In October 2024, Unilin and Dieffenbacher announced an agreement to introduce and further commercialize Unilin’s “Osiris” wood fiberboard recycling technology. Under this agreement, Dieffenbacher became the preferred partner for offering Osiris machine and equipment technology into fiberboard production processes globally.

Now, the companies are taking the next step in their partnership with Dieffenbacher supplying Unilin with an industrial-scale fiberboard recycling plant called “Osiris 2.0,” which succeeds Unilin’s “Osiris 1.0” industrial pilot installation at its MDF plant in Bazeilles, France. The new plant will boost Unilin’s fiberboard recycling capacity from 1 to 10 tonnes per hour and will be able to process post-consumer MDF material.

“Dieffenbacher is currently the only supplier that can provide us with such a large capacity and whose equipment can recycle post-consumer fiberboard material, e.g., from bulky waste, in addition to production waste and residual materials from our own MDF and HDF production,” says Jan Gallet, General Manager MDF, Unilin.

Dieffenbacher’s scope of supply for Unilin includes the fiber transport and storage system, fiber sifters, glue preparation and dosing, PROjet glue-saving system, pneumatic systems and an emission control system. The steam explosion vessel for the re-fibering process was newly designed by Dieffenbacher Energy and optimized for fiberboard recycling. Dieffenbacher will also be responsible for the steel construction, transport and conveyor systems, and the plant’s electrics and automation.

Startup of the fiberboard recycling plant is planned for the fall of 2025.

U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack has unveiled a new program to support American wood processing facilities, through a partnership with the USDA Rural Development and the USDA Forest Service to provide funding through the Timber Production Expansion Guaranteed Loan Program (TPEP). The program will support the processing and utilization of wood products from National Forest System lands to improve forest health and reduce the risk posed by wildfires, insects, and disease and the detrimental impacts they have on communities and critical infrastructure. This program is funded through President Biden’s Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. It also reflects the goals of the President’s Investing in America agenda to rebuild the economy from the bottom up and middle out, and to strengthen the nation’s infrastructure. Secretary Vilsack explains, “Under the leadership of the Biden-Harris Administration, USDA Rural Development is partnering with the Forest Service to support timber industry innovations that improve forest health and reduce wildfire threats while creating good-paying jobs for people in rural, forest-dependent communities.” Through TPEP, $220 million will be made available in loan guarantees for borrowers to establish, reopen, retrofit, expand, or improve wood processing facilities, sawmills and paper mills, that use trees harvested from federal or Tribal lands. The program is designed to manage up to 20 million acres of national forests managed by the FS and complement the FS’s 10-year Wildfire Crisis Strategy.

USDA Rural Development will begin accepting TPEP applications on December 26, 2024, with a maximum loan amount of $25 million. USDA encourages applicants to use the TPEP Dashboard to find areas identified as high or very high priority areas to address the risk of wildfires and insect infestations or disease, which have caused or have the potential to cause significant damage.

Applicants may learn more through the upcoming TPEP webinar, scheduled for January 6, 2025 at 1:00 p.m. ET. Visit https://www.zoomgov.com/webinar/register/WN_esofN0XPSi2AIEyt8pu74g#/registration.

Applicants are encouraged to consider projects that will advance the following key priorities: Reducing climate pollution and increasing resilience to the impacts of climate change through economic support to rural communities; ensuring all rural residents have equitable access to USDA Rural Development programs and benefits from Rural Development-funded projects; and assisting rural communities recover economically through more and better market opportunities and through improved infrastructure.

TPEP will be administered through the OneRD Guarantee Loan Initiative program, visit https://www.rd.usda.gov/onerdguarantee.

The Hoffmann Family of Companies (HFOC), a Florida-based family-owned private equity firm, has acquired Besse Forest Products Group, the longstanding Michigan-based family-run company with 10 manufacturing facilities, including four sawmills, a lumber drying concentration yard, four veneer mills and a cut-to-size plywood mill.

The transaction adds to HFOC’s vast portfolio, complementing its existing Ferche Millwork operations. With more than 2 million square feet of production facilities and a workforce of more than 1,400 people, the combined strength of Besse and Ferche positions HFOC as a significant player in the wood products manufacturing industry.

Besse Forest Products are located across northern Michigan and Wisconsin. The company was founded in 1966 and has remained 100% family-owned.

“We are excited to partner with Besse as they enter a new chapter under the Hoffmann Family of Companies umbrella,” says Geoff Hoffmann, Co-CEO of HFOC. “With the acquisition of Besse Forest Products Group, we’re not just expanding our footprint but building on a legacy that spans generations.”

Greg Besse, CEO and Owner of Besse Forest Products Group, expressed confidence in the acquisition, stating, “The decision to join forces with the Hoffmann Family of Companies was based on their exceptional brand and reputation as a well-run family business. We believe this partnership will not only modernize our operations but also ensure that our legacy continues to thrive.”

Greg Besse will remain as CEO and his son, Cain Besse, will serve as President.

The Hoffmann Family of Companies (HFOC) encompasses more than 100 national brands, employs 9,000 global employees with businesses in 30 countries and 250 locations. The HF Companies’ verticals include Aviation, Agriculture, Financial Services, Hospitality, Business & Professional Services, Industrial, Manufacturing, Marine, Media & Marketing, Real Estate and Transportation.

Since 1958, Ferche Millwork has provided high quality standard moldings and millwork, while headquartered in Rice, Minn.