Sheraton Holdings Ltd. manager Henry Wiebe said the mill's first trial order to a company exporting to China had arrived at the docks in Vancouver ready for shipment.
Wiebe said he is expecting feedback from the customer before the lumber, which had been milled to the purchaser’s unique metric specifications, leaves the Vancouver docks.
CMSL president Quentin Beach said to Lakes District News that no feedback has been received yet, but he added, "If the customer is happy with the product and both buyer and seller can agree to terms, it is possible that Sheraton Holdings Ltd. could enter into a more formal, long term relationship. Sheraton Holdings Ltd. is capable of supplying the customer with additional products; however, it’s premature to discuss the possibility of expanding production beyond existing capacity."
The mill is now working on another trial order for a second company that also exports to China.
The lumber is being sold to overseas customers because the local dimension market is not interested in buying lumber from Sheraton Holdings Ltd.
"The area’s larger sawmills already produce more than enough low cost dimensional lumber to meet local needs," Beach said.
Wiebe said during the first few weeks after start up, things are going well.
As reported in the Lakes District News edition of March 21, 2012 the sawmill was reopened on March 6, 2012 after being closed for more than a year
The sawmill produces a variety of specialty cut products from timbers to side lumber.
Currently the mill is running a single shift and has seven employees as well as Wiebe, who Beach said is currently working on site to ensure all employees receive adequate training.