Scotch Plywood Starts Up Veneer Mill

Article by Dan Shell, Senior Editor, Panel World

WAYNESBORO, Mississippi – Executives and key individuals with Scotch Plywood made a commitment to rebuild before the ashes had cooled following a January 6, 2021 fire here at a key veneer production facility. Thanks to a monumental effort by all involved, from Scotch Plywood owners and management and employees, vendors and log suppliers, the veneer plant was peeling logs again in March 2022.

That the project was pulled off so successfully and smoothly under tough operating conditions is a testament to the Scotch plywood organization: The icing on the cake is the new facility here has hit the ground running and recently set plant production records for shift and day, along with improved veneer quality.

Scotch Plywood does most of its peeling at Waynesboro. The facility produces anywhere from two-thirds to three-quarters of Scotch Plywood’s overall green veneer requirements. Scotch’s Beatrice, Alabama veneer plant has a lathe and one dryer, and the Fulton plywood plant has two dryers plus layup, pressing and finishing. Keeping all the moving parts in place for such an organization and process were critical.

“It was real important to keep all the landowners, suppliers and employees working with us,” says Charles Bradford, Scotch Plywood VP of Procurement. “We tried to keep everyone busy and working, including the loggers.”

Letting the Beatrice plant pick up the slack in veneer production was key to maintaining the Waynesboro plant’s operational infrastructure. Employees were bussed from Waynesboro to the Beatrice plant and back every day as the facility ran almost around the clock to keep veneer moving.