History and current structure 1971 - Founded by Dick Girouard and Bob Lewis. 1975 - First sawmill control system (PCS system). 1976 - Cliff Beattie, current member of the Lewis management team (production) joined the company. 1976 - First inhouse computer system (SBM - Single Board Microprocessor) developed and installed. 1979 - Karen Fifer, current member of the Lewis management team (administration) joined the company. 1983 - Purchased by Corley Mfg.. 1983 - First Multibus based control system installed - Precursor of modern sawmill control. 1984 - Bob Lewis left company. 1990 - Major innovations to the Multibus based product line allowed the use of faster processors, opening the door to better scanning and more advanced optimization techniques. 1994 - Marv Bernhagen and Matt Bieker, current Vice President / Chief Operating Officer and Engineering Manager, respectively, joined the company. 1995 - First Edger Optimizer installed incorporating true random width solutions. 1996 - First Windows based PC used as a system interface installed. 2001 - First READYSCAN - PC based system installed. We believe this unit was the first system in the sawmill industry driven by a single PC to handle all optimization and control functions, taking full advantage of the power, speed and upgradeability of modern PC technology. 2004 - First READYSCAN SL Installed. Installed on a Cooper Enddogger in North Carolina, the small log optimizer is based on our proven READYSCAN optimizer, combined with a modern PLC setworks. 2006 - First TYRONE AC Re-Gen Carriage Drive Installed. A joint venture between Lewis Controls and our parent company, Corley Manufacturing. With the use of state of the art drive technology, the TYRONE AC Re-Gen Carriage Drive is designed to be economical and environmentally friendly