Gobig Automation; Watch the video. It has been slowed down so you can see the action. And it is not as efficient as recent technology which is being researched & developed daily.
TOLKO's mills logs are sorted to size prior to being sawn so as there is no need to have the space between them as shown. Creating more production by eliminating the gap. Eliminating the gap between logs at the Armstrong mill resulted in an additional $2M per year in profits for that facility. Bigger logs simply require larger equipment.
Westerns Mills are still being upgraded but they will catch up as funding becomes allows. Management has been constantly comitted to it since Brookfield retrieved WEF from Backruptcy.
In the long term WEF or whoever may buy it, will be one of the very financially secure lumber companies in BC. But it will take more upgrading and automating.
Notice there is not many employees required to porduce a Million board feet per shift. Even some of the maintenance equipment in mills, is now being automated. Sensors and computers monitor the operation and provide alerts on potential malfunctions or worn parts which are not running true in the machinery before it actually fails causing more serious problems .
WEF's advantage is their access to fiber supply. No AAC beetle cut back to contend with and the largest mill on the Island buying privately held timber.
When they say their priority is their employees. I do not believe it. It is simply Lip service for public image.
In todays world with 5G technology what a human does in any industry. Machines can be programed to do faster and more efficiently.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t6OF0rXEl04