Panel Industry Moves Ahead

Article by Rich Donnell, Editor-in-Chief, Panel World November 2022

As I glanced through the pages of the six issues of Panel World in 2022, various news developments refreshed my memory, but underlying it all was just the fact that business for the most part was conducted as usual. That we were back to at least fairly normal hit home at the biennial PELICE in March in Atlanta, where the crowd was obviously enthusiastic to be back in the mainstream. Other events throughout the year proved it as well—from annual meetings to trade shows, and also because our editors were being welcomed back into the mills to work up articles. During the pandemic, we pieced together one article “virtually,” but it wasn’t nearly as good and detailed as doing it on site.

Here are some news items from 2022, in case you forgot:

—One Sky Forest Products said it would locate a new OSB plant in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

—A middle market private equity firm, One Equity Partners, purchased USNR.

—Several wood-based panel industry veterans came out against paperboard wall sheathing and its potential dangers during major storms.

—West Fraser purchased the idled OSB plant in Allendale, SC from Georgia- Pacific.

—GP announced plans to expand production capacity at its OSB plant in Alcolu, SC.

—Huber submitted a revised Environmental Assessment Worksheet to the city of Cohasset, Minn. regarding its proposed OSB plant.

—One Equity Partners equity firm purchased Oregon-based Rosboro.

—Tor Gustavsen, former managing director of Argos Solutions, died at 60.

—Eight keynote speakers, more than 50 presenters, 100 exhibitors and 450 participants made the eighth Panel & Engineered Lumber International Conference & Expo in Atlanta one of the best ever.

—Freres Lumber of Lyons, Ore. changed its name to Freres Engineered Wood as part of its centennial celebration.

—Boise Cascade acquired Coastal Plywood and its plywood mills at Havana, Fla. and Chapman, Ala. for $512 million.

—A Quebec-based forestry family— the Cossette family—said it is investing $180 million to restart the OSB plant at Wawa, Ontario.

—Scotch Plywood started producing veneer at its new facility in Waynesboro, Miss., after a fire had destroyed the existing one in early 2021.

—Raute named Mika Saariaho as president and CEO.

—LP converted its mill in Houlton, Maine to siding production.

—Pacific Woodtech acquired LP’s EWP division and three LVL/I-joist manufacturing facilities for $210 million.

—George Weyerhaeuser Sr., former president and CEO of Weyerhaeuser and great-grandson of the founder, died at 95.

—Collins named Tom Insko as president & CEO, succeeding retiring Eric Schooler.

—SmartLam announced plans to build a glulam facility in Dothan, Ala. to supply the mass timber industry.

—Siempelkamp named a new CEO and CFO, Martin Scherrer and Martin Sieringhaus, respectively.

—Construction continued at Martco’s new OSB plant in Corrigan, Texas, which will be the company’s second OSB mill at that site.