besse forest products closes three veneer, lumber operations

Officials with Michigan-based Besse Forest Products recently announced the closure of three plants in Wisconsin that will result in more than 130 employees being laid off. The mills affected are Goodman Veneer and Lumber, Goodman, Wis., 48 employees and a sawmill that dates to 1909; Wisconsin Veneer and Plywood, Mattoon, Wis., 42 employees; Birchwood Manufacturing, Rice Lake, Wis., 46 employees.

The move comes after Besse Forest Products was sold to the Florida-based Hoffmann Family of Companies private equity firm in March 2024, and the company seeks to lower costs across its 10 newly acquired production facilities. Officials with Besse Forest Products said the closures were “due to an unprecedented industry downturn.”

Latest News

Jim Herold Retires From Rainier Veneer

Rainier Veneer, Inc., Spanaway, Wash., announced that Plant Manager Jim Herold retired the first of June after 25 years as manager. Previously Herold worked at Roseburg Forest Products where he was plant manager of the Dillard plywood mill. He began his career at RFP after graduating from Oregon State University in 1974…

West Fraser Announces Senior Leadership Transition Plan

Hank Ketcham, Chairman of West Fraser’s Board of Directors, announced that Ray Ferris, current West Fraser President and Chief Executive Officer, plans to retire on December 31, 2023. Ferris has been with West Fraser for over 26 years in increasingly senior positions culminating in his appointment as President and Chief Operating Officer in 2018 and as a director of the Company in 2019…

. . . And Back In The U.S.

Article by Rich Donnell, Editor-In-Chief, Panel World July 2023 – As has often been the case in my previous trips there, perhaps the leading topic of conversation at the Ligna show in Hannover, Germany in mid-May was the status of multiple new projects back in the United States, such as Roseburg’s new MDF plant in…

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!