by Web Editor | Feb 6, 2015 | News
From: Panel World Staff
Mississippi Gov. Phil Bryant and officials from Winston Plywood and Veneer held a groundbreaking ceremony January 30 at the site of the company’s new manufacturing facility in Louisville, Miss. The project represents an investment of approximately $50 million and will create 400 jobs.
In April 2014, a tornado destroyed the facility in Louisville. Since that time, Winston Plywood and Veneer has remained committed to rebuilding and expanding its operations in Louisville. In addition to the investment made by the company, disaster recovery funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency will be used to build the facility.
“I am grateful to the Winston Plywood and Veneer team for their steadfast dedication to the Louisville community and the state of Mississippi following the tornado that devastated the area last spring,” the governor commented
“Winston Plywood and Veneer has forged a unique partnership with the state of Mississippi, Mayor Hill, and Winston County to not only rebuild this plywood mill but to help this region recover,” said Dr. Richard Baldwin, president of Winston Plywood and Veneer. “That daily collaboration, since the first moments after the tornado hit, has delivered the resources and focus we needed to be here today, with construction on a new, state-of-the-art plywood mill officially under way. This will be a great facility and will enhance the quality of life in this community for many years to come.”
Read more on this story in the March issue of Panel World…
by Web Editor | Feb 5, 2015 | Editor's Blog
Written By: Dan Shell
I was working on a story for the March issue of PW about level of investment activity and capital projects in the panel industry when the announcement that Swanson was going to rebuild its Springfield plywood plant came in. That’s great news—and definitely adds to the level of capital investment in the panel industry. I had visited the plant in February 09 two years after Swanson had acquired it and also made several big investments in the facility before it burned last summer. During a visit to the West Coast last August several panel industry players I spoke with said they were keenly interested in what Swanson would do with the facility. Now that it’s been officially announced, many in industry know a key veneer customer and supplier will still be there. The Swanson Group is the kind of family-owned, independent forest products company that represents the heart and soul best of what this industry can be, and I wish Steve Swanson and his companies all the best in bringing the new facility on line.
by Web Editor | Feb 4, 2015 | News
Swanson Group Will Rebuild Oregon Plywood Mill
Officials with Swanson Group Mfg. LLC announced plans to rebuild the company’s Springfield, Ore. plywood plant after it was destroyed by fire in mid-July 2014. According to Swanson Group President and CEO Steve Swanson, “We are excited about this opportunity. Springfield is well positioned in terms of log supply and workforce, which make our site an attractive place to recapitalize.”
Plans are to have the new mill finished and ready to start up by mid 2016. The new plant will employ 190 and operate similar to the old facility in terms of capacity and product lines, with a few twists.
According to Swanson, approval for the new building was in mid February. Most of the equipment purchases will take place between now and May, and the new building is expected to be complete and ready by fall 2015.
While Swanson personnel are still looking at equipment types and suppliers and combinations of new and used equipment, Swanson says the mill will utilize a state-of-the-art triple-spindle peeling system with sheet and random stacking; two dryers, one handling wides and the other randoms, feeding to respective stacking systems; and a layup line and related systems that enable more overlay production.
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by Web Editor | Feb 2, 2015 | News
From: Panel World Staff
Arauco is investing $30 million to expand particleboard and TFL (thermally fused laminate/melamine) capacity for its Carolina Particleboard Mill in Bennettsville, SC.
The particleboard expansion, with a scheduled startup in the fourth quarter of this year, will increase production by 60MMSF (¾ in. basis or 100,000 m3) annually through increased dryer capacity. This project will also improve the plant’s flexibility to source a broader range of raw material in response to regional changes in the wood supply mix.
To complement the panel expansion, Arauco is also investing in a next generation fast-cycle press for TFL production, which is also scheduled to start in the fourth quarter. The new installation will add to the three existing fast-cycle TFL presses in the region.
The new line will further equip the particleboard and MDF site with a state-of-the-art press featuring higher throughput, faster changeover capabilities, higher pressure for deep textures and paper alignment technology for registered emboss designs. The company’s goal with these investments is to meet the growing demand for particleboard, and to broaden its TFL design offering in the region.
“These capacity and value-add investments translate into improved product sourcing options for our customers, and in turn generate additional long-term jobs for this manufacturing complex and the Bennettsville community at large,” states Mike Reardon, Regional Manufacturing Director.
by Web Editor | Dec 18, 2014 | Update
Georgia-Pacific is investing $6 million at its Thorsby, Ala. engineered lumber operations to expand production capacity of laminated veneer lumber (LVL). In a move that positions the facility for long-term success, according to the company, improvements include upgrading the press system’s layup line and veneer sheet feeders, as well as increasing overall veneer dryer capacity and efficiency. Project completion is expected by the second quarter of 2015.
“As the housing market continues a slow but steady improvement, we are investing in our building products division to ensure our ability to meet growing customer needs,” says Paul Watterson, general manager for Georgia-Pacific’s engineered lumber business. “Along with being located within a good wood basin that provides easy access to raw materials, the improvements to our Thorsby operations will increase our ability to supply LVL—a key component for beams and headers in new construction.”
