Boise Cascade Gets Antitrust Clearance For Engineered Lumber Acquisition

Boise Cascade Co. has received antitrust clearance from the United States Department of Justice to proceed with its previously announced acquisition of Georgia-Pacific LLC’s engineered lumber production facilities located at Thorsby, Alabama, and Roxboro, North Carolina. Boise Cascade plans to complete the acquisition by the end of March 2016.

The Thorsby facility produces laminated veneer lumber (LVL). The Roxboro facility currently produces I-joists. Roxboro’s LVL production assets are currently idled. Boise Cascade expects to invest capital and hire additional employees to increase production at these mills in 2016 and beyond to obtain significant logistics benefits as well as to meet expected growth in new residential construction. Boise Cascade believes the addition of Thorsby and Roxboro will increase LVL billet capacity by 9 million cubic feet and I-joist capacity by 80 million lineal feet.

“We are pleased to be expanding our engineered wood products business and positioning ourselves to support customers as the U.S. housing recovery continues in the years ahead,” said Tom Corrick, CEO of Boise Cascade, when the acquisition was first announced.

“The additional engineered lumber capacity at Thorsby and Roxboro fit very well with our existing production facilities and will help us cost effectively deliver products to our customers. There are tremendous opportunities to optimize our mill system, and realize freight and other cost synergies. The acquired mills are located in attractive wood baskets with competitive fiber costs and improve our ability to support high growth housing demand.”

From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/boise-cascade-gets-antitrust-clearance-engineered-lumber-acquisition?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news

Boise Cascade Upgrades, Increases Capacity At Louisiana Plywood Mill

Boise Cascade will make a $43 million capital investment to upgrade and increase capacity at its Florien, Louisiana, plywood mill located in the state’s Northwest Region. The Florien mill is one of three major manufacturing sites Boise Cascade operates in Louisiana. Other locations include a plywood mill in Oakdale and an engineered wood products mill in Alexandria. The expansion is scheduled to begin this summer.

In Florien, Boise Cascade will replace two dryers and substantially increase its capacity for manufacturing veneer products, with the company also adding log yard storage space and new press equipment that will boost capacity. The Florien mill supplies veneer for Boise Cascade’s Alexandria engineered wood products mill, where the company produces such items as I-joists and laminated veneer lumber. The company also produces veneer for plywood manufactured in Florien and Oakdale and used for concrete forms, sheathing and subfloors.

“Having spent the last seven years of my career working with our employees at our three Louisiana locations, I am very pleased to have Boise Cascade invest in its future here and in the future of our Louisiana employees,” Boise Cascade’s Mike Brown, Wood Products operations manager said. “With over 1,150 Louisiana employees and a Louisiana payroll of over $3.8 million per month, Boise Cascade sees Louisiana as an integral part of the company’s future. This investment will enable us to continue to provide great jobs for Louisianians starting almost immediately.”

The company is expected to utilize Louisiana’s Industrial Tax Exemption incentive. After beginning the expansion this summer, Boise Cascade anticipates completion of the dryer installations by the end of 2016 and completion of the additional upgrades in 2017.

From Area Development: https://www.areadevelopment.com/newsItems/4-10-2015/boise-cascade-upgrades-florien-louisiana-plywood-mill677788.shtml