Serrarias

A serraria, or sawmill, is a facility where logs are transformed into lumber and other wood products. Sawmills range from small, portable units to large industrial plants and serve as a key link in the timber supply chain, converting harvested timber into usable material for construction, furniture, pallets, and industrial uses.

The operation typically begins with log intake, debarking, and sorting by species, diameter, and quality. Logs are then cut into boards or beams using primary saws, followed by secondary breakdown to achieve desired dimensions. Additional processing may include edge trimming, surfacing or planing, and, in many plants, kiln or air drying to reduce moisture content to levels suitable for end-use. Moisture targets vary by product, with structural lumber often dried to around 6–12% depending on standards and climate.

Products and by-products define production focus. The primary products are dimensional lumber—boards, planks, timbers, and specialty sizes. By-products include bark, wood chips, and sawdust, which are used for pulp and paper, particleboard or fiberboard, mulch, and biomass energy. Sawmills may also produce components for engineered wood products such as glue-laminated timber.

Technology and variants: modern serrarias increasingly rely on automated, computer-controlled sawing lines, log scanners, conveyors, and sorting systems to improve yield and quality. Variants include stationary industrial mills, mobile or portable sawmills for on-site processing, and remanufacturing mills that further refine recovered materials.

Environmental and safety considerations: responsible sawmilling involves waste management, energy efficiency, and adherence to certifications (such as FSC or PEFC) when sourcing timber, along with worker safety and compliance with local regulations. Serrarias play a crucial economic role in forested regions by enabling value-added processing of timber.