Robbins Lumber adds two sawmills

Robbins Lumber, Inc. has announced the acquisition of two sawmills, bringing the company’s presence to four locations.

Pleasant River Lumber Co.’s former sawmills in Hancock and Sanford will retain all 74 employees between the two locations, according to the firm.

The acquisition will let them to expand on their brand of Eastern White Pine production, which they presently manufacture in their existing locations in Searsmont and East Baldwin.

“Robbins Lumber is recognized for its quality products, safety, and great employees,” Catherine Robbins-Halsted, co-owner stated.

“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 Robbins-Halsted and her siblings Jim and Alden Robbins.

They are the sixth generation of the family to own and operate the company, which has been in existence for almost 140 years.

“This acquisition is a game changer,” Jim Robbins added.

“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 names of the two acquired sawmills have been changed to reflect the purchase.

Robbins Lumber Downeast, LLC will now operate in Hancock, while Robbins Lumber Sanford, LLC will operate in Sanford.

“These two locations will help to make Robbins Lumber even better, and even stronger,” said Alden Robbins.

“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.”

In 1881, Frank and Otis Robbins established the first Robbins Lumber stave mill on the St. George River.

Robbins Lumber, Inc. now owns and maintains 30,000 acres of its own forest and purchases logs from over 150 independent loggers.

Robbins Lumber’s main headquarters in Searsmont contains an 8.5 MW cogeneration plant, a computerized sawmill, planing mills, and 70,000 square feet of warehousing space, as well as a milling operation on a 40-acre site.

Robbins Lumber currently employs 250 employees across four locations, thanks to the expansion of the Hancock and Sanford locations.

The acquisition price of the two locations was not disclosed.