Egger completed its first raw particleboard production line at its new manufacturing facility in Lexington, NC. Employees watched as the first panel underwent the final stages of production, transforming raw wood chips into a finished board as it moved through the press and finishing line.

Production of particleboard, as well as thermally fused laminate (TFL), will be a major focus for the Lexington plant.

“With this major milestone, the exciting and challenging journey of this greenfield project will soon come to an end,” says Bernhard Vorreiter, technical and production project manager for Egger. “It is an emotional moment, and our project team is proud to have had the privilege and opportunity to build Egger’s first U.S. plant.”

The start of production comes as the company prepares to launch its first Egger Decorative Collection with a full range of decorative surface options, including TFL, lacquered boards, laminates and edge banding.

The Lexington facility is the company’s first manufacturing plant in North America. Development and construction of the three-phase project began in 2018. The first phase was the development of a state-of-the-art particleboard manufacturing plant with lamination capacities. The project involves an investment of $700 million and will create an estimated 770 direct jobs.

Founded in 1961 in St. Johann in Tyrol, Austria, Egger Group is a more than $3 billion privately-held, family-owned company composed of more than 10,100 associates. With 20 production plants worldwide, Egger is a global leader in the manufacturing of wood-based products.