Company Description – Ben Hokum and Son Limited is a multi-generational, family-owned lumber manufacturer with over 100 employees at its Golden Lake facility near Killaloe. The company operates a sawmill, a dry kiln, and a lumber planing division in Pembroke, producing 40 million board feet of white and red pine lumber annually, with 15 million board feet of dried, graded lumber sold each year. 

Project Description – Through the Digital Modernization Adoption Plan (DMAP), Ben Hokum identified automated lumber grading as its primary modernization need. Currently Ben Hokum’s sawmill does not have the ability to separate grades when lumber is produced and bundled into loads of approximately 1,000 pieces of lumber. A bundle could consist of up to 7 different grades. Bundles must be graded before they go into the dry kiln and then regraded after it comes out to ensure customers receive the appropriate grade ordered, resulting in a very inefficient process.  

With DCC’s support, Ben Hokum installed an automated grading system that uses AI technology to streamline lumber production processes and enhance overall efficiency by speeding up the grading time, increasing volume, significantly reducing costs associated with duplication and manual grading and provide more consistent graded products. By adopting a modern grading system, Ben Hokum benefits from increased quality, reduced waste, real-time data insights, customized grading and scalability, leading to increased customer satisfaction.  

Project Impact & Potential Outcomes – As a result of DCC’s support, Ben Hokum & Son Limited experienced a transformative shift, marked by higher-quality lumber and increased customer satisfaction due to consistent automated grading. At least one new job was created through the need to manage the technical innovations, and 12 jobs were retained as a result of being able to efficiently process lumber in light of the deteriorating markets.  

The digital modernization successfully streamlined production, boosted capacity, and opened doors to new markets, making the company more competitive. Enhanced efficiency and reduced waste generated substantial cost savings, enabling reinvestment in modernization. Moreover, with real-time data insights, the company was able to drive better decision-making, showcasing its position as a forward-thinking leader in the lumber industry.