West Fraser Puts Leola Sawmill On Hold
West Fraser announced that it will indefinitely curtail its Huguley oriented strandboard (OSB) mill in Lanett, Ala. and sawmill in Leola, Ark. These curtailments are expected to take effect in the fourth quarter following orderly wind-downs.
These decisions are the result of continued weakness in demand for wood products used in new home construction and repair and renovation applications, according to the company. These actions are expected to reduce West Fraser’s OSB capacity by 500MMSF and southern yellow pine lumber capacity by 225MMBF on an annual basis.
“Over the last quarter, housing affordability continued to be a key constraint for wood products demand, which remains soft,” says Sean McLaren, West Fraser President and CEO. “We were also impacted by higher energy-related input costs. Our teams responded by running mills to demand, reducing inventory and controlling costs.
“Decisions like this are never easy because of the impact they have on our employees, their families and the communities where we operate. We are grateful for their hard work and contributions, and we are committed to supporting them through this transition.”
Latest News
Eacom Timber Reopens Ontario Mill, Ending 5-Year Closure
A northwestern Ontario sawmill officially re-opened today after being shuttered for more than five years. The Eacom Timber Corporation has spent the last several months retrofitting the mill in Ear Falls. By the middle of…
Resolute Forest Products Seeking To Acquire Or Build U.S. Lumber Mills
Resolute Forest Products Inc. (RFP), the world’s largest newsprint maker, is seeking to reduce its reliance on the low-grade paper by expanding its Canadian solid wood-products business into the U.S. Already North America’s fifth-largest lumber…
As Montana’s Timber Industry Improves, Mills See Setbacks With Availability
Reflecting slow but mostly steady improvements in Montana’s timber industry, lumber production and worker wages increased in the first six months of 2014, according to a new study. But despite the optimistic numbers, logging managers…
Interfor Permanently Closes Its Beaver-Forks Mill Operations
googletag.cmd.push(function() { googletag.display(‘div-gpt-ad-1548381510056-0’); }); Interfor has pulled the plug on its West End operations, planning to close two facilities and consolidate production in Port Angeles, the timber company announced Thursday. The closure affects 52 workers…
Find Us On Social
Newsletter
The monthly Timber Processing Industry Newsletter reaches over 4,000 mill owners and supervisors.
Subscribe/Renew
Timber Processing is delivered 10 times per year to subscribers who represent sawmill ownership, management and supervisory personnel and corporate executives. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.
Advertise
Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative.