Article by Dan Shell,
Managing Editor
Covering the Winston Plywood & Veneer story as Panel World has ever since the original project was announced, well before the “tornado that changed everything” on April 28, 2014, seeing the project come to fruition after rising from ruins is gratifying—and one more in a line of stories PW has done that document panel industry reinvestment and renewal following fires primarily, but also other disasters such as the tornado that struck Louisville, Miss. three-plus years ago.
Past stories of large rebuilds or investment include Boise Cascade’s major rebuild following a fire at its large Medford, Ore. plywood facility, and Murphy Co. rebuilding with a state-of-the-art LVL plant in Sutherlin, Ore. following a disastrous fire in 2005. And after visiting Winston Plywood & Veneer in late spring, Panel World is also looking forward to touring Swanson Group’s new plywood facility now in startup in Springfield, Ore. following a devastating July 2014 fire.
In Mississippi, economic development officials touted the teamwork that developed as the rebuilding project came to life. Glenn McCullough, executive director for the Mississippi Development Authority, noted that “Winston Plywood and Veneer is creating a model for manufacturing across the state, the country and world. They understand it takes quality people, quality products, great teamwork and planning.”
Indeed, Winston Plywood & Veneer has received a national award for its economic impact and projected impact on Louisville and Winston County. The mill is one of 15 recipients of the 2016 Corporate Investment and Community Impact Award, which is presented by Trade and Industry Development magazine.
The site selection publication credited the company for its work to reopen the plywood mill in Louisville and making the commitment to reinvest in the facility and the community. The plant will ultimately employ more than 300, and built-in extra capacity that can be brought on line as needed is enough to make the facility one of the largest North American plywood plants.
Winston Plywood & Veneer shipped its first product in November 2016 but held a “grand reopening” ceremony this past April.
“When we broke ground here two years ago, in the aftermath of a devastating storm, we said we would stay the course until we delivered and opened the finest plywood mill in North America. I am very proud to say today that we have kept that commitment, and that the future for this business is bright,” said Andrew Bursky, Chairman and Co-Founder of Atlas Holdings LLC, the parent company of New Wood Resources LLC, owner of Winston Plywood & Veneer.
And while rebuild stories like Boise at Medford, Murphy’s LVL plant and Winston Plywood & Veneer get many of the headlines, dozens of similar stories abound in the panel industry of companies reinvesting after smaller fires or accidents, upgrading operations and emerging better than before.
In each case, there’s a grateful and usually cooperative local community that has worked in any number of ways to keep from losing good jobs and facilities that have a jobs multiplier effect considering the additional businesses that supply or otherwise serve a panel mill.
Of course, the numbers have to make sense to make reinvestment a reality. (A good local wood basket always helps.) And there are any number of unique factors surrounding every mill rebuild decision. But to see such a cooperative effort among state and local communities to sustain the Winston Plywood & Veneer project is a welcome sight indeed.