A History of Hard Work
50 Years of Proven Reliability — And We’re Just Getting Started
Rawlings Manufacturing was founded in 1976 by Clifford E. (Cliff) and Patricia (Pat) Rawlings as a small sawmill construction and consulting company. What began as a hands-on, family-run operation quickly earned a reputation for practical innovation and dependable solutions within the forest products industry.
While building the business, Cliff and Pat raised their three sons — John, Craig, and Mike — in and around sawmills. From an early age, they learned the industry from the ground up, working in mills, solving problems, and understanding firsthand the demands of real-world operations. That foundation of hard work, mechanical ingenuity, and deep industry knowledge continues to define Rawlings Manufacturing today.
History of the Rawlings Wood Hog
From the early 1900s through the 1970s, sawmills relied heavily on hammer mills to grind bark into hog fuel for boiler systems. However, cedar bark — with its long, stringy fibers — routinely caused plugging, excessive wear, and costly breakdowns. As a result, many mills abandoned attempts to process it altogether.
Cliff Rawlings saw an opportunity where others saw frustration.
After years of hands-on experimentation with wood grinders, he developed and patented the Rawlings rotary wood hog — a breakthrough design built around a solid rotor system engineered to efficiently process even the most challenging bark materials without the chronic downtime associated with hammer mills, while requiring up to 50% less horsepower.
That original innovation evolved into the Super Hi-Inertia™ rotor system — a core engineering principle that remains central to Rawlings equipment today.
Over the decades, Rawlings Manufacturing has expanded its product lines to include a full range of horizontal and vertical grinders in multiple sizes, available in both electric and diesel configurations. Each system is built with the same commitment to durability, efficiency, and real-world mill performance.
A Family Deeply Rooted in the Industry
The Rawlings family’s connection to the forest products industry runs deep. Some would say they have sawdust in their veins.
John Rawlings, Owner and President of Rawlings Manufacturing — known throughout the industry as the “Hog Doctor” — has continued refining and advancing his father’s original rotary hog designs. Working alongside him is his wife, Judi Rawlings, who plays an integral role in the company’s operations and organizational leadership. Together, they have strengthened and expanded the business, further developing innovative wood and bark recovery systems that improve mill efficiency, material utilization, and long-term performance.
Craig Rawlings, is President & CEO of Forest Business Network (FBN), Chairman of the International Mass Timber Conference (IMTC), and Editor-in-Chief of FBN’s weekly industry e-newsletter since 2002. With more than five decades in the forest products industry, he is recognized for advancing underutilized timber, woody biomass, and mass timber market development across North America.
Mike Rawlings, President of Rawlings Industrial, has built a respected reputation as a trusted builder of sawmills, chip mills, and planer mills. His work is relied upon by mill owners, project managers, and engineers across the industry.
Together, the Rawlings family represents decades of combined experience in mill construction, biomass recovery, equipment innovation, and forest industry leadership.
Family-Owned. Future-Focused.
Rawlings Manufacturing remains proudly family-owned and operated, guided by the same values that shaped the company from the beginning: integrity, innovation, durability, and service.
Today, the next generation is stepping forward. Cliff Rawlings, John’s son, is actively involved in the company, bringing new energy and forward-thinking perspective to the future of Rawlings equipment and engineering solutions.
The company’s continued growth is rooted in the work ethic and commitment to excellence passed down through generations — a legacy built not just on equipment, but on trust.