November 14, 2023 11:10 a.m. 

In the KQEN Business Spotlight:

Roseburg Forest Products has sold its Simsboro, Louisiana particleboard plant to Kronospan, a leading producer of wood panel products.

An RFP release said completion of the acquisition is subject to customary closing conditions, including receipt of regulatory approvals. After the closing, the Simsboro plant will accelerate the growth of Kronospan’s wood panel production in North America.

Kronospan’s CEO of North American Operations Hans Obermaier said, “The acquisition of the Simsboro mill, along with its talented and experienced team of managers and associates, will allow us to bring products to market more efficiently and will improve service to our customers”.

The release said Kronospan is committed to modernizing the Simsboro particleboard facility in the post-acquisition period and has a proven track record in this regard from prior acquisitions.

Roseburg President and CEO Stuart Gray said, “Given Kronospan’s plan to continue modernizing and operating the mill, this is good news for the longevity of the Simsboro facility and our 176 team members who work there”. Gray said, “Simsboro has been a high-performing asset for Roseburg, and we believe it will continue to deliver value for its new owners”.

The release said Roseburg is heavily invested in the composites industry, manufacturing particleboard and MDF at plants across North America. The company recently announced significant investments in two new composites plants located in Dillard, which will manufacture medium and high-density fiberboard and MDF trim suitable for exterior applications.