Arauco Purchases Flakeboard
Flakeboard operates production sites in Canada and the U.S., including MDF plants in Malvern, Ark.; Eugene, Ore.; Bennettsville, SC; and Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario; particleboard plants in Albany, Ore; Bennettsville, SC; and St. Stephen, New Brunswick; high density fiberboard plant in St. Stephen; and several melamine lamination lines.
With the purchase of Flakeboard, which is expected to be completed during the second semester of this year, the annual production of Arauco panels in North America is expected to increase to 2.9 million m3 (1.6 billion SF, 3⁄4 in. basis), as a result of which Arauco reports it would become the largest composite panel producer in America in terms of volume and third at the global level.
Arauco earlier this year purchased the Uniboard MDF and particleboard plants at Moncure, NC. Arauco also operates four MDF plants in Chile, Argentina and Brazil, a particleboard plant in each of Argentina and Brazil and a plywood facility in Chile. Arauco sources raw material from its 3.9 million acres (1.6 million hectares) of forest plantations in Chile, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay.
According to Flakeboard President and CEO, Kelly Shotbolt: “We are extremely excited about our planned integration with Arauco and specifically about the opportunities that the new ownership structure brings for the larger company, our customers, our combined employees, and the communities in which we operate.”
Arauco has indicated that the North American assets will operate under the Flakeboard name and that the Flakeboard senior management team will be tasked with integrating and managing the combined operations. Shotbolt will be retained as head of Flakeboard North America.
RELATED ARTICLES
Latest News
Kadant Completes Key Knife Acquisition
Kadant Inc. has completed its previously announced acquisition of Key Knife, Inc. and some of its affiliates for approximately $156 million in cash, subject to certain customary adjustments. The acquisition was financed primarily through borrowings under Kadant’s revolving credit facility. Key Knife, a global supplier of engineered knife systems for custom chipping, planing, and flaking solutions for wood product industries, is headquartered in Tualatin, Ore. with…
PELICE 2024 Continues To Light Up Scoreboard With New Presentations
Organizers of the ninth Panel & Engineered Lumber International Conference & Expo announced that attendee registration is open for the event, which will be held March 14-15, 2024 at the Omni Atlanta Hotel at Centennial Park in downtown Atlanta, Georgia— the same location as the previous eight PELICE events…
Kronospan Completes Simsboro Particleboard Purchase
Kronospan, a producer of wood panel products, has announced the closing of its purchase of Roseburg’s Simsboro, La., particleboard facility following the expiration of the required regulatory review period. Ownership of the plant has been transferred from Roseburg to Kronospan…
Find Us On Social
Newsletter
The monthly Panel World Industry Newsletter reaches over 3,000 who represent primary panel production operations.
Subscribe/Renew
Panel World is delivered six times per year to North American and international professionals, who represent primary panel production operations. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.
Advertise
Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative. Contact us today!