SmartLam Announces Alabama Glulam Facility
SmartLam North America announced several major projects that will have a significant impact to the mass timber industry. SmartLam North America, which is the first U.S. manufacturer and is reportedly the largest manufacturer in North America of cross laminated timber (CLT), announced it will build a $50 million glulam manufacturing facility in Dothan, Ala.
The new SmartLam facility, to be built adjacent SmartLam’s existing CLT facility in a 144,000 sq. ft. structure, will manufacture annually 84MMBF of large glulam beams and columns that are required to properly serve the mass timber market. SmartLam has chosen to partner with Ledinek to build a turnkey, state-of-the-art glulam facility. The new glulam facility is expected to be 100% operational in October of 2024.
SmartLam North America CEO Derek Ratchford states, “We are pleased to announce the new state-of-the-art custom glulam manufacturing plant which will be the largest custom glulam plant in North America,” adding that Dothan is strategically located in Alabama to serve the Southeast, the fastest growing mass timber market in the United States, and that SmartLam North America has 1.5 billion BF of available southern pine lumber annually between its four Southern sawmill shareholders.
SmartLam North America will also spend an additional $24 million to fully automate the existing Dothan and Columbia Falls, Mont. CLT facilities. This additional investment will allow each facility to produce 2 million cubic feet annually.
Ratchford adds, “Most mass timber glulam beams and columns are manually produced. The new glulam plant will be automated allowing SmartLam to significantly increase production and simultaneously deliver multiple mass timber projects. With the CLT automation upgrades and the new glulam addition, SmartLam will become the largest mass timber (CLT/glulam) producer in North America.”
RELATED ARTICLES
Latest News
TP&EE Hosts Mass Timber Developments
The biennial Timber Processing & Energy Expo, following a pandemic-induced cancellation in 2020, returns this September 28-30 to the Portland Exposition Center in Portland, Ore. Hatton-Brown Expositions, an affiliate of Panel World magazine, has hosed the event since 2010.
“It’s hard to believe it has been four years since TP&EE was held, and what a strange trip it has been,” comments Rich Donnell, TP&EE Show Director and Editor-in-Chief of Panel World. “The important thing is that we’re back face-to-face. ‘Virtual’ is okay, but it’s not like being there.”
RoyOMartin Adds Natalie Monroe To Executive Leadership Team
RoyOMartin has named Natalie Martin Monroe Vice President of Environmental, Safety, and Sustainability Operations. She will also serve as a member of the Strategic Action Leadership Team (SALT) and the Corporate Secretary for the Martin Sustainable Resources (MSR) Board of Directors…
Softwood Board, FS Announce Mass Timber Awards
The Softwood Lumber Board (SLB) and USDA Forest Service recently awarded $2 million total to six projects that highlight innovative architectural design and mass timber’s significant role in carbon reduction. According to SLB officials, lessons learned from each project will be shared with the construction community to help support future projects, including cost analyses, life cycle assessments and other research results…
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!