Boise Cascade Gets Antitrust Clearance For Engineered Lumber Acquisition

by | Mar 25, 2016 | News

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

North American EWP Production Declines Further

by | May 29, 2015 | News

North American production of engineered wood products (EWP) declined again in the first quarter of 2015.

In spite of a customary seasonal revival compared to the previous quarter, production volumes of LVL and I-joists were down year on year. The weakening trend already seen in the fourth quarter of 2014 has therefore continued.

While the reason quoted for production cutbacks at the end of 2014 had been primarily the slow recovery of the business situation in new residential building and adjustments to stock, the weak start to 2015 has been partly blamed on the cool weather prevailing in most of the eastern federal states.

North American LVL production has declined year on year by 3%. A moderate minus of 1% in the USA is contrasted by a sharp fall of 17% in Canada.

From EUWID: https://www.euwid-wood-products.com/news/wood-based-panels/single/Artikel/north-america-ewp-production-declines-further.html

Stora Enso Orders LVL Line From Raute

by | Mar 23, 2015 | News

Stora Enso has ordered the bulk of the machinery for an LVL project planned in Varkaus, Finland from Finnish machinery and plant producer Raute. Raute said that the order had a total volume of about €30m and includes the complete LVL production line with a peeling line, drying, veneer sorting and splicing, gluing, pre-press, press, order picking and packaging. Raute said that the 8 x 80 ft three-opening press has a capacity of about 100,000 m³ per year. Stora Enso said that the mill would reach full capacity by 2019. Start-up is scheduled for some time in the second quarter of 2016.

From EUWID: https://www.euwid-wood-products.com/news/roundwoodsawnwood/single/archive/2015/march/Artikel/stora-enso-orders-lvl-line-from-raute.html