Godfrey Forest Products Announces New OSB Mill For Maine

Godfrey Forest Products Announces New OSB Mill For Maine

By Rich Donnell

    Godfrey Forest Products, with multi-investor backing, has announced plans to build an 800MMSF annual production capacity brownfield oriented strandboard (OSB) plant in Jay, Maine, at the site of a paper mill known as the Androscoggin Mill, which closed in 2023. The company, led by John Godfrey, renown for his development of OSB plants since the early 1980s, hopes to gain necessary permitting within a year and begin construction thereafter. Jay is approximately 65 miles due north of Portland, Maine.
    The project announcement was held March 8 at the Androscoggin Mill, with Governor Janet Mills leading off. “I still remember how I felt in April 2020 upon hearing of the digester explosion, Mills said. “I was concerned of course about the safety of the employees, but also for the future of the mill and this community.”
She said it’s been a priority to bring business back into the community since the mill’s closing, and referred to the Godfrey OSB announcement as “one significant project” for this property, and cited Godfrey’s long and successful history with OSB project development. She said the mill would provide 125 jobs in addition to construction jobs.
State Senator Lisa Keim (R-Oxford) recalled how generations of family and friends had worked at the mill. “Seeing the paper mill go silent hit us all very hard,” she said. “The announcement today brings back hope and opportunity. Jay is going to be a mill town once again. It’s a revitalization.”
Godfrey said at age 75 he might have been inclined to retire, “but it’s so much fun building OSB mills, why not one more round?”
Born in Bangor, Maine, Godfrey said when heard of the problems at the paper mill and ultimate closure, he saw an opportunity to redirect some of the unused pine pulpwood tonnage into a facility with ready-made infrastructure such as utilities, railroad tracks, excellent Northeast markets for wood products, and he emphasized that labor with manufacturing experience was plentiful in the area.
Godfrey, speaking from where he expected the finishing line will be located, estimated two and a half years until the beginning of production—following environmental permitting, equipment selection, removing existing buildings, construction of the plant, equipment installation and startup.
Godfrey said wood products will help to alleviate the sting of lost pulp and paper manufacturing in the state. “Maine is devoid of pulp mills now. The amount of wood is considerable.” Environmentally speaking, he added that “building materials is the ultimate storage of carbon from the atmosphere. It’s basically locked up for good.”
Godfrey wouldn’t reveal the investment figure, but said it was in the hundreds of millions of dollars, and he noted that the first million had come from the Maine Technology Institute.
International Paper built the Androscoggin Mill in 1965 and sold it to Verso Paper in 2006, which sold it to Pixelle Specialty Solutions in 2020. An explosion in the pulp digester area in spring 2020 did major damage and the mill never recovered.
An investment partnership purchased the property in early 2024, from which Godfrey Forest Products purchased just shy of 100 acres.
In recent years Godfrey was on the cusp of building an OSB plant at a procured site in Winslow, Ariz., as part of the U.S. Forest Service 4 Forests Restoration Initiative (4FRI), which was intended to treat and improve forest health conditions on more than 2.5 million acres across four Arizona national forests while establishing wood products manufacturing and biomass processing infrastructure.  
But the Forest Service couldn’t piece the plan together and in 2021 canceled the bid-award phase, which included Godfrey’s bid for an OSB plant. In addition to a site for the plant, Godfrey had completed an engineering design, preliminary air work, and had a number of contractual relationships lined up.
    Educated at Harvard College and Harvard Business School, Godfrey’s career started in Maine with Great Northern Nekoosa where he held several manufacturing and financial positions, and oversaw timberlands. In 1980, he left GNN and formed Godfrey Forest Products to develop an OSB mill in northern Maine. The mill, at Houlton (New Limerick), was developed and built in a partnership with Louisiana-Pacific Corp. Shortly after startup in 1982, Godfrey sold his interest in the facility to L-P. He proceeded to develop and execute a plan for the first OSB mill in Europe, founding Highland Forest Products at Inverness, Scotland in 1983. He served as Managing Director and CEO of HFP through startup and into successful operation. After several years of operation, HFP was acquired by Norbord.
Godfrey then assembled an investment partnership to acquire a defunct particleboard mill at Miramichi, New Brunswick in 1994. He led the formation of Eagle Forest Products and Chatham Forest Products, which reconstructed the Miramichi mill into an updated OSB facility. The mill operated three years and was sold to MacMillan Bloedel.

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Godfrey Forest Products Announces New OSB Mill For Maine

Godfrey Forest Products Announces New OSB Mill For MaineBy Rich Donnell     Godfrey Forest Products, with multi-investor backing, has announced plans to build an 800MMSF annual production capacity brownfield oriented strandboard (OSB) plant in Jay, Maine, at the site...

Hunt Modernizes Lathe Operations

In a significant step toward modernizing their production line, Hunt Forest Products in Pollock, La. is receiving new lathe controls and BlockLogix optimization from USNR, as well as a Bosch valve upgrade to the lathe spindles and replacing the lower portion of the core drive.

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Boise Announces New Investments

boise announces new investments

Boise Cascade has announced new investments in Alabama and Louisiana in support of its engineered wood products (EWP) growth strategy.

In Alabama, Boise is adding I-joist production capabilities to its Thorsby EWP mill and converting a plywood layup line to a parallel laminated veneer line at the Chapman plywood facility. The Chapman investment adds important integration into the Boise’s EWP growth plans. In addition, the Chapman plywood facility extended employment opportunities to 50 of the 80 associates affected by the recently announced Chapman lumber operations curtailment.

At the Oakdale, La. facility, major projects planned include the upgrade and redesign of the log utilization center, a new veneer dryer and press, and modification of an existing veneer dryer. These investments are expected to take place over a two-year period.

                “We are looking forward to these major expansions and upgrades to further solidify our market position in EWP,” says Chris Seymour, SVP, Wood Products Manufacturing Operations. “We have great teams in the Southeastern U.S. and are pleased to further invest in our meaningful asset bases in Alabama and Louisiana.”

On a total company basis, Boise’s current estimate of capital expenditures for 2024 is $250 million to $270 million. This range includes the investments in EWP and spending on the previously announced greenfield distribution centers.

Latest News

Godfrey Forest Products Announces New OSB Mill For Maine

Godfrey Forest Products Announces New OSB Mill For MaineBy Rich Donnell     Godfrey Forest Products, with multi-investor backing, has announced plans to build an 800MMSF annual production capacity brownfield oriented strandboard (OSB) plant in Jay, Maine, at the site...

Hunt Modernizes Lathe Operations

In a significant step toward modernizing their production line, Hunt Forest Products in Pollock, La. is receiving new lathe controls and BlockLogix optimization from USNR, as well as a Bosch valve upgrade to the lathe spindles and replacing the lower portion of the core drive.

Find Us On Social

Newsletter

The monthly Panel World Industry Newsletter reaches over 3,000 who represent primary panel production operations.

Subscribe/Renew

Panel World is delivered six times per year to North American and international professionals, who represent primary panel production operations. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.

Advertise

Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative. Contact us today!

Hunt Modernizes Lathe Operations

hunt modernizes lathe operations

In a significant step toward modernizing their production line, Hunt Forest Products in Pollock, La. is receiving new lathe controls and BlockLogix optimization from USNR, as well as a Bosch valve upgrade to the lathe spindles and replacing the lower portion of the core drive. 

As one of USNR’s premier optimization systems, BlockLogix is designed to integrate seamlessly with other USNR upgrades and provide a 5-7% reduction in cycle time and a 2-5% recovery boost over other systems. BlockLogix offers faster, more efficient processing and fewer electronic components, making it easier to maintain.

The new Bosch valves can replace any existing valve, regardless of brand name. They’re high-response control valves with optimized spool positioning, allowing higher nominal flow ratings in all sizes. The improved dynamic response is well-suited for demanding closed-loop applications involving pressure, force, position, and velocity control.

“USNR is proud to supply these upgrades and work with Hunt Forest Products to improve their output and veneer quality,” the company states.

Latest News

Godfrey Forest Products Announces New OSB Mill For Maine

Godfrey Forest Products Announces New OSB Mill For MaineBy Rich Donnell     Godfrey Forest Products, with multi-investor backing, has announced plans to build an 800MMSF annual production capacity brownfield oriented strandboard (OSB) plant in Jay, Maine, at the site...

Hunt Modernizes Lathe Operations

In a significant step toward modernizing their production line, Hunt Forest Products in Pollock, La. is receiving new lathe controls and BlockLogix optimization from USNR, as well as a Bosch valve upgrade to the lathe spindles and replacing the lower portion of the core drive.

Find Us On Social

Newsletter

The monthly Panel World Industry Newsletter reaches over 3,000 who represent primary panel production operations.

Subscribe/Renew

Panel World is delivered six times per year to North American and international professionals, who represent primary panel production operations. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.

Advertise

Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative. Contact us today!

Roseburg Names Tony Ramm Senior VP

Roseburg Names Tony Ramm Senior VP

roseburg names tony ramm senior vp

Roseburg announced that Tony Ramm has been named Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Labor, overseeing the company’s human resources, benefits and compensation, recruitment, and environmental health and safety teams.

Ramm joined Roseburg in May 2014 as a plant manager at the company’s plywood mill in Riddle, Ore., a role he held for four years before he was named General Manager of plywood for the company. In May 2019, he was promoted to Director of Manufacturing. Three years later, Ramm was named Director of Strategic Improvement, leading special projects within operations and procurement. He has served as Vice President of Human Resources since June of this year.

Ramm takes over the role from Kellye Wise, who moves into an Executive Advisor role until his retirement on July 5, 2024. Wise has led Roseburg’s HR and Labor team since October 2012.

Latest News

Godfrey Forest Products Announces New OSB Mill For Maine

Godfrey Forest Products Announces New OSB Mill For MaineBy Rich Donnell     Godfrey Forest Products, with multi-investor backing, has announced plans to build an 800MMSF annual production capacity brownfield oriented strandboard (OSB) plant in Jay, Maine, at the site...

Hunt Modernizes Lathe Operations

In a significant step toward modernizing their production line, Hunt Forest Products in Pollock, La. is receiving new lathe controls and BlockLogix optimization from USNR, as well as a Bosch valve upgrade to the lathe spindles and replacing the lower portion of the core drive.

Find Us On Social

Newsletter

The monthly Panel World Industry Newsletter reaches over 3,000 who represent primary panel production operations.

Subscribe/Renew

Panel World is delivered six times per year to North American and international professionals, who represent primary panel production operations. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.

Advertise

Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative. Contact us today!

PELICE 2024 Will Cover Higher Level Focus On Markets & Technologies

PELICE 2024 Will Cover Higher Level Focus On Markets & Technologies

pelice 2024 will cover higher level focus on markets & technologies

The ninth Panel & Engineered Lumber International Conference & Expo (PELICE) will feature 38 speakers, while nearly 100 exhibitor sponsors will fill the Grand Ballroom North of the Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park in downtown Atlanta, Ga. USA.

“We’ve packed a lot into a relatively short time frame of a day and half so I would advise attendees to have an idea ahead of time where they need to go to hear whom they want to hear,” comments Rich Donnell, co-chairman of PELICE and editor-in-chief of Panel World, which hosts the event along with Georgia Research Institute. “It’s easy to get turned around without a game plan.”

Donnell adds, “The agenda has come together nicely and there’s a great range of subject matter, from big picture outlooks to detailed technology insights.”

Mill projects is always a theme of PELICE, and it kicks in the first day, with talks by MARTCO CEO Roy O. Martin III, whose company is completing a new OSB mill in Corrigan, Texas (its second OSB mill at that site); and Roseburg CEO Stuart Gray, whose company is beginning to build an MDF facility in Dillard, Ore.; and TimberHP co-founder Matthew O’Malia, whose company has just started up a wood insulation board facility in Maine. In fact wood insulation board will also be the subject matter for Grenzebach Director of Project Engineering Karl Aicher and for Jim Martin, Director of Advanced Composites Equipment for Globe Machine Manufacturing, both on the second morning of PELICE.

If want to hear about the latest developments in Mass Timber and Cross-Laminated Timber, no one has more experience with it than Nick Milestone, Director of Project Execution with Mercer Mass Timber, who will address its growing status as the preferred choice in build system design, often in combination with existing technologies such steel and concrete.

Meanwhile Rich Baldwin, Chief Investment Officer of Oak Creek Investments, will look at current and future markets and potential in North America for MPP and CLT, while Georgia Forest Commission Director of Forest Services Devon Dartnell hones in legal developments in host-state Georgia that will enhance the utilization of mass timber in commercial construction.

Greg Lewis, Vice President Wood Panels for Forest Economic Advisors, will do what he does best, address wood panel demand as we move into the middle of the decade, and the word is he has a positive outlook. And AFRY Principal Guillermo Velarde will also provide AFRY’s outlook for wood panels in North America and the opportunities therein.

The emerging era of data science for the wood products industries will be addressed by Timothy Young, Interim Director of the Data Science Institute for Machine Learning and AI at the University of Tennessee. Young refers to data science as the “new soil” for growth in the industry, with analytical techniques that can reduce variation of key process and subsequently enhance cost savings. Young is known worldwide for his expertise on analytical modeling, machine learning, AI applications and real-time predictive analytics.

Longtime wood products industry professional, Cory Elliott, now Senior Project Manager with Crow Engineering, will address his company’s approach with AI based control systems toward viable solutions and tolerance enhancement in plant modernization, and he also address some cautions when moving forward with this technology.

Processing modeling is the subject for Bakelite Manager of R&D Bob Breyer, Sr., while Biele Sales Manager Paul Gavin focuses on digital solutions and production control; and Kadant Director of Product Development Lorne Fardy teams with Kadant Sales Director Conor McElveen on using Smart-connected technology to improve stranding for OSB; and KTC VP of Operations Jowan Toor discusses 3D BIM applications for greenfield and brownfield projects.

If you’re looking for a good talk on resins and binders, Wanhua Business Director Timothy Chaffee will focus on the closing of technological gaps of isocyanate wood binders. 

Several talks will address the latest in-line quality control, scanning and measurement technologies and several more will expound on the current and future state of air emissions control regulations and technologies. Two talks, one from Raute and one from Argos/Con-Vey, will address automatic panel repair technology.       There’s much more, with a lot of variety: biofiber panel solutions, veneer dryer technology, spark detection, wastewater recovery, thermal oil optimization, log handling, waterproof packaging. 

As usual the presentation rooms are adjacent the exhibitor floor in the ballroom, and all of the food functions are held on the exhibitor floor.

Latest News

Godfrey Forest Products Announces New OSB Mill For Maine

Godfrey Forest Products Announces New OSB Mill For MaineBy Rich Donnell     Godfrey Forest Products, with multi-investor backing, has announced plans to build an 800MMSF annual production capacity brownfield oriented strandboard (OSB) plant in Jay, Maine, at the site...

Hunt Modernizes Lathe Operations

In a significant step toward modernizing their production line, Hunt Forest Products in Pollock, La. is receiving new lathe controls and BlockLogix optimization from USNR, as well as a Bosch valve upgrade to the lathe spindles and replacing the lower portion of the core drive.

Find Us On Social

Newsletter

The monthly Panel World Industry Newsletter reaches over 3,000 who represent primary panel production operations.

Subscribe/Renew

Panel World is delivered six times per year to North American and international professionals, who represent primary panel production operations. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.

Advertise

Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative. Contact us today!

Oregon Truckers File Suit Against State

Oregon truckers file suit against state

Rob Freres, president of Oregon-based Freres Engineered Wood, a manufacturer of lumber, veneer, plywood and mass timber, has thrown in his support for a lawsuit filed by the Oregon Trucking Assn. and three Oregon-based trucking companies against the state of Oregon for overcharging truckers under the weight-mile tax.

“For decades, Oregon trucking companies, the vast majority of which are small, family-owned businesses, have paid far more than their fair share of transportation taxes,” Freres writes in a company blog. “By 2025, the trucking industry is expected to have overpaid by half a billion dollars. Trucking companies in Oregon simply cannot sustain paying the highest transportation taxes of any state in the country any longer.”

Oregon Trucking Assn., Combined Transport, A&M Transport and Sherman Bros. Trucking filed a lawsuit against the state of Oregon, the Oregon Dept. of Transportation, Gov. Tina Kotek, Senate President Rob Wagner (D-Lake Oswego) and House Speaker Dan Rayfield (D-Corvallis). The lawsuit claims that the state’s weight-mile tax is unconstitutional by forcing truckers to pay more than their fair share.

At the center of the lawsuit is Article IX, section 3a of Oregon’s constitution, which “ensures that the share of revenues paid for the use of light vehicles, including cars, and the share of revenues paid for the use of heavy vehicles, including trucks, is fair and proportionate to the costs incurred for the highway system because of each class of vehicle.”

According to the lawsuit, truckers have been paying “an ever-increasing and disproportionate share” of the state’s road revenue. Under the same section of the Oregon constitution, the state must submit a Highway Cost Allocation Study every two years. That study determines the proportionate share that heavy and light vehicle users should pay.

According to the 2023-25 Highway Cost Allocation Study, truckers are being overcharged by the weight-mile tax as a proportion of road use.

“Under existing tax rates and fees, light vehicles are projected to underpay their responsibility by 12.2%,” the study states. “Heavy vehicles are projected to overpay by 32.4% during the next biennium.”

The last three studies have concluded that truckers in Oregon are overpaying. Despite the study results, the state has continued to collect road taxes without adjusting for equitability between vehicle types.

“Oregonians deserve safe roads, and Freres Engineered Wood is willing to pay our fair share—as required by Oregon’s constitution—as long as Oregon Department of Transportation keeps up its side of the agreement,” Freres writes. “But, to date, major road improvements have not been completed, road maintenance has been delayed, and our roads are less safe for passenger vehicles and trucks. Meanwhile, trucking companies are forced to pass astronomical tax rates on to consumers, who end up paying more for household goods.”

Freres points out that Oregon is the last state in the country to collect taxes based on weight and miles. All other states collect fuel taxes to fund roads. “It’s overdue for Oregon to eliminate the administrative cost of collecting weight mile taxes and move to a fairer fuel tax,” Freres says. “If you are able, consider contributing to the Oregon Trucking Association’s Legal Fund.”

The issue is not lost on some state lawmakers. Rep. Shelly Boshart Davis, R-Albany. “As a proud owner of a family-operated trucking business myself, I fully support the Oregon Trucking Association’s lawsuit against the state of Oregon for overpayment of weight-mile taxes. Our trucking businesses have been paying far more than our fair share of highway taxes for too long. By 2025, that number will total half a billion dollars in overpayments. I urge my colleagues in the Legislature to consider future opportunities to resolve this injustice.”

The lawsuit claims that the Legislative Assembly “failed to comply with its constitutional obligations.” The Oregon Trucking Assn. is asking the court to declare the defendants violated the constitution by not making mandatory weight-mile tax adjustments. Furthermore, the lawsuit seeks to stop the “unconstitutional” weight-mile tax from taking effect in 2024 and for the state to conduct an immediate review and adjustment of revenue sources.

Plaintiff trucking companies also are seeking to recover the amount of weight-mile tax they have overpaid. Between those three companies alone, that amount comes to nearly $1 million.

“For far too long, Oregon trucking companies have paid far more than their fair share of transportation taxes,” Oregon Trucking Assn. CEO Jana Jarvis said in a statement. “By 2025, the trucking industry is expected to have overpaid by half a billion dollars. Trucking companies in Oregon simply cannot sustain paying the highest transportation taxes of any state in the country any longer.”

The lawsuit was filed in the Douglas County Circuit Court in the state’s 16th Judicial District in Roseburg.

“We initiated this lawsuit not because we don’t want to be paying taxes, but because we simply want to pay our fair share,” said Andy Owens, CEO and manager of A&M Transport. “Since 2022, we have paid over $292,000 more in taxes than we should have, based on the findings of the state’s own Highway Cost Allocation Study. Not only is the overpayment not sustainable for a family business like ours, it’s in violation of Oregon’s constitution.”

The other plaintiffs, Combined Transport Inc. of Central Point, contends it overpaid by $470,619 in taxes from Jan. 1, 2022 to the present, and Sherman Bros. Trucking of Harrisburg was overcharged $153,198 in taxes during the same time.

According to the Oregon Trucking Assn., the state constitution requires that the tax rate paid by trucks be “fair and proportionate to the costs incurred for the highway system because of each class of vehicle.” However, for at least the last six years, the state’s trucking companies have been forced to pay more than a third of all taxes owed by Oregon motorists despite trucks representing only 15% of vehicle miles traveled in the state.

Latest News

Godfrey Forest Products Announces New OSB Mill For Maine

Godfrey Forest Products Announces New OSB Mill For MaineBy Rich Donnell     Godfrey Forest Products, with multi-investor backing, has announced plans to build an 800MMSF annual production capacity brownfield oriented strandboard (OSB) plant in Jay, Maine, at the site...

Hunt Modernizes Lathe Operations

In a significant step toward modernizing their production line, Hunt Forest Products in Pollock, La. is receiving new lathe controls and BlockLogix optimization from USNR, as well as a Bosch valve upgrade to the lathe spindles and replacing the lower portion of the core drive.

Find Us On Social

Newsletter

The monthly Panel World Industry Newsletter reaches over 3,000 who represent primary panel production operations.

Subscribe/Renew

Panel World is delivered six times per year to North American and international professionals, who represent primary panel production operations. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.

Advertise

Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative. Contact us today!