Robbins-Halsted. “The addition of these two sawmills along with more than 70 new members of the Robbins Lumber team will not only grow this company’s ability to produce, but it will also grow this company’s reputation throughout the region.”

Robbins Lumber is co-owned by Catherine and her siblings Jim and Alden Robbins. They are the fifth generation of the family to own and manage the operation, which has been in business for more than 140 years.

“This acquisition is a game changer,” Jim Robbins says. “We are now a four sawmill/planer mill, biomass power plant, and coatings facility company with an expanded customer base. Our geographic footprint now covers a larger area of our state, and we have a strategic plan to continue investing and growing this business.”

The two acquired sawmills have been renamed to reflect the purchase. The Hancock location will now be known as Robbins Lumber Downeast, LLC, and the Sanford location will be known as Robbins Lumber Sanford, LLC.

“These two locations will help to make Robbins Lumber even better, and even stronger,” Alden Robbins adds. “We are very proud of our existing workforce, and adding the new members of our Robbins Lumber family to the mix will only add to the company’s exceptional reputation, customer service, and work ethic. To put it simply, this is an exciting time for Robbins Lumber.”

Frank and Otis Robbins opened the first Robbins Lumber stave mill in 1881 on the St. George River. Today, Robbins Lumber, Inc. owns and manages 30,000 acres of its own forests and buys logs from more than 150 independent loggers. Headquartered in Searsmont with a milling operation on a 40 acre site, Robbins Lumber’s main location includes a 8.5 MW cogeneration plant, a computerized sawmill, planing mills, and 70,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space.

With the addition of the Hancock and Sanford locations, Robbins Lumber now employs 250 throughout its four locations.

Having divested these two sawmills and its Moose River Lumber mill in Jackman, Me., Pleasant River Lumber now owns and operates two sawmills—at Dover-Foxcroft and Enfield—multiple log purchasing yards, two saw filing shops, and a trucking company spread out across Maine. The SPF mills’ current capacity is 300MMBF annually. ​