Columbia Forest Products

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Columbia Forest Products is the largest manufacturer of hardwood veneer, hardwood plywood and laminated products in the United States. Founded in 1957, it is headquartered in Portland, Oregon. It specializes in decorative, interior veneers and panels that are used in high-end cabinetry, fine furniture, architectural millwork and commercial fixtures. The company distributes its products primarily through a network of wholesale distributors, mass merchandisers and OEMs. Since 1976, the company has been completely employee-owned and currently has 20 manufacturing facilities through the U.S. and Canada. At the end of 2006 Columbia has converted all of its standard hardwood plywood production to produce formaldehyde-free panels called PureBond. In early 2007 Columbia will add PureBond formaldehyde-free particleboard to its product range.

[edit] History

The company began in 1957 in Klamath Falls, Oregon as Klamath Hardwoods, establishing its first hardwood veneer plant with 43 employees. In 1963 it was acquired by Columbia Plywood Corp. In 1966 it acquired additional facilities in Presque Isle, Maine and Newport, Vermont. The company was restructured by an employee buy-out in 1976, acquiring its current name. In 1982 it built a manufacturing facility in Old Fort, North Carolina. In 1986 it acquired two additional plants in Chatham, Virginia and Trumann, Arkansas. In 1989 it acquired the Laminated Products Division in Thomasville, North Carolina, as well as a hardwood veneer face manufacturing mill in Rutherglen, Ontario. In 1991 it acquired a half-round slicing operation in New Freedom, Pennsylvania. In March 1996, it acquired two hardwood plywood plants in Danville, Virginia and DeQueen, Arkansas. In August 1996 it acquired two plants in Hearst, Ontario (Plywood, PBC & Melamines) and St-Casimir, Quebec. In December 1996, the Laminated Products Division became Columbia Flooring. In January 1997 it acquired an additional hardwood plywood plant in Cuthbert, Georgia. The Cuthbert facility has been closed and is currently listed for sale. In June 2007 Mohawk Industries, Inc. (MHK) signed a deal with Columbia Forest Products to acquire two pre-finished solid plants and one engineered wood plant in the U.S. and an engineered wood plant in Malaysia.

Columbia Forest Products will relocate its headquarters at the end of 2007 to Greensboro, North Carolina.^[1]

[edit] References

^ Rivera, Dylan. "Oregon loses 1 more Corporate HQ", The Oregonian (via accessmylibrary.com), July 21, 2007. Retrieved on 2007-11-15.

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