North American Composite Panel Market Grows

by | Mar 2, 2015 | News

Composite panel consumption is projected to grow in North America through 2016, buoyed in part by the strengthening of the U.S. housing market and positive indicators of improvement in the furniture and related industries. Figures from Resource Information Systems, Inc. (RISI) project particleboard consumption to rise 10 percent in 2015, to 3.29 billion square feet, and grow 11 percent in 2016, to 3.64 billion square feet. Similarly, MDF is projected to hit 2.97 billion square feet in 2015, a rise of 9 percent, and jump to 3.28 billion square feet in 2016, up 10 percent.

Panel producers are gearing up, with already two companies announcing multi-million plant investments this year.

Uniboard announced Feb. 5 that it will invest more than $53 million at its Val-d’Or particleboard and thermally fused laminate (TFL) facility as part of its plan to increase productivity and upgrade key production areas. The company produces particleboard, MDF and TFL from mills in Val-d’Or, Sayabec, Mont-Laurier and Laval, Canada.

Uniboard President and CEO James N. Hogg said the project will enable the company to enhance its engineered wood and value-added product offerings. “Over recent years, Uniboard has invested heavily into product development, launching new color collections including North America’s first registered embossed thermofused laminate panels as well as expanding our successful NU Green range of low and no-formaldehyde products,” he added.

This followed the Jan. 26 news from Arauco that it will invest $30 million to grow the particleboard and TFL capacity at its mill in Bennettsville, SC. The new technology is expected to be in place by the fourth quarter. Arauco said increased dryer capacity will help it to improve its particleboard production by 60 million ft2, on a 3/4-inch basis annually. Arauco also will add a high-tech fast-cycle press for TFL production.

From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/wood/panel-supply/Composite-Panel-Market-Grows-Consumption-to-Hit-10-in-2015-294396371.html#sthash.7iZYxiAW.dpbs

Arauco Announces Particleboard Expansion

by | 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.

Arauco Moves Ahead On Rebuild

Arauco Moves Ahead On Rebuild

by | Feb 18, 2013 | Update

Empresas Copec reports that the rebuild of its Arauco plywood mill at Nueva Aldea, Chile, which was destroyed by fire in January 2012, is proceeding as expected. The $165 million (U.S.) plant will have a production capacity of 350,000 m3, which will be exported to markets in the U.S., Latin America, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

The mill is expected to start operations in late 2013 and reach full capacity in the first half of 2014.

Commencing on December 31, 2011, wildfires, exacerbated by high temperatures and strong winds, broke out in the Eighth Region of Chile. The fires destroyed the Nueva Aldea plywood mill and approximately 7,000 hectares of Arauco forest plantations, which represented approximately 0.7% of the company’s total plantations. The Nueva Aldea plywood mill represented approximately 14% of Arauco’s panel production capacity.

Arauco Moves Ahead On Rebuild

Arauco Purchases Flakeboard

by | Aug 9, 2012 | News

Arauco Purchases Flakeboard 

Chile-based Arauco has signed a purchase agreement for the acquisition of 100% of Flakeboard Company Ltd., based in Ontario, for US $242.5 million.

Flakeboard operates production sites in Canada and the U.S., including MDF plants in Malvern, Ark.; Eugene, Ore.; Bennettsville, SC; and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario; particleboard plants in Albany, Ore; Bennettsville, SC; and St. Stephen, New Brunswick; high density fiberboard plant in St. Stephen; and several melamine lamination lines.

With the purchase of Flakeboard, which is expected to be completed during the second semester of this year, the annual production of Arauco panels in North America is expected to increase to 2.9 million m3 (1.6 billion SF, 3⁄4 in. basis), as a result of which Arauco reports it would become  the largest composite panel producer in America in terms of volume and third at the global level.

Arauco earlier this year purchased the Uniboard MDF and particleboard plants at Moncure, NC. Arauco also operates four MDF plants in Chile, Argentina and Brazil, a particleboard plant in each of Argentina and Brazil and a plywood facility in Chile. Arauco sources raw material from its 3.9 million acres (1.6 million hectares) of forest plantations in Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.

According to Flakeboard President and CEO, Kelly Shotbolt: “We are extremely excited about our planned integration with Arauco and specifically about the opportunities that the new ownership structure brings for the larger company, our customers, our combined employees, and the communities in which we operate.”

Arauco has indicated that the North American assets will operate under the Flakeboard name and that the Flakeboard senior management team will be tasked with integrating and managing the combined operations. Shotbolt will be retained as head of Flakeboard North America.

RELATED ARTICLES

ARAUCO CLOSING EUGENE MDF

PANEL WORLD JANUARY 2020 

 

Latest News

Weyco Expects Strong Growth

Weyco Expects Strong Growth Weyerhaeuser Co. hosted an Investor Day in December and outlined the company's strategic growth plan and financial...

Find Us On Social

Newsletter

The monthly Panel World Industry Newsletter reaches over 3,000 who represent primary panel production operations.

Subscribe Now
Subscribe/Renew

Panel World is delivered six times per year to North American and international professionals, who represent primary panel production operations. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.

Complete the form
Advertise

Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative. Contact us today!

Contact Us

Arauco Takes Over Moncure Mills

Arauco Takes Over Moncure Mills

by | Mar 26, 2012 | News

Arauco Takes Over Moncure Mills

 

Arauco has started production at the panel complex (MDF, particleboard, laminate) it recently acquired from Uniboard (Pfleiderer) in Moncure, NC. The Moncure plant employs 250.

The facility is operated by Arauco Panels USA, LLC, a subsidiary of Arauco Wood Products, Inc. Sales and customer service will be handled through Arauco’s North American sales office in Atlanta.

The Moncure MDF line has the capacity to produce 330,000 m3 annually, while the particleboard line can produce 270,000 m3 annually. Two thermally fused melamine lines are also in operation.

RELATED ARTICLES

ARAUCO CLOSING EUGENE MDF

PANEL WORLD JANUARY 2020

 

Latest News

Weyco Expects Strong Growth

Weyco Expects Strong Growth Weyerhaeuser Co. hosted an Investor Day in December and outlined the company's strategic growth plan and financial...

Find Us On Social

Newsletter

The monthly Panel World Industry Newsletter reaches over 3,000 who represent primary panel production operations.

Subscribe Now
Subscribe/Renew

Panel World is delivered six times per year to North American and international professionals, who represent primary panel production operations. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.

Complete the form
Advertise

Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative. Contact us today!

Contact Us