AraucoPly Commemorates 20 Years In North America

It’s been 20 years since the first containers of AraucoPly plywood made their way from Chile to the United States in 1997.  Arauco celebrated the anniversary in a special event held at its booth during AWFS Fair 2017.

The company said despite temporary setbacks caused by the economic downturn in 2008 and a wildfire that devastated one of its manufacturing plants in 2012, AraucoPly has made giant strides in growing its customer base throughout the United States and Canada. Michael Vincent, director of Import Panels – Arauco North America, noted that the United States and Canada now account for 40 percent of AraucoPly’s worldwide sales.

The plywood panels are made from 100 percent radiata pine, grown in the company’s own FSC-certified, sustainably managed forests and composed of cores using exterior PF resins for flatness and stability, Arauco said.

As part of the anniversary, Arauco is introducing factory-primed AraucoPly panels at the 2017 AWFS Fair in booth 4609. Primed AraucoPly Siding, Beaded and Sanded products are offered with a consistent, full-coverage prime on five sides (edges included) and a smooth, sanded back. The company says the primed option was introduced in response to growing market demand for the time-saving advantage of a factory-primed wood surface.

Also featured at AWFS, Arauco’s Prism TFL collection has expanded its North American distribution of the exclusive Taction Oak collection. The company says the oak’s natural characteristics are captured and replicated using Embossed in Register (EIR) technology, resulting in a finished panel that rivals the look and feel of wood. Offered in five contemporary colors, Taction Oak coordinates with Prism Accentz neutrals. The Prism collection features more than 80 styles, including 59 exclusive designs.

From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/awfs/awfs-news/araucoply-commemorates-20-years-north-america

Arauco Announces Layoffs At North Carolina Plant

Arauco Announces Layoffs At North Carolina Plant

Arauco Panels USA, an American subsidiary of a Chilean plywood manufacturer, is cutting jobs in Chatham County.

That’s according to a WARN filed with the state of North Carolina this month. A WARN – Workforce Adjustment and Retraining Notification – is a filing that is required when a company closes a plant, cuts 500 jobs or eliminates one-third of its local positions. The move, effective Jan. 6, impacts 48 jobs in Moncure, according to the notice.

According to the WARN, the move is a downsizing – not a closure – of its particleboard facility, impacting jobs in a variety of functions, including human resources, finance, production and sales.

“The layoffs are due to a downturn over the last several months in the market,” reads the notice signed by Sally Polen, manager of human resources for Arauco North America. “Although our sales team has been working hard to combat the market conditions by revising pricing strategies and engaging our existing customers while actively seeking new customers, unfortunately, our efforts have not surpassed the market pressures on our volumes.”

The plant has “struggled” to maintain a normal order volume, the notice continues, adding that other measures the company has taken include reduced hours, reduced overtime and overall cuts in spending. Forecasts, the filing reads, show similar volume weakness in 2017.

From the Triangle Business Journal: bizjournals.com.

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