Tony Heyblom
Managing Director
Tony is a fitter-welder by trade and has been heavily involved in the sawmilling industry for more than three decades. He began as a workshop fabricator for Morbark NZ, manufacturing timber processing equipment, before moving on to sawmills where he held positions as maintenance fitter, maintenance manager, engineering manager and project manager.
He has since specialised in the removal and reconstruction of mills after building Lakesawn Lumber for Pedersen Group. The second-hand sawmill complex was brought out from Canada and reconstructed in Taupo, New Zealand. Tony has managed the removal of mills from Europe and Australia for rebuilding in NZ and the Pacific Islands.
Some of these were partial mill projects, and others, complete sawmills. Having been involved on numerous occasions at both ends of such projects he knows how to make the process as efficient as possible, thereby saving clients time, money, and headaches.
Tony renamed his business, Millright, in 2017 when he began consulting to Sawmills, advising on the maximisation potential of their current equipment, increasing productivity, cost reduction, improving accuracy, and more. Millright operates a 1000m² heavy fabrication workshop in Papamoa, New Zealand, including sandblasting and painting. Staff all have sawmill maintenance backgrounds ensuring customers get fast, efficient results, as well as sound advice based on many years of accumulated knowledge and experience.
Millright has recently been appointed as distributors for TS Manufacturing (Canada) allowing them to sell, and manufacture under licence, TS Manufacturing equipment from the Papamoa workshop, drastically reducing lead times for customers, and ensuring local back-up and service.
Mike Gallacher
Workshop Manager
Mike Gallacher is Millright’s Workshop Manager. His fifteen years’ experience in sawmill installation his skills are backed up by an early apprenticeship as a fitter/welder and fitter/turner, manufacturing sawmilling equipment and other heavy fabrication projects. He also spent twenty-five years engineering within the dairy industry installing milking machines and water reticulation systems. Mike earned his helicopter pilot’s license before working for fifteen years as a sub-contractor installing and refurbishing sawmill equipment at mills all over New Zealand.
We’re delighted to have Mike’s broad experience and the range of skills he brings to Millright, and we’re very pleased to offer them to our clients.