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In the early 2000s, Gerlo and his wife Inge Breukers were running a side business building and selling picnic tables in the area of Haaksbergen, Holland. In 2002, Gerlo saw a Wood-Mizer sawmill for the first time at an industry tradeshow in Germany. He saw how easily the sawmill was converting round logs into finished beams and lumber, and realised that it was possible for him to produce his own timber for his projects. He found that there were already Wood-Mizer sawmills in his local area, and was able to do some research into sawmilling.
“Wood has been my hobby since I was a boy, helping with my parents’ construction business,” Gerlo remembers. “During the slower winter months, my father and I would stay busy indoors with his woodworking projects.”
“There was a second-hand Wood-Mizer for sale nearby,” Gerlo recalls, “And my research made me confident that it would be a good investment. With the mobile Wood-Mizer sawmill, I was able to cut custom timber orders for contractors and individuals, as well as build and install custom gazebos, fences, porches and more with my own timber. It was at that point that my hobby became my primary source of income.”
First only using the sawmill to produce timber for his existing building projects, Gerlo soon realised that there was demand for mobile sawing services in his area. Between construction jobs, he cuts custom orders of lumber for clients, either from his own stock of logs or using the client’s logs.
In the 12 years he has been running the sawmill, he has since upgraded to a Wood-Mizer LT70 with powerful hydraulic log handling and a powerful computer setworks system that assists him in making sure that each board is cut precisely where it should be. Gerlo talks with customers, saws timber, and builds, while Inge supports him by handling paperwork and the administration work of the business.
“I really enjoy the variety of work and the ability to arrange your schedule myself,” says Gerlo. His business grew from word-of-mouth advertising primarily. One project would lead to another one or two projects as his client’s friends and family would admire his work and want something built for themselves. Because his business is local and diversified, Gerlo says he did not see any slowdown in his work due to the crisis.
Their good business sense and quality service for their own customers brought them to Wood-Mizer’s attention when Chris Dragt, who had represented Wood-Mizer in the Netherlands for many years, was preparing to retire. At the recommendation of Chris, the Breukers were selected to represent Wood-Mizer in the Netherlands.
Gerlo and Inge are new responsible for all Wood-Mizer sales and customer service for the Netherlands and Dutch-speaking Belgium. Their sales office is located in Haaksbergen in eastern Holland.
The range of equipment they offer is quite extensive, because Wood-Mizer produces sawmills from very small personal sawmills to wide-band industrial wood processing machines. However, Gerlo and Inge believe that Wood-Mizer’s orange line of sawmills will be most suited to the Dutch timber production market.
“Wood-Mizer sawmills have a good price-quality ratio,” says Gerlo. “You start with a log and after a few cuts, you can make anything from it, such as gazebos, fences, sheds and so on. You can quickly earn back your money by producing your own timber.” After 12 years of doing it himself, he is able to speak from personal experience.
The orange line of mills covers economical sawmills for woodworkers and farmers, such as the LT10 and LT15. The LT20, LT40, and LT70 sawmill models are designed for varying budgets and expected production levels. Gerlo’s own LT70 model is a mobile mill, which tows behind his truck to his customer locations.
“Our sawmill customers are very diverse,” Inge explains. “We have forest owners who want to saw for their own use, landscapers, contractors and mobile sawyers who cut for others. Many run successful businesses doing mobile sawing for others, and others support their construction business with the sawmill which produces timber for their projects.”
“People interested in buying a sawmill are welcome to come visit us in Haaksbergen and see the sawmills for themselves and get a full demonstration,” shares Gerlo. “Seeing a sawmill in operation for oneself gives a very complete idea of what the sawmill is capable of.”
Gerlo and Inge are determined to continue in their predecessor’s manner of providing quality support before and after the sale.
“When a new sawmill has been produced for a customer, we deliver it to the customer’s location and set up everything for him. Then we take some time for a complete training of the operation of the sawmill and the Accuset computer. After the training, the customer can call or email with any questions,” says Gerlo. “And from time to time, I can make a visit to help with any adjustments needed. If technical support is required, we can often resolve the issue over the phone, or I can go to the customer for service. Our spare parts stock is very well supplied, so there is no problem to get spare parts quickly.”
“People interested in learning more about sawmilling can visit our website,” says Inge. “They can also find a lot of videos on YouTube. Of course, by calling or scheduling an appointment, we can share our own experiences of being Wood-Mizer customers for 12 years and running a business.”
“After being a customer for 12 years, I do not think any other sawmill brand has such good technical support and parts service as Wood-Mizer does,” says Gerlo. “Wood-Mizer always considers their customers very important, before and after the sale.”
For more information:
Gerlo and Inge Breukers
email: info@mobielehoutzagerij.nl
