Header: Header: Header:

Woodgrain Closing Pilot Rock, Oregon Sawmill

Woodgrain Inc. filed a WARN notice to Oregon state officials July 1 notifying them that the company was permanently closing its Pilot Rock sawmill, on or after Sept. 1, 2025. The company is consolidating operations with its La Grande, Ore., sawmill, which was acquired from Boise Cascade in 2018. That deal included the sale of Pilot Rock, and a particleboard plant in Island City, Ore. Woodgrain sold the particleboard facility to Kronospan in 2024.

“This decision was not made lightly. Unfortunately, the wood products industry is facing serious, ongoing challenges, from rising costs to sustained market pressures, which have made it harder for smaller mills like Pilot Rock to stay competitive—despite the team’s hard work, commitment, and pride they’ve put into what they do every day. This is why we have decided to consolidate our operations with our La Grande sawmill,” comments Greg Easton, Vice President, Millwork and Lumber division for Woodgrain.

The number of employees affected is 62. The company is consolidating operations with its La Grande, Ore., sawmill. Affected employees are encouraged to explore open positions at other Woodgrain locations. 

Latest News

U.S. Housing Starts Fall While Building Permits Rise

U.S. housing starts fell in August from July, at a seasonally adjusted rate of 1.283 million, down 11.3%. Single-family starts were at a rate of 941,000, 4.3% below July, while multi-family starts were the primary culprit at 334,000, down 26.3%, according to the U.S. Census Bureau and U.S. Dept. of Housing and Urban Development monthly new residential construction report…

Canfor Puts ‘Stock’ In New BC Facility

Vancouver, BC-based Canfor Corp. is investing $200 million to build a new state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Houston, British Columbia, which will have an annual production capacity of 350MMBF. “I’m very pleased to be making this announcement in British Columbia, where Canfor has been proudly headquartered for 85 years,” comments Don Kayne, President and CEO. “This decision comes following…

West Fraser To Acquire Spray Lake Sawmills

West Fraser has announced that it has entered into an agreement to acquire Spray Lake Sawmills located in Cochrane, Alberta subject to certain post-closing adjustments. Spray Lake Sawmills produces treated wood products, dimensional lumber and a variety of residuals and biproducts, with an annual lumber capacity of 155 MMBF and…

PTF BPI Announces 2023 Dates

The 7th biennial international Processing Technologies for the Forest and Bio-based Products Industries (PTF BPI) 2023 Conference will be held October 30 to Nov. 1, 2023 in St. Simons Island, Ga. at the King & Prince Resort…

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.