Mintroad Saw Mills was founded by Mr Richard Smith in Fordsburg, Johannesburg in 1946. In 1952 land was brought in Robertsham, Johannesburg and the company expanded into the supply of gumpoles to the mining and building industries. In the early 1970�s treated poles were added to the product range and a comprehensive range of gumpoles and sawn timber were distributed to the building, civil engineering, road building, packaging and thatching industries as well as building material merchants. In 1978, Mintroad Saw Mills installed its first timber treatment plant. In 1990 Mintroad Saw Mills bought the Alrode operations of Taylor & Mitchell, its main opposition in Gauteng. The assets included land with railway facilities as well as an additional 3 timber treatment plants. The sawmilling operations were expanded and products developed to include nurseries and outdoor wood products. A timber drying kiln was installed in 1994. Mintroad Saw Mills currently operates 1 Creosote, 2 CCA (Tanalith), a dual Flambor (wood preservation and fire retardant for timber) / Thatchbor (preservative and fire retardant for thatch grass and reed) treatment plant as well as the �New Generation� Tan E (Ecowood) preservation which is Arsenic and Chrome free. Mintroad Saw Mills is a leader in the wood preservation and process control fields and specialises in custom timber treatment (e.g. Cooling tower application) with access to the world�s largest timber preservation chemical manufacturer�s research and technical database. SABS permits are held for the full range of timber treatment types and Hazard Classes. Research is carried out on an ongoing basis with international input. A process assistance and record keeping computer program designed specifically for the South African wood preservation industry has been developed and patented by Roy Smith. Mintroad�s product range includes gumpoles (untreated as well as the various treatment types) as well as slabbed 1 or 2 sides, fencing slats, survey poles, guardrail posts and blocks, sawn pine, sawn gum, trellis (standard and fancy) garden edging, picket fencing and outdoor wooden furniture. Treated timber is exported to USA, Europe, Middle East and various African countries. A retail outlet �Browsers Garden & Home Centre� incorporating Timber & Landscape Centre was opened in Alberton in 2002 with the emphasis on Mintroad products with related products such as paving, plants and water features to �sell the idea not the product�. Software has been developed to be able to franchise the operation as future branches. The company is currently headed by Roy Smith and employs approximately 80 people. A fleet of trucks ranging from 4 � 10 ton capacity (larger trucks operate with mounted cranes) is operated and for loads in excess of 10 tons vehicles are hired. Mintroad operates 2 Bell loggers as well as 3 forklifts for its material handling. Raw material is brought in by road and graded to SABS specifications. Training is carried out in house. The companies policy of �Sell only what you would wish to buy� is actively enforced and the company logo �Mint Quality Timber Products� used to brand products. Orders are tracked on a sophisticated computer network. Quality and services remains the top priority of the company. Open days are held annually in order to educate company buyers, building inspectors, architects, thatchers and the general buying public as to the different hazard class requirements and process procedures. Mintroad Saw Mills is an active member of the South African Wood Preservers Association.