April 14, 2023 2:30 p.m.
On Friday, Roseburg Forest Products announced what the company called a “historic $700 million investment in southern Oregon manufacturing” upgrading and expanding its operations.
The four-year project will include the creation of two new, state-of-the-art manufacturing plants, along with technological improvements and upgrades at existing plants in rural Douglas and Coos counties.
Company officials say the total project represents the largest known investment in manufacturing in rural Oregon, and one of the largest private capital investments of any kind in the state’s history.
President and CEO Grady Mulbery said, “Across the business, Roseburg is embracing advanced manufacturing and leveraging new technology and methods to make current products and develop new ones, with the goal of ensuring we remain competitive in the global market”. Mulbery said, “I want to thank our partners at the Governor’s office and Douglas and Coos counties for helping make this historic investment possible”.
The investment includes two new highly technical manufacturing plants at the company’s Dillard Complex.
*Dillard MDF will use wood residuals from Roseburg’s local mills and other regional mill suppliers to manufacture standard medium density fiberboard panels, as well as thin high-density fiberboard often used in cabinetry, doors and other applications. Mulbery said this plant will be one of the most technically advanced plants of its kind in the world, and represents $450 million of the $700 million investment.
*Dillard Components will convert specialty MDF panels manufactured in Roseburg’s MDF plant in Medford into Armorite Trim, a finished exterior trim product for residential and shed use. Mulbery said this is an innovative, new product currently unavailable within the industry or market. Roseburg will invest roughly $50 million in this plant.
The company anticipates both new plants will begin operations in 2025, and will employ approximately 120 people once completed.
The remaining $200 million of the investment will go towards improvements at existing plants in Riddle and Coquille. This includes two new lathe lines and a new hardwood plywood line at Riddle and a new dryer at the plywood plant in Coquille.
Around 200 people attended the company’s announcement at the Douglas County Fairgrounds Friday morning. A video overview of the investment is linked: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLo4Ehojdps
Grady Mulbery went in-depth on the project on Inside Douglas County on Friday on News Radio 93-9 FM and 1240 KQEN. That interview is a KQEN podcast at www.541radio.com