“Another giant of the industry has been lost,” according to Timber NSW CEO Maree McCaskill, reflecting on the passing of NSW timber veteran Max Ramien. “Our sincere sympathy goes out to Heather, his wife, and the Ramien family.”
Mr Ramien has been the heartbeat of Ramiens Timber for more than 43 years, and in 2005, he took over the business from his late father, Max Ramien Senior.
Originally a sawmill from Cobar in NSW, the Ramien family moved their operation to Dubbo and established an incredibly respected timber company that specialised in Cypress.
Active in the timber industry for many years, Mr Ramien transitioned from a sawmill to an award-winning timber merchant in the mid-2000s after the NSW government closed several mills in regional towns.
In early 2021, Mr Ramien spoke about the transition, which saw the Forestry Corporation of NSW transition a large share of western NSW forest areas into national parks.
“This meant that most mills in the area exited the industry at this point, and we also ceased milling in 2005,” he said.
“It was then that we became timber merchants and established a timber joinery where the milling side of things were. After this, we built a warehouse where the log yard was, and we filled this up with timber.”
At the same time, Mr Ramien acquired the business after his father passed away and his brother retired.
Fast forward to 2021, “and our staff are a critical part of the business, and my wife Heather also plays a significant role as our Business Development Manager and conducts a lot of our strategic planning for the business,” he told the Australian Hardware Journal.
From that point onward, the business has not looked back, and from 2015 to 2017, it was crowned Australia’s ‘Best Timber Merchant” by the National Timber and Hardware Association (formerly TABMA).
Today, the expansive business boasts a trade warehouse of around 2000 square metres, which currently houses all framing and structural timbers, fencing materials, and a range of joinery timbers.
The 1000 square metre showroom also displays flooring in profiles to any sub-floor type, and the store’s decking range and joinery timber options are on display, including various finishes, internal wall cladding, outdoor entertaining areas and artwork.
The on-site 1000 square metre joinery also offers customers access to the best in joinery timbers, with a team of experts manufacturing a range of custom furniture on-site, including bench tops, dining and outdoor table settings, timber bathroom vanities and wine cellars.
Mr Ramien attended Timber NSW’s AGM and members dinner last month, where Ms McCaskill said, “Max and his wife Heather attending the dinner after many years from membership.”
She said, “It was such a great opportunity for many members to catch up with old friends.”
Wood Central understand the funeral will be held on Monday, the 22nd of January 2024.
