Interfor has announced plans to exit its operations in Québec, Canada, including the sale of its three manufacturing facilities and the closure of its Montréal corporate office. This strategic initiative will support a focus on the areas of highest future potential across the remainder of the company.

As part of the exit plan, Interfor announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its sawmills in Val-d’Or and Matagami as well as its Sullivan remanufacturing plant in Val-d’Or, along with all associated forestry and business operations, to Chantiers Chibougamau Ltée (“CCL”), a long-standing, privately-held, Québec-based forestry company.

The purchase price is estimated to be approximately $30 million CAD in cash, based on the value of specific working capital items at June 30, 2024, which will be subject to normal course adjustments at closing, plus the assumption of certain liabilities by CCL. Additionally, Interfor and CCL will enter into a multi-year contract for the supply of machine stress rated (“MSR”) lumber to Interfor’s I-Joist EWP facility in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario.

The sale does not include any countervailing or anti-dumping duty deposits related to the ongoing U.S./Canadian softwood lumber trade dispute. All historical CV & AD deposits up to the date of closing will be retained by Interfor. Total CV & AD deposits related to the facilities up to June 30, 2024 totalled approximately $56 million USD, excluding any interest.

As part of the exit plan, Interfor also announced that it intends to permanently close its corporate office in Montréal in the coming months, allowing for the full realization of synergies associated with EACOM Timber Corp. acquisition announced in November 2021. Interfor will continue to own and operate its five sawmills and one I-Joist EWP facility in Ontario and its two sawmills and woodlands management business in New Brunswick.

“After careful review of the potential future options for our Québec operations, we believe the sale to CCL is the best long-term outcome for Interfor,” says Ian Fillinger, President & Chief Executive Officer. “The decision to exit our Québec operations was influenced by recent developments that have restricted the availability of economic fiber, including record forest fires in 2023. This divestiture enables us to focus resources on our remaining Eastern Canadian sawmills situated in Ontario and New Brunswick, which are well-positioned with competitive log costs and an increasingly valuable spruce-pine-fir lumber product mix.”

The Val-d’Or and Matagami sawmills have a combined two-shift rated lumber production capacity of 255 MMBF, representing approximately 5% of Interfor’s total company-wide capacity. However, the mills only produced 206 MMBF of lumber in the trailing 12 months ended June 30, 2024, representing a utilization rate of approximately 80%. Since early August 2024, the mills have been operating at a utilization rate of approximately 50%.

The completion of the transaction is subject to customary conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024.

The Auburn University College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment (CFWE) has unveiled its roster of speakers and conference agenda for the upcoming 2024 cross-laminated timber (CLT) conference to be held this October in Auburn, Ala.

Known in the southeast as the premier mass timber conference, “The Sustainable Future of CLT in the South: Grow. Design. Build.” will be held at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center, October 7-9. The three-day event will feature renowned experts in forestry, building science, engineering and architecture and design from across the U.S. who will share the latest research, trends and developments impacting sustainable mass timber construction.

Experts from Jamestown, L.P., AXA XL, Auburn University, ResourceWise, KPFF and the TallWood Design Institute are leading plenary and concurrent sessions focusing on wood quality, wood products and silviculture and risk management and insurability of mass timber projects.

Janaki Alavalapati, the Emmett F. Thompson Dean of Auburn’s College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment, will welcome attendees before introducing Auburn University President Christopher B. Roberts and former U.S. Attorney General and Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions, who will provide opening remarks that will explore the role of the university to advance mass timber as a new market for the region’s diverse industry stakeholders.

Following their welcome, the conference’s first keynote address will take attendees step-by-step through Auburn’s latest mass timber project in the presentation titled “From Design to Build: The Kreher Preserve & Nature Center’s CLT Project Unveiled.”

The keynote speakers include:

• Janaki Alavalapati, Auburn’s Emmett F. Thompson Dean of the College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment
• Tom Chung, FAIA LEED AP BD+C, principal at Leers Weinzapfel Associate and professor of practice in Auburn’s College of Architecture, Design and Construction (CADC)
• Derek Ratchford, CEO of SmartLam North America

The second keynote address will be given by Judith Sheine, DPACSA, who is a professor in the Department of Architecture at the University of Oregon and is an Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture Distinguished Professor. Sheine is the director of Oregon’s TallWood Design Institute, a collaboration between the University of Oregon’s College of Design and Oregon State University’s Colleges of Forestry and Engineering, which focuses on advancing timber manufacturing and design. She will share how the TallWood Design Institute came into being, the partnerships that support it, and the role that TallWood Design Institute has within the Oregon Mass Timber Coalition.

Expanding on the role of academia to lead innovation in mass timber production, design, engineering and construction, expert panelists will highlight research advancements led by the Carnegie-rated R1 institutions: Auburn University, Clemson University, the University of Arkansas and the University of Oregon. Richard Vlosky, director of the Louisiana Forest Products Development Center at Louisiana State University, will be the moderator. Faculty experts participating in the panel discussion include: David Hinson, FAIA, associate dean of the College of Architecture, Design & Construction at Auburn University; Pat Layton, director of the Wood Utilization + Design Institute at Clemson University; Peter MacKeith, dean of the Fay Jones School of Architecture at University of Arkansas; and Judith Sheine, DPACSA, professor in the School of Architecture and Environment in the College of Design at University of Oregon and the director of design at the TallWood Design Institute.

Additionally, a panel discussion featuring representatives of SmartLam North America, Alabama Department of Commerce, Economic Development Partnership of Alabama (EDPA) and local economic development agencies from Auburn, Dothan and Montgomery, Alabama, will provide insights about the economic development initiatives undertaken to encourage the use of mass timber, building parameter needs, potential building applications for mass timber projects, impact of mass timber projects on economic development and more.

Closing remarks will be provided by Brian Luoma, newly retired president and CEO of The Westervelt Co. and Softwood Lumber Board, and Steve Taylor, senior vice president for research and economic development at Auburn University.

At the close of the meeting, attendees will tour the Auburn Kreher Preserve Nature Center’s CLT project, anticipated to be completed this fall, and will visit Auburn’s Advanced Structural Engineering Lab, the Forest Products Development Center and CADC’s Robins & Morton Construction Field Lab.

Early bird conference registration is currently open until Aug. 31, and attendees can choose packages to include full attendance or partial dates. Discounted accommodations will also be available at The Hotel at Auburn University and Dixon Conference Center through Aug. 31.

For more information about registration, sponsorship and exhibition opportunities, visit cfwe.auburn.edu.

Despite the limited space available, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the extremely tight schedule, Grenzebach was able to successfully repair a veneer dryer that had been damaged in a fire, and upgrade it into a production line of its own for German mill company Pollmeier Furnierwerkstoffe GmbH. The dryer was provided with a high-performance stacker system featuring the latest scanner technology without enlarging the footprint of the building. Allowing Pollmeier, a leading international producer of wood-based products, to minimize the downtime, and now use the production line independently of the stacker system of another dryer that was previously used jointly with the one damaged in the fire.

The Pollmeier group operates Europe’s three highest-capacity and most modern hardwood sawmills. In 2021, a fire at its main factory in Creuzburg, Thuringia—the world’s only laminated veneer lumber mill that also processes hardwood veneer—severely damaged the only existing beech veneer dryer.

After 16 months of planning and construction, Grenzebach handed over a complete line, providing Pollmeier with flexibility and efficiency, giving Pollmeier the ability to consolidate and further expand its position in the hardwood veneer market.

Con-Vey, a leading provider of innovative material handling and automated solutions, has announced its new partnership with Boise Cascade Co. to develop and implement a cutting-edge I-Joist assembly line at their Thorsby, Ala. facility. 

The new I-Joist assembly line is designed to optimize production capabilities and enhance the overall efficiency of Boise Cascade’s operations. The new line will further bolster their production efficiency and product quality, ensuring that they continue to meet and exceed industry standards.

“Partnering with Boise Cascade is a significant milestone for Con-Vey,” says Jeremy Goebel, Vice President at Con-Vey. “Our shared commitment to quality and innovation makes this collaboration a perfect fit. We are excited to bring our state-of-the-art I-Joist Assembly Line to their Thorsby facility, demonstrating our capability to deliver top-notch solutions that drive industry progress.” 

The collaboration between Con-Vey and Boise Cascade exemplifies the power of strategic partnerships in enhancing production capabilities and operational efficiency. By combining Con-Vey’s expertise in advanced machinery with Boise Cascade’s dedication to quality materials, this project highlights a shared commitment to innovation and excellence.

West Salem Machinery (WSM) has announced the launch of its newly redesigned website, www.westsalem.com, aimed at modernizing the user interface and making valuable information more intuitive and accessible. The updated website reflects WSM’s commitment to providing customers with streamlined access to product details, timber industry insights, and expert knowledge.

 The new website features a modern design that improves navigation, allowing users to quickly find the information they need. Whether searching for equipment specifications, service options, or industry solutions, visitors will experience a more intuitive journey through the site. This redesign aligns with WSM’s dedication to enhancing the customer experience by making it easier to discover and leverage WSM’s extensive process knowledge.

 “Our goal with the new website is to provide a resource that not only showcases our innovative equipment but also serves as a comprehensive hub of information for our customers,” says Matson Hardie of West Salem Machinery. “We’ve focused on creating a user-friendly interface that makes it simple for visitors to find the precise information they need, whether it’s detailed equipment specs or insights from our decades of industry expertise.”

 Key features of the new website include:

• Enhanced Navigation: Simplified menus and clear categories help users find information quickly.
• Modern Design: A fresh, clean design that reflects WSM’s commitment to innovation and quality.
• Comprehensive Product Information: Detailed pages for each product, complete with specifications and application insights.
• Resource Hub: Easy access to white papers, case studies, and articles that share WSM’s industry knowledge.
• Responsive Design: Optimized for all devices, ensuring a seamless experience whether on a desktop, tablet, or mobile phone.

The launch of this website marks a significant step forward in WSM’s mission to make industry-leading equipment and expertise accessible to all its customers.