About
Gates Milling, Inc. is a leader and innovator in the production of specialty wood products, operating as a fully integrated, state-of-the-art manufacturer strongly committed to quality. With a global awareness of the importance of renewable resources, Gates practices responsible stewardship of its raw materials, invests in advanced, efficient technologies, and fosters a premium work environment rooted in sustainability.
Located in Gatesville, North Carolina, Gates Custom Milling, Inc. was established in 1978 as a family-owned operation. Founder Brian H. Martin sought to remanufacture Atlantic White Cedar lumber into both interior and exterior products. Since then, Gates has grown into the largest producer of Atlantic White Cedar products in the country, as well as a high-quality producer of Poplar and the highly sought after American Cypress™.
After a devastating fire in 1981, Gates began the process of expanding into a full-service, fully integrated operation, taking control of all aspects of the milling process. Over the years, a sawmill, new moulders, and dry kilns were added to the operation. In addition to the new equipment, a second generation of Martin’s family joined the team. Today, Gates produces a full product line, from interior paneling to exterior siding and mulch, completely in-house. An ongoing commitment to new technology keeps Gates at the forefront of customization and specialty milling.
Along with this growth, Gates has developed an experienced team at all stages of the milling process. Current owners Mark & Nancy Tuck each have over 30 years of experience with the business, and most of the facility’s equipment is operated by employees with at least 10 years of experience. Today, under the leadership of the family’s third generation, Kelsey Kennedy and Kaitlyn Wood, Gates has grown to be the largest producer of Atlantic White Cedar products in the country, as well as a high-quality producer of Poplar and Oak materials and the highly sought after trademarked Gates product, American Cypress™. With a facility that spans 50 acres, the company has become one of the largest employers in Gates County through outstanding leadership management and continued manufacturing expansions. The company values the importance of implementing cutting-edge technology in the lumber industry and focuses on major capital improvements on an annual basis. These updates allow the company to streamline productivity, enhance product quality, all while creating new jobs within the community.
Gates continues to enrich its team’s experience in the industry through active involvement in relevant trade associations and like-minded organizations, including those that promote stewardship and sustainability.
Then & Now
1978
Gates Custom Milling, Inc. opens out of an existing planer mill facility in Gatesville, North Carolina.
1981
Burglars set the Gates facility on fire, causing the company to rebuild and begin expansion.
1988
Current President Mark Tuck joins his father-in-law in business as Vice President.
1992
Current CEO Nancy Tuck joins her father and husband in business to oversee administration, marketing and finance.
1997
Gates begins producing Poplar products for frames located in the Midwest.
1999
Gates builds an entirely new sawmill and begins producing Cypress products, allowing the company to offer national and international customers a full line of Atlantic White Cedar, Poplar and Cypress products.
2005
Gates begins use of two new dry kilns, completing the full integration of Gates’ milling process.
2012
Nancy and Mark purchased the assets of the company from Nancy’s parents and founders, and renamed the company to Gates Milling, Inc.
2018
Kelsey Kennedy, Mark and Nancy’s oldest daughter joins Gates Milling as Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
2020
Kaitlyn Wood, Mark and Nancy’s youngest daughter joins the family business. Gates Milling trademarks their Cypress products under the brand American Cypress™.
2021
Gates installs a Nicholson 6A Debarker as well as a McDonough horizontal resaw in the sawmill.
2022
The Gates sawmill is further expanded with the installation of a new Cleereman Industries Carriage with 3D Scanning Technology. Storage capacities are also increased by adding a 120’ x 240’ Warehouse on the grounds.
2023
Gates adds two additional SII Dry Kilns, each with a capacity of 60,000 BF. A new tarping station is installed on the load yard as well.
2024
Gates Milling hires a forester to expand log procurement opportunities. Facility upgrades include an optimized Sawmill Sorter Tally & Sorting System, as well as a Gardner Denver Air Compressor System.
2025
Kelsey Kennedy steps into the position of Chief Operating Officer/Chief Marketing Officer and Kaitlyn assumes the role of Chief Financial Officer/Chief Technical Officer. Gates works with McDonough Manufacturing to install an Optimized Three-Saw Edger in the sawmill. In the Planer Mill, Gates replaces the original Woods Planer with a Newman Planer.
Present Day
Gates Milling, Inc. produces nearly 12 million board feet annually. The mill remains the nation’s number one producer of their specialty Atlantic White Cedar, American White Cedar, and has become known for their American Cypress ™ products. The mill continues to manufacture Poplar and other hardwoods as well, serving wholesale distributors across a majority of the country as well as internationally.
Gates Milling, Inc. is a leader, innovator, and fully-integrated, state-of-the-art, quality producer of specialty wood products. Having a world awareness of the value of renewable resources while being good stewards of its raw materials, the organization is technology driven as well as focused on maintaining a premium work environment.
Located in Gatesville, North Carolina, Gates Custom Milling, Inc. was established in 1978 as a family-owned operation. Founder Brian H. Martin sought to remanufacture American White Cedar lumber into both interior and exterior products. Since then, Gates has grown into the largest producer of American White Cedar products in the country, as well as a high-quality producer of Cypress and Poplar materials.
After a devastating fire in 1981, Gates began the process of expanding into a full-service, fully integrated operation, taking control of all aspects of the milling process. Over the years, a sawmill, Weinig Molder, and dry kilns were added to the operation. In addition to the new equipment, a second generation of Martin’s family joined the team. Today, Gates produces a full product line, from interior paneling to exterior siding and mulch, completely in-house. An ongoing commitment to new technology keeps Gates at the forefront of customization and specialty milling.
Along with this growth, Gates has developed an experienced team at all stages of the milling process. Current owners Mark & Nancy Tuck each have nearly 30 years of experience with the business, and most of the facility’s equipment is operated by employees who have at least 10 years of experience. Part of the successful tenure of the team derives from a benefits package that enables the mill to attract and retain highly valuable members. Gates continues to enrich its team’s experience in the industry through active involvement in relevant trade associations and like-minded organizations, including those that promote stewardship and sustainability.
Our Mill
A proven and capable supplier of American hardwood and softwood lumber products since 1978, Gates Milling is a fully integrated specialty manufacturer committed to quality. The company adds value to wood and wood products by processing them to their highest potential with responsibly stewarding these valuable, renewable resources.
Gates Milling, Inc. operates 58,000 square feet of manufacturing and warehouse space. The facility has capacity for more than 12 million board feet of logs and lumber. Gates produces most of that lumber in-house, however the company purchases 2 to 3 million board feet of lumber from other mills annually. This arrangement allows Gates to supplement its in-house supply in order to better meet customers’ unique and specialized needs.
From its North Carolina facility, Gates serves wholesalers and distributors across the country and around the world. With a primary focus on the East Coast, Gates works with clients from New England to California, customizing each order to fit the distributor needs and the region’s environment.
In order to create top-of-the-line products, Gates Milling, Inc. utilizes top-of-the-line equipment and techniques during its production processes.
Sawmill Operation
While most milling companies saw their lumber with the goal of gaining the highest yield, Gates Milling, Inc. takes a different approach by sawing what will work best for a client’s project. The sawmill also implements a unique barcoding system that tracks each piece of lumber through its different stages of the milling process. This system allows Gates Milling, Inc. to update its inventory in real-time and provide timely, competitive prices to clients.
Gates Milling, Inc’s Sawmill Equipment Includes:
- Cleereman Industries Optimized Carriage with Lewis Systems controls and Nelson Brothers Optimization
- CAE Band Mill and Line Bar
- McDonough Horizontal Resaw
- McDonough Optifit Optimized 3-Saw Edger
- Biomass Equipment Company Butt Flare Reducer
- Nicholson A6 Ring Debarker
- Dawson Brothers Drop Saw Trimmer with Lucidyne controls & Grade Mark Reader
- Dawson Brothers 34 Bay Sorter with Lucidyne controls
- Dawson Brothers Automated Lumber Stacker with Industrial Systems Consultants controls
- Fastline Small Log Processor and Brewer Horizontal Twin Band
Dry Kiln Operation
Gates Milling, Inc. processes green material through its dry kiln operation to dry the lumber for further processing. Implemented in 2005, the Dry Kiln Operation is an integral part of the lumber processing technique. Gates Milling, Inc. utilizes the following equipment in its Dry Kiln Operation:
- Two Wellons Track Kilns with zone controls
- Two SII Package Kilns
- Total kiln capacity of 200,000 board feet
Planer Mill Operation
Once the lumber for a particular project has gone through the Dry Kiln Operation, it moves through the Planer Mill Operation to be finished into the desired profile. The Planer Mill is the longest-standing operational facility at Gates Milling, Inc., and has grown in efficiency, quality, and technology throughout the years. Today, the Planer Mill Operation produces over 8 million board feet of finished product on an annual basis utilizing the following equipment:
- Kentwood Highspeed 8-Head Moulder with 12-inch capacity
- Weinig Hydromat Moulder
- Newman 4 Side Planer
- Stenner Resaw
- Cornell Drop Saw Trimmer
Our Partners
As industry leaders, the Gates team feels an obligation to give back to the forests and partners that drive its success. Gates chooses environmentally sustainable wood species for its products and monitors the status of those species year after year. Additionally, Gates participates in several trade associations that reflect the company’s commitment to environmental stewardship and to stay abreast of industry trends.
Through these organizations, Gates Milling, Inc. supports industry-wide conservation initiatives and adheres to industry-accepted best practices. More than just participation, the Gates Milling, Inc. team strives to influence the industry and the small business community in a way that ensures the longevity of natural resources and family-owned operations.
- North American Wholesale Lumber Association
- Real American Hardwood Coalition
- National Hardwood Lumber Association
- Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association
- Hardwood Manufacturers Association
- North Carolina Forestry Association
- National Federation of Independent Business
Gates Milling, Inc. is also proud to maintain long-term relationships with its distributors. Some of these valued relationships include:
- BlueLinx Corporation
- Norcross Supply
- Alan McIlvain Company
- Forest Products Group
- Medford Cedar
- Rex Lumber Company
- Associated Hardwoods
- Legacy Pre-Finishing, Inc.
- Klumb Lumber Products
- Hood Distribution
- Walpole Outdoors