Georgia-Pacific’s Clarendon OSB Facility recently donated $5,000 to Central Carolina Technical College’s (CCTC) Foundation in support of the college’s mechatronics program, bringing the total that GP has donated to the program to $15,000. Through this donation, GP is showing their commitment to growing the region’s workforce by making sure that CCTC and its students have the support they need to be competitive in today’s ever changing job market.

Mechatronics is an interdisciplinary field that combines mechanical, electrical, and computer engineering to create systems that help facilities run more efficiently and safely. With manufacturing advancing rapidly more every day, workers are now needing a broad range of skills in order to meet today’s high demand for skilled laborers. Through initiatives like CCTC’s Mechatronics program, students are able to learn skills that will translate directly to high-demand careers in the area.

Roseburg Forest Products has recently announced the closure of its veneer plant in Weed, Calif. The company is focusing on veneer production at its Oregon mills, where it has installed new veneer manufacturing equipment. The company says the move strengthens its long-term competitiveness in engineered wood and softwood plywood markets.

Roseburg Lumber purchased the Weed facilities and land in Siskiyou County from International Paper in early 1983 for $5 million. IP had shut down the aging operations in 1982, including a sawmill, box plant and plywood facility, which at one time was a big producer but was ultimately “run down into junk” by IP. Roseburg auctioned off the sawmill and some plywood mill equipment and built a veneer mill.

Forest products operations at the site began in the late 19th century and passed to town namesake Abner Weed and his company Weed Lumber, who would sell to Long-Bell Lumber in the first decade of the 20th century, which sold to IP in 1956.

Roseburg’s closure at Weed, along with the company’s decision in September 2025 to exit the hardwood plywood market, enables Roseburg to concentrate resources on a more focused product portfolio and optimize its position in increasingly competitive wood products markets, according to the company.

“With the investments we have made in our Riddle and Coquille, Ore. veneer and softwood plywood mills, we have repositioned these operations as well as our Riddle Engineered Wood mill to be among the most cost-competitive mills in the industry,” comments Stuart Gray, Roseburg president and CEO. “These actions are essential for Roseburg to remain a strong producer and competitor against significant volumes of low-cost imported products that continue to affect North American wood products markets.”

The Weed plant’s 140 team members will receive compensation and health care coverage for 60 days following the closure. They’ve been encouraged to apply for open positions at other Roseburg facilities. Roseburg will continue to fulfill active contracts for renewable power generation from the site’s biomass power plant.

“We recognize the impact this decision has on our team members and the Weed community and appreciate the contributions our people have made during nearly 40 years in Weed.” Gray says. “We are actively evaluating options for the facility that would allow it to continue serving as an economic driver and employer in the region.”

Roseburg says it remains committed to the Weed community, including its $7 million contribution to establish a foundation to benefit the community, continuation of the company’s Weed Community Scholarship Fund, and providing the City of Weed Fire Dept. with a rent-free firehouse on plant property.

On the occasion of its 102nd anniversary, RoyOMartin has announced that longtime Chairman and CEO Dr. Roy O. Martin III will step back from his role as Chief Executive Officer, effective January 1, 2026. Dr. Martin will continue to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors and assume additional responsibilities as Chief Investment Officer. The company’s current President and Chief Operating Officer, E. Scott Poole, has been appointed CEO, marking the first time a non-Martin family member will lead the organization in its century-long history.

“Scott has demonstrated extraordinary leadership, integrity, and commitment throughout his 39 years with the company,” explains Martin. “He has been instrumental in shaping RoyOMartin’s growth, culture, and operational excellence. His deep understanding of our business, combined with his passion for our people and our values, makes him the ideal leader to guide RoyOMartin into its next century of success.”

Poole began his career with RoyOMartin nearly four decades ago and has advanced through numerous leadership roles in forestry, operations, and executive management. His steady leadership and strategic vision have been pivotal in achieving the company’s record growth, expanding our product lines, and strengthening our reputation as a premier employer and industry innovator.

“I am deeply honored to continue serving this remarkable organization in a new capacity,” Poole says. “RoyOMartin’s success has always been rooted in its people, its values, and its commitment to doing what’s right for our team members, our customers, and our communities. I look forward to building on that legacy as we move steadfast into the future.”

As Chairman of the Board and Chief Investment Officer, Martin will remain actively involved in guiding the company’s long-term strategic direction, financial stewardship, and community engagement, ensuring continued alignment with the Martin family’s founding values of faith, stewardship, and excellence.

Russ Vaagen, CEO and founder of cross-laminated timber and glulam producer Vaagen Timbers in Colville, Wash., reports on his podcast Forest to Frame that he and the minority shareholders have entered into an agreement to sell Vaagen Timbers to Vaagen Brothers Lumber of Colville.

Vaagen Brothers Lumber is the longtime Vaagen family sawmill operation, for which Russ Vaagen served as vice president until forming Vaagen Timbers seven years ago.

“The market for mass timber and construction in general has been very poor and I think all of us in the construction space are struggling,” Vaagen comments. “Our mass timber orders were down significantly and we were focused more on making glulam work but even that market was down.”

Referring to the sale, Vaagen says the glulam business aligns very well with the dimension lumber business. It’s Vaagen’s understanding that Vaagen Brothers Lumber will manage the business and continue to support the mass timber projects Vaagen Timber has under contract and will take a closer look at mass timber in general.

“I think there’s some opportunity in single family mass timber where a plant like the one we have here in Colville can compete,” Vaagen says. “We delivered some incredible buildings, and some incredible products, and we feel like we were producing as good or better product than anybody in the industry. So Vaagen Timbers will still have that know-how and bring that to the market.”

Vaagen adds, however, that it’s going to take the construction market to turn around, with interest rates coming down down to incentivize projects to go forward both in construction as a whole and with mass timber.

“Once we have a strong market we’re going to see more and more mass timber and we know this because there continues to be the pace of design of projects,” Vaagen says.

“I’m grateful that Vaagen Brothers is able to step in and I think having the integrated approach is going to make them successful in particular in glulam and potentially in mass timber.”

Vaagen says he won’t be staying on with the realigned Vaagen Timbers, but anticipates his team will stay in place, with some possible restructuring, to make the business financially viable.

Meanwhile Vaagen says he will be providing some exciting news soon as to his work moving forward, dealing with forest restoration and building significantly more infrastructure near federal forests.

The 2025 International Conference on Wood Adhesives (ICWA), produced by the Forest Products Society (FPS) was held in Vancouver, British Columbia, bringing together researchers, manufacturers, and industry professionals from around the world to discuss the latest advancements in wood bonding technology.

Hosted at the University of British Columbia, the three-day event featured more than 50 technical presentations, a poster session, and two panel discussions featuring both academic research and industry applications covering a range of topics such as bio-based adhesives, durability testing, sustainable resin systems, and innovative applications of engineered wood manufacturing.

“The technical level of the presentations remains unmatched, showcasing all major innovations. It is where the minds that shaped our science—and those shaping its future—converge. ICWA offers a rare chance to exchange ideas with both pioneers and rising stars. All major global industry players were there, ready to discuss applications and collaborations. For me, ICWA 2025 is where science, vision, and business opportunities meet.,” says Charles Markessini, Vice President of Research & Development, Chimar, and member of the International Conference on Wood Adhesives Organizing Committee. 

The Conference sponsors included gold sponsors Arclin, Hexion, Willamette Valley Co. Silver level sponsors included Chimar, Henkel, Silvteam, and Vinivil; with Borregaard at the bronze level. EcoSynthenix and Polymer Synergies served as the Conference’s student scholarship benefactors. 

The International Conference on Wood Adhesives has been recognized for more than three decades as the premier global event dedicated to adhesive technology in the wood industry. This year’s program drew over 200 attendees from over 101 organizations, representing academia, government, and private industry. Wood products production companies Arauco, Boise Cascade, Georgia-Pacific, IKEA, LP Building Solutions, Plummer Forest Products, Roseburg, Weaver Brothers Pallets, and West Fraser all sent representative to the event. 

The next International Conference on Wood Adhesives is scheduled for 2028 and information will be released on woodadhesives.org in the coming months.