Member Spotlight: Turning Wood Waste into Opportunity with Messersmith Manufacturing

For more than four decades, Messersmith Manufacturing has helped wood products companies solve one of the industry’s most persistent challenges: what to do with wood waste. Today, as rising energy costs and changing markets create new pressures for hardwood manufacturers, the company is finding itself at the center of an increasingly important conversation about energy independence, sustainability, and long-term profitability.

Founded in rural Bark River, Michigan, Messersmith Manufacturing designs and manufactures biomass boiler systems that allow businesses to convert wood byproducts—including sawdust, bark, planer shavings, and wood chips—into usable heat and energy. Their systems serve sawmills, lumber manufacturers, dry kiln operations, and other forest products businesses across North America.

For Craig Albright, Business Development Manager at Messersmith, helping customers find solutions is what makes the work rewarding.

“The people are what I enjoy most about this industry,” Albright said. “Most of these are family-run businesses. They’re independent people, and I enjoy helping them solve problems.”

That problem-solving mindset has become increasingly valuable as the hardwood industry navigates market uncertainty, mill closures, and shifting energy costs.

FINDING VALUE IN WHAT OTHERS SEE AS WASTE

One trend Albright has noticed over the past year is growing interest in maximizing the value of wood residuals. As paper mills continue to close in some regions, many manufacturers are looking for alternatives to traditional markets for bark, chips, and sawdust.

“People are coming to us asking how they can make their byproducts more valuable,” he explained. “Or how they can turn them into usable forms of energy.”

Messersmith’s biomass boiler systems provide one answer. By converting wood waste into thermal energy, companies can heat dry kilns, office buildings, manufacturing facilities, and even multiple buildings through district heating systems. In some applications, the systems can also generate electricity through steam turbines.

For many companies, the economics are compelling.

“A lot of times we’re seeing a three- to five-year return on invest-ment,” Albright said.

One project that stands out is Kretz Lumber in Antigo, Wisconsin. Through a biomass energy system that includes a Messersmith boiler and turbine, the company is able to generate the electricity needed for its operations using its own wood byproducts. In some cases, facilities with excess generation capacity can even sell electricity back to the grid.

SUPPORTING SUSTAINABILITY—AND RURAL COMMUNITIES

While biomass energy often enters the conversation through sustainability initiatives, Albright believes its impact extends beyond environmental benefits.

“It’s environmentally sustainable, but it’s also economically sustainable,” he said.

By creating value from wood residuals, biomass systems help support jobs in rural communities while improving forest management practices. As markets for low-grade wood continue to shift, finding productive uses for material that might otherwise remain in the forest can contribute to healthier forests and stronger local economies.

“If we can turn that material into a valuable fuel source, it helps keep people employed in rural areas and creates value from something that otherwise might go unused,” Albright said.

MORE THAN A MANUFACTURER

Although Messersmith is known for its boiler systems, Albright believes customer service is what truly sets the company apart.

“Most boilers are boilers,” he said. “What really separates companies is customer service.”

Messersmith provides 24/7 support for customers throughout the life of their equipment and maintains a fully stocked parts inventory for same-day shipping when needed. The company also assists customers during the planning stages of projects, helping them evaluate fuel availability, calculate return on investment, and identify funding opportunities.

For many hardwood businesses, navigating grant programs can be as challenging as evaluating new equipment.

“The paperwork can become overwhelming pretty quickly,” Albright said. “We try to help connect people with resources, economic development agencies, and grant writers who can guide them through the process.”

Even when a project doesn’t ultimately result in a sale, Messersmith remains committed to helping customers find the right solution.

“We’re proud to be a resource for companies that are looking to grow and expand,” he said.

LOOKING AHEAD

As energy costs continue to rise and manufacturers look for ways to improve efficiency, Albright expects demand for biomass energy solutions to continue growing.

“Everybody is looking for ways to save on energy costs,” he said. “A lot of facilities already have the fuel sitting right there in their yard. They’ve already paid for it when they bought the log. The opportunity is finding ways to put that material to work.”

For Messersmith Manufacturing, the future lies in helping hardwood companies unlock that opportunity—turning what was once considered waste into a resource that supports both business growth and the long-term health of the industry.

Your support team at Messersmith Wood Boilers

For information on how Messersmith Manufacturing can help you with your wood boiler system needs, contact Craig Albright at calbright@burnchips.com or Jeremy Mortl at jmortl@burnchips.com. Craig and Jeremy can regularly be found supporting forest product associations at their regional and national meetings.