by Web Editor | Aug 8, 2018 | News
A burgeoning industry based on a relatively new type of material may be coming to Minnesota. Known as mass timber, the material is an alternative to steel in building construction. While dozens of buildings constructed with the product are dotted around the country, the majority stand in the Pacific Northwest.
“This type of building product is new to the U.S.,” said Brian Brashaw, a program manager with the U.S. Forest Service. “It’s geared at taller buildings; it’s building more along the lines of four, five and six stories. That product is seeing a lot of growth in the United States.”
Now, local groups and governmental agencies are working on a plan to bring that industry to the Midwest. But before a production facility can set up shop in Minnesota, officials need to know if the right kind of raw materials can be produced in the region.
“This is a feasibility study where we’re taking a closer look at if the Midwest has the lumber production capacity and softwood lumber supply chain in place,” wrote Kristen Bergstrand, of the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, in an email.
A survey is being sent to 11 sawmills in the region that will help gauge if the state can sustain a mass timber industry. APEX, the local business and economic development organization which is sending out the survey, wants to learn the grade and board footage that mills have produced for trees such as red pine, jack pine, spruce and balsam — all considered viable materials for mass timber.
Read more on this from the Duluth News Tribune at https://duluthnewstribune.com/business/manufacturing/4482202-minnesota-looking-attract-mass-timber-producers.
by Web Editor | Mar 21, 2018 | News
Egger Group, a wood-based materials supplier for the furniture, wood construction and flooring industries, broke ground on its North American corporate offices in North Carolina’s Davidson County. The Austrian panel producer says this is a critical step in expanding its U.S. presence to better serve North American customers.
The office building, which is scheduled for completion in early 2019, will house Egger’s North American future office staff. This building also lays the groundwork for future plant operations, which includes an ‘ultramodern’ particleboard manufacturing plant.
Construction of the plant is expected to start at the end of 2018 and production at the future facility is slated to begin in 2020. Sources report the 4.5 million-square-foot production facility will be spread across more than 200 acres in an industrial park. The first stage of the project will involve the construction of a composite panel plant with coating capacities. The company said the North Carolina plant will feature state-of-the-art facilities and will enable it to better serve customers in North America.The company also plans to establish a training center at this location to train and grow skilled workers in the region.
“Today, we celebrate a significant milestone for Egger’s presence in North America,” said Bernhard Vorreiter, technical project manager. “This groundbreaking is an important moment as we work to become a leading resource for wood-based solutions in North America.”
The office building will house approximately 80 workplaces and improve access for architects, designers, wholesalers and furniture industry customers to Egger’s wide range of wood-based products and cutting-edge designs.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/egger-group-breaks-ground-office-building-will-accompany-massive?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news,canadian_news
by Web Editor | Aug 23, 2017 | News
A Polymer Solutions Group (PSG) company, Sasco Chemical, announced that it has acquired the wood release agent product line of Michelman, Inc., a supplier of release agents to the engineered wood market.
PSG is a manufacturer of specialty polymers and additives for the rubber, wood, consumer, construction, and medical industries. Michelman is a global developer and manufacturer of environmentally friendly advanced materials with surface additives and polymeric binders.
In 2015, Sasco opened a release agent production facility in Albany, Georgia and has expanded its business in the wood release agents market over the past several years by leveraging its core competencies around anti-tack products primarily sold into the rubber industry.
“The acquisition of Michelman’s Michem wood release agents will advance PSG’s strategic goal of growing its product portfolio of functional materials for the construction industry,” said Mike Ivany, president and CEO of PSG. “Specifically, this solidifies PSG and Sasco as a dedicated supplier to the engineered wood market and provides a platform to expand PSG’s presence into other technical and geographical areas.”
To ensure a smooth transition, Michelman will continue to manufacture the acquired products for PSG while the production capacity is increased at its production facilities. Over the next few months, Sasco’s wood products and the newly acquired products from Michelman will be integrated into PSG’s functional materials business segment and will be sold under PSG’s existing brand name, TechKote.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/polymer-solutions-group-acquires-michelmans-wood-release-agent
by Web Editor | Jul 26, 2017 | News
Egger Group has announced plans to build its first U.S. particleboard plant in Lexington, North Carolina. The Austrian-based panel producer will invest approximately $304 million for the first phase of the project, with the entire project expected to run about $700 million.
Construction is set to begin by the end of 2018, with production scheduled for 2020. The panel plant will create 400 direct jobs over the next six years, with an additional 370 jobs planned for later phases of the 15-year project.
The news was announced July 24, during a meeting with the North Carolina Governor Roy Cooper, representatives of local authorities, company co-owner Michael Egger and Walter Schiegl, Egger Group Management Technology/Production.
Sources report the 4.5 million-square-foot production facility will be spread across more than 200 acres in an industrial park. The first stage of the project will involve the construction of a composite panel plant with coating capacities. The company said the North Carolina plant will feature state-of-the-art facilities and will enable it to better serve customers in North America.
“The planned production location in Lexington, North Carolina will play a decisive role for Egger’s increasing presence on the North American market for wood-based materials, as well as ensure product availability and delivery speed for our customers,” Schiegl said. Egger’s panel products are used in the manufacture of a variety of items, including laminate flooring, cabinetry, residential and commercial furniture, and casework.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/egger-plans-700-million-particleboard-plant-north-carolina?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news,canadian_news
by Web Editor | Jun 23, 2017 | News
From: Panel World Editors
International Beams plans to build the first cross-laminated timber production facility in the Southeastern U.S. in Dothan, Ala. A 227,000 square foot facility, a vacated GE plant, will be the manufacturing site for the company’s two new products, MAX-CORE CLT and MAX-CORE GLULAM.
International Beams, which has EWP (LVL, I-joist and rimboard) manufacturing facilities in Quebec and Ontario and is headquartered in Sarasota, Fla., was approved to receive tax incentive abatements for 10 years by the state of Alabama and the Houston County and 20 years by the city of Dothan.
Additionally, the Commission approved appropriating $632,000 to the Industrial Development Board of Dothan to meet obligations with the Alabama Municipal Electric Authority to facilitate the IB XLAM USA project.
