Sawmills Invest, Buy, Expand


Atlanta, GA’s, BMC Stock Holdings will acquire the business of W.E. Shone, the leading supplier of building materials in Delaware, said the company in a press release Wednesday.

Tolko Industries, out of Vernon, BC, announced also Wednesday it has partnered with Louisiana-based Hunt Forest Products to build a state-of-the-art sawmill near Urania, LA.

Elsewhere, Alabama’s Rex Lumber Company expects its new sawmill project’s total capital cost will be more than US$110 million, including startup and working capital, according to WSFA TV Wednesday.

Still in the US, Miller Manufacturing, a maker of high-speed lumber planers and equipment based in Washington State, said Thursday will move into a facility double its current size. They will also double their staff.

Sawmill Investment

Tolko explained in it’s announcement Wednesday that, with partner Hunt Forest Products of Ruston, LA, it will build a US$115 million sawmill in LaSalle Parish in the heart of Louisiana timber country. This project will eventually create more than 100 direct permanent jobs.

Tolko, which produces a wide range of forest products for customers globally, will own a 50 per cent share of LaSalle Lumber Company. Hunt Forest Products will manage and operate the plant.

LaSalle Lumber will be situated in Urania on the 125-acre site of a previous mill and adjacent to one of Drax Biomass’ wood pellet plants. Byproducts of LaSalle Lumber will supply the Drax Biomass’ plant, while the lumber produced at the mill will be sold to other companies and customers.

Construction is set to begin in April with a scheduled opening in January 2019. Hunt company representatives said the mill will require about 850,000 tons of local wood annually to produce approximately 200 mil- lion board feet of lumber each year.

Miller Manufacturing, a maker of high- speed lumber planers and equipment in Washington State, announced Thursday it will move into a facility double its current size. They will also double their staff. Mill- er will more than double its manufacturing space with the move – going from 4,800 square feet to 10,000.