May 2021

May 2021

by | Apr 14, 2021 | Magazine

May 2021

Cover: Egger’s New Particleboard LAM Plant Is Rolling

LINWOOD, North Carolina – Production continues to ramp up at Egger Wood Products’ new facility here, the Egger Group’s first U.S. particleboard and thermally-fused laminating (TFL) plant that features state-of-the-art automation and technology as part of a three-phase $700 million investment in the North American market.

Article by Dan Shell, Senior Editor, Panel World

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Inside This Issue

Taking Stock: Time Is Free But It’s Priceless

RoyOMartin supplied a short article in this issue on its 25th anniversary celebration since the startup of its softwood plywood mill in Chopin, Louisiana. The mill produced its first press load in March 1996 and yours truly visited the mill and wrote the cover story that appeared in the November 1996 issue of Panel World. Jonathan Martin, who passed away in September 2019, walked me through the plant that day.

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Article by Rich Donnell, Editor-in-Chief, Panel World

UPDATE
Quality Control

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following companies submitted editorial profiles and images to complement their advertisements placed in Panel World May 2021.

  • Altec
  • Baumer
  • Biele
  • Büttner
  • CMC Texpan
  • Con-Vey
  • Electronic Wood Systems
  • GreCon
  • Grenzebach
  • Hymmen
  • Imal-Pal
  • Siempelkamp
  • Sweed
  • USNR
  • Willamette Valley Company
Kainth’s Experience In Press & Platen Manufacturing Is Unmatched

The old saying goes, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade. Now if those same lemons are scrap machinery collecting dust in a warehouse, you’ll find Sherdil Precision Inc., of Tecumseh, Ontario, Canada, a major precision platen manufacturer, which has a knack for retrofitting outdated machinery to blend into its operations

Article by Patrick Dunning, Associate Editor, Panel World

Swanson Implements Latest Panel Repair Technology At New Mill In Springfield

For a company that is “building tomorrow’s future today,” modern and reliable technology and manufacturing equipment are crucial for supplying high-quality and competitive products to their market.

Article submitted by Swanson, Argos and Con-Vey

Projects
  • Guararapes Beefs Up MDF
  • FINSA Goes After Glue Savings
  • Log Handler Does The Job
  • Homanit Orders THDF Line
  • First Board Meets Deadline
  • Pfleiderer Group Adds More Inspection
  • Hardboard Firm Updates Grading
  • Online Demo Pays Off
  • Raute Announces Several Projects
  • Installation Pays Off For Shengsong
  • Columbia Forest Products Will Update Carriage
  • Raute Named Supplier Of Year
Clippings
  • Composite Panel Association Shifts Fall Meeting
  • Chambord Is Comeback Kid
  • EBF Announces Leadership
  • Rural Schools Receive Funds
  • Timber Products Hits The Road
  • APA Selects New President
  • Stora Enso Puts Emphasis On Wood
Supply Lines
What’s New
  • Keen Chicago Boot
  • Level Switch
  • Air Cleaning Blower
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Egger’s New Particleboard LAM Plant Is Rolling

Article by Dan Shell, Senior Editor, Panel World

LINWOOD, North Carolina – Production continues to ramp up at Egger Wood Products’ new facility here, the Egger Group’s first U.S. particleboard and thermally-fused laminating (TFL) plant that features state-of-the-art automation and technology as part of a three-phase $700 million investment in the North American market.

It’s a big step for the family-owned Egger Group, founded in 1961 and based in St. Johann in Tirol, Austria. The company operates 20 forest products manufacturing facilities in nine countries. Products include laminates, MDF, edge banding, OSB, lumber and particleboard. The 2.83 billion (Euro) company employs more than 10,000 worldwide.

Emissions control includes wet ESP and this four-chamber Dürr RTO.

Emissions control includes wet ESP and this four-chamber Dürr RTO.

Egger Project Manager Bernhard Vorreiter, left, and Plant Manager, Technics and Production Bernhard Ebner

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March 2021

March 2021

by | Feb 18, 2021 | Magazine

March 2021

Cover: Katerra Settles Into New CLT Facility In Spokane

SPOKANE VALLEY, Washington – It takes a lot of time, energy and finance to try and rewrite the modus operandi of the construction industry supply chain. Just ask Katerra.

Article by Jessica Johnson, Senior Associate Editor, Panel World

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Panel World March 2021 Cover

Inside This Issue

Taking Stock: The Best Of Both Worlds

Every now and then a wood product comes along that causes us editors to pause – not necessarily over its innovativeness, but rather over which magazine we should write about it in. It’s kind of a fun exercise actually.

READ MORE

Article by Rich Donnell, Editor-in-Chief, Panel World

UPDATE
  • U.S. OSB Output Had Uptick In 2020
  • Composites Ended On High Note
  • Kronospan Adds To Oxford Growth
  • Great Plains MDF Moves Forward
  • Good Earth Plans For EWP
  • Big Transaction Moves Forward
  • CEOs Address Climate Change
  • Arizona Tries To Find Footing
  • Bamboo Mill Gains Steam
  • IKEA Partner Buys Timberland
  • Weyerhaeuser Plans LVL Mill Upgrade
  • AEP Expands Manufacturing
  • Industry Weighs Biden Order
  • Kadant Completes Cogent Purchase
  • Freres Touts New EPD Report
Vaagen Timbers Rides CLT Momentum Into 2021 After 2020 Journey

COLVILLE, Washington – Coming from a long line of sawmillers, and himself once firmly entrenched in the family lumber business, Russ Vaagen recalls when he first approached his dad, Duane, about making a move into mass timber production.

Article by Jessica Johnson, Senior Associate Editor, Panel World

Mass Timber Appears Ready For Boom In Activity

Building for years, mass timber construction and cross-laminated timber (CLT) products are on the cusp of a boom as the economy seeks to recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and housing and commercial and institutional construction grows.

Article by Dan Shell, Senior Editor, Panel World

Wood Yard

Editor’s Note: The following companies supplied editorial profiles and images to support their advertisements placed elsewhere in the Panel World March 2021 issue.

  • Brunette
  • CMC Texpan
  • John King Chains
  • Kadant Carmanah
  • Minimax
  • Rawlings
  • Metal Detectors Inc.
Projects
  • Silo Storage And Discharge Systems Complement New Egger Particleboard Mill
  • Egger Implements Dürr Megtec RTO
  • Nile Wood Orders Andritz Systems
  • Starwood Orders Thin-Board Plant
  • Yuhua Starts Up Fiberboard Line
Supply Lines
  • I4F Partners With Hymmen
  • Raute Will Host Virtual Event
  • Diffenbacher Expands In Turkey
  • Saturn Line Works At Hymmen
  • Miloptic Acquires Automation Industries
  • Andritz Supplies Lelin Group
  • Finna Reveals NIR Sensor
Clippings
  • Ben Crim Retires From Hood Industries
  • Gordon Started Valon Kone U.S.
  • Hood Names Director-EHS
  • Smith Serves As CPA Chairman
  • McCurdy Joins RoyOMartin
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Katerra Settles Into New CLT Facility In Spokane

Article by Jessica Johnson, Senior Associate Editor, Panel World

SPOKANE VALLEY, Washington – It takes a lot of time, energy and finance to try and rewrite the modus operandi of the construction industry supply chain. Just ask Katerra.

No matter how the big picture evolves, the new Katerra CLT plant is an innovative blend of production technology that makes it one of the most advanced CLT processes in North America. For the employees, General Manager Jason Herman says the automated facility lives off three things – safety, quality and production, held together by three things – wood, glue and pride.

Herman, a wood products manufacturing veteran who’s been in the industry for 28 years and involved in CLT since 2012, notes if it wasn’t for the ownership of the 50 employees during construction, commissioning and up to that first order, the facility wouldn’t be where it is today; operating one of the highest CLT producing factories in North America at a current 90% uptime rate. Herman’s management style is to get things moving quickly, but it takes the right people and attitude.

The Katerra CLT facility is the largest in North America.

The Katerra CLT facility is the largest in North America.

The heavily automated plant is staffed by just 50.

The heavily automated plant is staffed by just 50.

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March 2020

March 2020

by | Feb 10, 2021 | Magazine

March 2020

Cover: Manthei Veneer Goes Forward

PETOSKEY, Michigan – Like many have before, and likely many will in the coming years, Manthei Veneer had a fire. The green end of the rotary face veneer mill in picturesque Petoskey was a total loss in August 2017.

Article by Jessica Johnson, Senior Associate Editor, Panel World

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Inside This Issue

Taking Stock: Where Plans Take Shape

From the looks of it going in, the Panel & Engineered Lumber International Conference & Expo (PELICE), which is scheduled for March 12-13 at the Omni Hotel at CNN Center in Atlanta, Georgia, is offering up its best lineup of speakers and sessions since the inaugural PELICE in 2008. That’s saying something, because there have been some good ones.

Read more

Article by Rich Donnell, Editor-in-Chief, Panel World

UPDATE
PELICE 2020 Preview

EDITOR’S NOTE: The following editorial profiles are of companies that have placed advertisements in this issue of Panel World and that are also exhibiting at PELICE 2020:

Altec Integrated Solutions; Cogent Industrial Technologies; Con-Vey; Custom Engineering; Dieffenbacher; Durr Systems; Evergreen Engineering; Electronic Wood Systems; Fagus GreCon; Hexion; IMAL-PAL Group; LDX Solutions (Geoenergy); Mid-South Engineering; Matthews; Paratherm; Raute; Roo Glue; Samuel Coding and Labeling; USNR; Westmill Industries; Willamette Valley Company; Timber Automation

North American Plywood Industry: Current State And Outlook

Plywood manufacturing remains a tough and turbulent business. After the North American industry rightsized during the Great Recession (2008-2009), the industry again is struggling. Identifying root causes and analyzing possible remedies are the basis for finding solutions.

Article by Richard F. Baldwin, PhD, Managing Partner, Oak Creek Investments, and Richard W. Baldwin, MBA, CFO/Treasurer, Oak Creek Investments

Projects
  • Pollmeier Finds Drying Solution
  • Metro Upgrading Kanchanburi
  • Framing Firm Plans CLT Plant
  • Boise Focuses On Lathe
Supply Lines
  • One Stop Trading In Shanghai at the Shanghai International Furniture Machinery & Woodworking Machinery Fair (WMF)
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Manthei Veneer Goes Forward

Article by Jessica Johnson, Senior Associate Editor, Panel World

PETOSKEY, Michigan – Like many have before, and likely many will in the coming years, Manthei Veneer had a fire. The green end of the rotary face veneer mill in picturesque Petoskey was a total loss in August 2017. After squeaking by during the downturn, focusing on getting as lean as possible while still providing top quality products, the fire caused President (and third generation family owner) Jeremy Manthei to question whether it was going to make sense to rebuild.

“We had to take some time to figure out if it was time to call it good,” he explains of the gut reaction to the fire. The business, built by his grandfather and his grandfather’s brother more than 75 years ago, is in an industry that has faced some challenges over the last number of years.

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January 2020

January 2020

by | Feb 10, 2021 | Magazine

January 2020

Cover: Arauco Grayling Comes Alive

GRAYLING, Michigan – When Arauco North America announced it would be building a greenfield particleboard plant in north-central Michigan there was a collective gasp from the composite panel producing community.

Article by Jessica Johnson, Senior Associate Editor, Panel World

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Inside This Issue

Taking Stock: 500 Has A Nice Ring To It

This issue of Panel World is number 500 in its 60-year lifespan, having been founded in 1960; and while Panel World many not be destined for anybody’s Hall of Fame, there’s still something to be said for its longevity as we enter 2020.

Read more

Article by Rich Donnell, Editor-In-Chief, Panel World

UPDATE
Hunt Forest Products: Plywood Mill Gets New Crop Of Leaders, Technology In Louisiana

POLLOCK, Louisiana – Synonymous for southern yellow pine (SYP) plywood in Louisiana thanks to its plant in Pollock, Hunt Forest Products has been producing product in the same location for more than 40 years – and has two employees who’ve been with the facility since nearly the beginning.

Article by Jessica Johnson, Senior Associate Editor, Panel World

Projects
Supply Lines
  • Mid-South Has 50 Under Its Belt
  • Former Equipment Rep Farrens Dies
  • Westmill Appoints Read As VP
Clippings
  • Canadian CLT Firm Coming South
  • Hardwood CLT Bound For Tasmania
  • Sterling Opens Lufkin CLT Mill
  • RoyOMartin Names Leadership
  • Dawson Receives APA Award
  • Aldred Is New Chair Of CPA
  • Johnston Joins Structurlam
  • Arauco Adjusts Sales Leadership
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Arauco Grayling Comes Alive

Article by Jessica Johnson, Senior Associate Editor, Panel World

GRAYLING, Michigan – When Arauco North America announced it would be building a greenfield particleboard plant in north-central Michigan there was a collective gasp from the composite panel producing community.

The last greenfield particleboard plant in North America started up in 2001, compliments of Willametter Industries (which became Weyerhaeuser, which became Flakeboard, which sold to none other than Arauco).

Arauco would not only be blazing a greenfield trail to close out this decade, but the plant would be the largest single-line capacity plant on the continent.

North America’s largest single-line capacity particleboard plant, Arauco’s Grayling, Michigan facility gets it done with a 172 ft. continuous press from Dieffenbacher.

The ones that get it done: Grayling’s management team.

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January 2021

January 2021

by | Dec 23, 2020 | Magazine

January 2021

Cover: Coastal Plywood Commits To The Future

HAVANA, Florida – While the Coastal Forest Resources Co. plywood mill (Coastal Plywood) in Havana, Florida has been a successful operation for a long period of time, the equipment in the facility had not seen any major upgrades in nearly 20 years. For example, the mill’s lathe left much to be desired, according to Plant Manager Trey Pierce.

Article by Jessica Johnson, Senior Associate Editor, Panel World

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Inside This Issue

Taking Stock: Coastal Plywood Has Time On Its Side

One thing I’ve always felt is that Panel World magazine offers an historical perspective on many aspects of the panel industry. One reason is because some of us on the editorial staff have been around a long time, just like this magazine has. And one aspect we thoroughly enjoy following is a plywood mill that – much like ourselves – has shown considerable staying power.

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Article by Rich Donnell, Editor-In-Chief, Panel World

UPDATE
Softwood Plywood Industry Encountered Perilous Year

The authors commented that “Plywood manufacturing remains a tough and turbulent business” in their March 2020 Panel World article entitled “North American Plywood Industry: Current State and Outlook.” In retrospect, this remark greatly understated what was to occur over the following year. As for every other walk of life, 2020 was completely unprecedented for North American plywood producers.

Article by Dick Baldwin, PhD, Managing Partner of Oak Creek Investments, and Rich Baldwin, MBA, CFO/Treasurer of Oak Creek Investments

2021 Director/Buyers’ Guide
  • Products/Services/Supplies
  • Machinery Manufacturers/Suppliers
  • Trade Associations
Projects
Supply Lines
Clippings
What’s New
  • Dust Collector
  • Drum Blender
  • Road Builder
  • Security Gate
View More Back Issues

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Coastal Plywood Commits To The Future

Article by Jessica Johnson, Senior Associate Editor, Panel World

HAVANA, Florida – While the Coastal Forest Resources Co. plywood mill (Coastal Plywood) in Havana, Florida has been a successful operation for a long period of time, the equipment in the facility had not seen any major upgrades in nearly 20 years. For example, the mill’s lathe left much to be desired, according to Plant Manager Trey Pierce.

Purchased at auction in 2005, the lathe evolved into a hybrid machine that was a monster to keep up. “If you didn’t stay on top of it, it wouldn’t run,” Pierce says. “We could get it right for the moment, but it wouldn’t stay there.” However, thanks to a dedicated maintenance team, the lathe continued to run successfully for 15 years.

As technology improved, the prevailing thought was that it was time to make a change. “We’ve had a lot of success keeping it simple in this mill for a long time,” Pierce says. “We felt like it was time to move into the next generation and get more efficiency, better recovery, and get with the times.” And so, the first of many roundtable discussions about pushing the 40-year-old mill into the future took place.

Left to right, looking a little more relaxed than a year ago at this time: Ryan Daniels, Trey Pierce, Mike Smith, Clyde Lee, Corky Palmer

Coastal Plywood neatly meshed the installation of an Altec scanning and peeling system with two dryer rebuilds from Westmill Industries.

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November 2020

November 2020

by | Oct 27, 2020 | Magazine

November 2020

Cover: Winston Plywood Embraces Improvement

LOUISVILLE, Mississippi – Efficiency and production are both on the increase here at the South’s newest plywood plant that started up in 2016 as the facility grows into its potential.

Article by Dan Shell, Senior Editor, Panel World

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Inside This Issue

Taking Stock: Sometimes The Paths Come Full Circle

We know that people’s paths may cross; the same can be said of articles in Panel World. You’ve probably noticed that the cover article for this issue is on the Winston Plywood & Veneer operation in Louisville, Mississippi. It is somewhat of a sequel article, in that Panel World first visited the plant shortly after it started up; having heard it had gotten the kinks out, so to speak, Panel World recently visited it again, and it appeared to be hitting on all cylinders as plywood prices continued to skyrocket. Nice timing. It has taken a lot of focus and innovation on the part of the operators to bring it up to where it needs to be.

Read more

Article by Rich Donnell, Editor-in-Chief, Panel World

UPDATE
  • Red Thomas Dies At 94
  • Adel Moves Ahead With Pellet Mill
  • It’s Phase Two For SMARTPLY OSB
  • AWC Picks Morrill, CPA Taps O’Hare
Panel Equipment Suppliers Rise To The Occasion

For everybody, the majority of 2020 has not been exactly as predicted, but despite travel restrictions, the global pandemic hasn’t slowed the panel industry; instead it’s pushed everyone to be that much greater.

Article by Jessica Johnson, Senior Associate Editor, Panel World

Dryer Island

The following companies submitted editorial profiles and images to complement their advertisements elsewhere in the November 2020 issue:

  • Büttner
  • Diffenbacher
  • MoistTech
  • Raute
  • Scheuch
  • Stela Laxhuber
  • Westmill Industries
  • Dürr Megtec
  • USNR
Projects

Egger Starts Up At Lexington

What’s New

Product information and images were submitted by the companies.

  • Sunds Fibertech Promotes Steam Recovery, Mat Pre-Heating
  • Imal Offers Complete Lab Work
Supply Lines
  • Stiles Will Support MINDA North America
  • Murphy Joins Unifiller As CEO
  • Raute Promotes Trevor Wendt
  • FiberPro Focuses On Wood Yard
  • Kerwood Joins Hansen-Rice
  • Woodworking Fair Has Solid Debut
  • Westmill Moves Headquarters
Clippings
  • CLT Is Big For Kalesnikoff
  • Buffington Retires From Roseburg
  • Horstkotte Left Imprint On Mills
  • CORE Carbon May Assist Landowners
  • New Leadership At Fagus GreCon
  • Search NA Names Senior Recruiter
Projects
  • 80 Meter CPS+ Bound For China
  • VMG Opens Particleboard Mill
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Winston Plywood Embraces Improvement

Article by Dan Shell, Senior Editor, Panel World

LOUISVILLE, Mississippi – Efficiency and production are both on the increase here at the South’s newest plywood plant that started up in 2016 as the facility grows into its potential. The irony, says Winston Plywood & Veneer (WPV) President and CEO Bruce Warren, is that the plant had been having some of its best months since startup going into March 2020 – then the COVID-19 pandemic hit and threw operations and markets across the forest products industry into disarray.

“When COVID hit we had just started to see some record weeks, the best we’ve had since starting up,” Warren says, noting that March was the plant’s best month yet – until now.

In late July, Warren said the plant was back to about 80% of its pre-COVID output. Now, after a major market turnaround and record prices that have boosted all segments of the industry, WPV is making progress in all areas of the mill.

New six-deck USNR veneer dryer is the workhorse dryer of the operation.

Mill’s two-lathe design handles logs up to 24 in., with a sweet spot half that size.

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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.

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Newsletter

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

Subscribe Now
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.

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

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