26 December 1945 – 11 September 2026
Pioneer of the Swing-Blade Sawmill

Carl Peterson was more than an inventor and sawmiller. He was a pioneer whose ideas helped change the way people around the world approached portable sawmilling. His development of the swing-blade sawmill opened a new path for practical, efficient timber production and inspired an industry that continues to grow from the foundations he helped establish.

For me, Carl was also Dad — the source of so much of the thinking, curiosity and determination that ultimately became part of Turbosawmill. His instinct was always to look at a problem differently, simplify what others accepted as complicated, and keep experimenting until there was a better way. That spirit remains deeply embedded in the company today. Every new machine, improvement and idea carries something of the approach he passed on to me.

His influence reaches far beyond our family and our business. Around the world, sawmillers have built businesses, produced timber, supported their families and worked more independently because of ideas that Carl helped bring into reality. His legacy is not simply a machine or a design. It is an attitude toward innovation, self-reliance and finding a better way to get the job done.

Carl Peterson’s contribution to portable sawmilling will continue to be felt for generations. For Turbosawmill, he will always remain part of where we came from, why we think differently, and what continues to drive us forward.

A personal tribute to my father, Carl Peterson — whose ideas, determination and way of thinking continue to inspire me every day.

Written by his son, Jake Peterson