Economy
	The first transformation

The companies which work the wood in Limousin.

The sector of the first transformation is constituted by small and medium-sized firms, which have to engage important industrial investments to develop or maintain their competitiveness.

Sawmills
Limousin listed, in 2002, not less than 122 companies in this sector. They produce more than 400 000 m3 of sawing distributed as follows: 83 % of conifer and 17 % of broad-leaved trees.

Paper pulp
The International Paper factory to Saillat ( 87 ), who employment 650 employees, transforms to her only 1400000 tons of wood a year, among which 80 % of broad-leaved trees. It produces 330000 tons of paper pulp a year.

Panels
Two major factories are implanted in Limousin:
Isoroy employs 138 employees and transforms 220 000 tons of wood a year to produce 150 000 m3 of the panels every year.

Also, Polyrey employs 180 employees and transforms 130 000 tons of wood a year to produce 100 000 m3 of the panels a year.

Energy wood
Carriedby the collection of renewable energies, the sector is in development with realized or current municipal projects in the heart of Limousin: Bourganeuf, Saint-Bonnet, Briance, Felletin, Egletons …

The current consumption of fuel wood, consisted essentially of forest plaques and of related products of sawmills, amount to 177 500 tons of wood the year.