Producers Shuffled Through 2025

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

Before we fully dive into the new year, let’s take one more look back at some of the developments as reported in Panel World during 2025:

• Weyerhaeuser announced its plan to invest $500 million to build a new TimberStrand engineered wood product facility near Monticello, Ark., complementing its existing TimberStrand plant in Kenora, Ontario.

• The European Union Deforestation Regulation, designed to fight climate change and biodiversity loss through intense accountability and recordkeeping of timber harvesting and forest products chain of custody, was delayed, twice.

• Georgia-Pacific named its former president of gypsum operations, David Neal, as executive vice president of Building Products.

• Buddy Douglas retired from Alabama-based Scotch Plywood after more than 30 years with the company and providing crucial input and leadership.

• SmartLam continued the implementation of its new glulam operation at its mass timber facility in Dothan, Ala.

• U.S. Forest Service, at the order of President Trump, announced its intention to gain 25% more timber sales in national forests.

• Huber Engineered Woods an- nounced Kirk Blanchette as the new president, succeeding Brian Carlson.

• TimberHP announced it entered into a bankruptcy reorganization and expected business to prosper at its new wood insulation board facility in Madison, Maine.

• Homanit held a groundbreaking for its new MDF/HDF factory in Alcolu, SC, nearly 25 years since it started up a MDF plant in Mt. Gilead, NC, which it later sold.

• GP closed its plywood mill in Emporia, Va.

• Many U.S. producers sent personnel to the biennial Ligna show in Hannover, Germany.

• Swiss Krono purchased the Collins Pine particleboard and engineered wood siding facility in Klamath Falls, Ore.

• Boise Cascade named Rob Johnson as Senior Vice President of Manufacturing for the Wood Products division.

• GP announced it is investing $191 million USD in its OSB mill in Englehart, Ontario for a new log processing system and other storage enhancements.

• Potlatch-Deltic and Rayonier announced their merger, which will operate under a new name to be announced early in 2026.

• Roseburg ceased operations at its Dillard, Ore. hardwood plywood facility, exiting the hardwood plywood market.

• RoyOMartin announced that COO Scott Poole is succeeding Roy O Martin III as CEO, marking the first non-Martin family member to lead the more than a century old organization.