Southeastern Timber Products announced this week it is investing $123.4 million to expand its operations in Ackerman, which could create as many as 40 jobs.

Southeastern Timber Products is a family-owned-and-operated manufacturer of southern yellow pine lumber, timber and decking products. The company is expanding its Ackerman sawmill to increase production capacity from 120 million board feet per year to 300 million board feet per year.

To facilitate the project, Southeastern Timber Products will install a new sawmill line, new dry kilns and storage facilities.
Southeastern Timber Products has a joint venture partnership with Tolko Industries Ltd., a company based in Vernon, British Columbia, Canada.

One of the largest Canadian investments in Mississippi, Tolko has embarked on what will ultimately be a $150 million investment in the STP lumber mill that was announced in 2022. Under the banner of Southeastern Timber Products LLC, the project is a joint venture with STP Holdings, LLC.

“Today’s announcement enables us to further invest in our people, customers and local community,” said David Manley, Tolko Industries U.S. Ltd. vice president. “We greatly appreciate the Mississippi government’s support of all strategic investments that will help us by continuing to grow STP’s capacity to 300 million board feet per year.”

The news comes at a time President Donald J. Trump wants to sign an executive order introducing a 25% tariff on all goods coming from Mexico and Canada and a 10% tariff on goods from China. The order on China went into effect on Tuesday, while the orders on Canada and and Mexico have been put on hold as of Wednesday.

Canada is Mississippi’s largest trading partner and Mississippi would likely feel negative impacts from a 25% tariff on all goods coming from Canada. There also would likely be some reactionary impacts on goods that are exported from Mississippi to Canada.

Reported by Ross Reily Mississippi Clarion Ledger

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Valmet will deliver a chipper feeding line upgrade to the woodyard of Unilin Panels in Vielsalm, Belgium.

The order is included in Valmet’s orders received of the fourth quarter 2024. The value of the order will not be disclosed. The delivery will take place during the mill’s annual shutdown in the third quarter of 2025.

The mill’s current chipper feeding line is approaching the end of its lifecycle, leading to chip quality variation and limited production capacity. Mechanical wearing of inlet parts increases the risk of discharged metal parts in the chipper.

“The chipper feeding line upgrade with the new infeed chute, open top spout and durable chipper hood will extend the lifetime of our woodyard area and secure safe operation environment for our employees for the next years. We are looking forward to the upgrade and improvements in the chip consistency,” says Antoine Deparpe, Improvement Engineering Manager at Unilin Panels.

“We are thankful for this opportunity to deliver this customized solution to Unilin Panels, as it shows our expertise also in woodyard upgrades. We are looking forward to our skilled field service team taking care of the installation and helping the customer to take their performance to the next level,” says Nils Anspach, Product Sales Manager at Valmet.

Technical information about the delivery

The chipper feeding line upgrade includes the delivery of several parts such as infeed chute, spout, durable chipper hood, couplings, bearing assemblies as well as the installation of those parts.

Information about the customer

Unilin Panels produces innovative wood panel solutions for the construction and interior sectors. The production unit in Vielsalm, Belgium, produces MDF for the domestic and international customers. Unilin Panels is part of the Unilin Group.

Valmet has a global customer base across various process industries. They are a leading global developer and supplier of process technologies, automation and services for the pulp, paper and energy industries, and with their automation and flow control solutions they serve an even wider base of process industries

Photo : Valmet will deliver a chipper feeding line upgrade to the woodyard of Unilin Panels in Vielsalm, Belgium.

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Sawmill in Maine – Saint John, New Brunswick — Irving Forest Products, which owns and operates wood processing facilities in Maine and New York State, has acquired the Masardis Sawmill in Masardis, Maine. The sale closed January 5, 2025.

Previously owned by Groupe Lebel, the Masardis operation has a long history of producing random-length spruce and fir lumber. It currently employs 80 people and has the capacity to produce 115 million board feet annually.

The sawmill is located within close proximity to Irving’s 1.3 million acres of timberlands in Maine.

“We are excited to grow our lumber production capacity in the state of Maine,” said Jerome Pelletier, VP of Irving Forest Products. “The Masardis mill is well-located to access high-quality timber. It is also serviced by the Maine Northern Railway and benefits from having a team of highly skilled and dedicated employees who have worked together for decades to ensure the success of their operation.”

With the addition of the Masardis operation, J.D. Irving, Limited now operates 10 sawmills as part of its solid wood operations, with a total annual capacity of 1.3 billion board feet.

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Koskisen is launching a comprehensive investment program in the plywood production of its Panel Industry business in Järvelä. The investment program extends until the end of Koskisen’s strategy period, i.e. 2027. The first phase of the investment program will be implemented during 2025 and the total value of the related investments is approximately EUR 12 million.

“In line with our strategy, we are creating sustainable growth and the focus of investments is now shifting strongly to the Panel Industry. In recent years, we have invested heavily in the Sawmill Industry: the total investment value of the new sawmill and related operations, such as the log yard to be put into operation in early 2025, is approximately EUR 75 million,” says Koskisen’s CEO Jukka Pahta .

According to Pahta, the demand outlook for Koskisen’s wood products is stable and will strengthen, driven by the green transition, urbanization, and the development of trade and transportation. Wood products that bind carbon for a long time are a key part of a more sustainable bio-circular economy.

The systematic investment program in the sheet Panel industry will enable volume growth, streamline production, and facilitate related internal logistics. The investments also include automation of production phases.

“The key objective of the investment program is to improve the productivity, quality and yield of plywood production. As a result of the program, the plywood production capacity will increase from the current 65,000 m3 to 85,000 m3. This requires significant development of the machinery and investment in it,” says Tom-Peter Helenius, Director of the Board Industry Business Unit .

The first phase of the investment program focuses on developing the veneer manufacturing processes.

The plywood factory produces customized, high-quality birch plywood products for light and heavy transport vehicles, stamping tools, interior design, fixtures and furniture. The largest customer groups are the automotive, transport, construction and furniture industries.

“The existing production line has been built in stages and currently places restrictions on production development and volume growth. It is great that with the investment program being launched now, we have the opportunity to think about things with new eyes by modernizing the different stages of production and their mutual relationships,” says Helenius.

Koskisen is an international wood processing specialist with over a century of experience. They utilize the valuable wood raw material carefully, down to the last sawdust. They manufacture high-quality and sustainable bio-circular economy products that bind carbon for decades.

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Bruks Siwertell has received an order for a state-of-the-art Bruks Klöckner drum chipper from Bioena, a leading bioenergy company in Colombia. It will reliably deliver consistent quality wood chips and features a custom-designed knife and infeed configuration, supporting Bioena’s commitment to sustainable, high-capacity energy production.

Bioena is at the forefront of the renewable bioenergy industry. Its industrial plant, located in Santa Marta, produces biomass wood pellets from sustainably sourced wood, which play a vital role in the global move away from the use of fossil fuels.

Bruks Siwertell’s pioneering fiber- and wood-processing equipment and bulk handling technology is already playing a pivotal role in supporting renewable energy transitions worldwide.

“For Bioena, the choice was clear,” says Rafael Escamilla, Project Development Engineer, Bruks Siwertell. “Our Bruks Klöckner drum chippers have a proven track record for performance and reliability. With our strong presence in South America, we are excited to support Bioena in this project, and by fast-tracking the delivery, we are demonstrating our commitment to meeting its timeline and operational needs.”

Bruks Siwertell is able to offer unique equipment configurations depending on the needs of its customers. For Bioena, the horizontal-fed Bruks Klöckner drum chipper has a customized knife configuration to produce specifically sized wood chips, and its first two infeed rollers, closest to the drum, are segmented, enabling efficient and powerful material flows into the chipper. It also has a tailored infeed belt conveyor, while Hardox steel components, including the rotor, rotor hood, chip mantle, and chip pockets, enhance the chipper’s durability and performance.

“This partnership not only underscores Bruks Siwertell’s expertise in wood-processing technology but also celebrates our mutual commitment to environmental stewardship,” adds Escamilla. “Together, Bruks Siwertell and Bioena are proving that innovative solutions are able to drive meaningful change in renewable energy.”

Engineered to process whole eucalyptus logs at 50t/h, the new Bruks drum chipper will enable Bioena to expand its production capacity and keep pace with its growth and sustainability goals. The unit is planned for delivery from Germany in the first quarter of 2025.

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SAINT-GEORGES, QC, DECEMBER 10, 2024 — As 2024 comes to a close, Comact, a leading OEM in high-caliber wood processing equipment, digital technologies, cutting solutions, project services, and aftermarket support supplier, is proud to celebrate its 100th-anniversary short film that highlights a century of innovation, evolution, and leadership in the wood processing industry.

This year has been a pivotal one for Comact. Alongside commemorating its centennial, the company introduced a refreshed brand image and welcomed a new management team. These milestones mark its continued growth while staying true to the values that have defined Comact for 100 years: performance, innovation, and commitment.

“At Comact, our roots run deep. While we’ve grown and evolved over the past century, our core mission remains unchanged—empowering the wood processing industry with the tools, technologies, and support needed to succeed,” said Simon Potvin, Comact’s President and CEO.

The 100th-anniversary film reflects this journey and Comact’s vision for the future: pushing boundaries, delivering results, and driving progress for generations to come.

To watch the film and learn more about Comact, click here or visit comact.com.

ABOUT COMACT

For over 100 years, Comact has been a leading OEM in high-caliber wood processing equipment, digital technologies, cutting solutions, project services, and aftermarket support. Driven by innovation and excellence, we are dedicated to helping our customers address their most pressing operational and business challenges in today’s industry.

Whether for brownfield or greenfield projects, Comact’s expertise provides wood processing facilities with the confidence that their investments will yield superior performance, throughput, and ROI. This ensures they remain competitive and achieve sustained growth in an ever-evolving market. Trust Comact to deliver exceptional performance every time. For more information, visit www.comact.com.

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Monaghan, Ireland – 9 December 2024 – Combilift, the global leader in material handling solutions, has been awarded Company of the Year at the prestigious Business & Finance Awards 2024, in association with KPMG Ireland. This remarkable achievement marks Combilift’s 9th major win in the last three months, solidifying its position as an industry leader.

The Company of the Year award, presented to Combilift’s CEO Martin McVicar by Seamus Hand from KPMG at the 50th Business & Finance Awards ceremony – held in Dublin, is a testament to the company’s significant impact on both the Irish economy and the global market. Combilift, with annual revenue exceeding €500 million, has continued to thrive with its export-focused business model, with 98% of its operations serving international markets.

Since its founding in 1998, Combilift has built a global reputation as the largest manufacturer of multi-directional, articulated, and sideloading forklifts, as well as large material handling equipment such as straddle carriers, with over 85,000 units in operation across 85 countries. The company’s commitment to innovation, sustainability, and research and development has been pivotal to its exceptional growth, making it a true leader in the material handling industry.

Martin McVicar, CEO of Combilift, said:

“This award reflects the bold vision and relentless drive that has been at the heart of Combilift since Robert Moffett and I started in 1998. Every forklift, every innovation, and every milestone reflects our commitment to pushing boundaries and transforming material handling worldwide. This moment belongs to our employees, our dealers, and our customers, who rely on us to deliver quality material handling solutions to optimise their warehouse space.”

Joining a Legacy of Excellence

Winning this award places Combilift among an elite group of previous winners, including industry giants Glen Dimplex, Kingspan, Primark, Google, and Intel. As a homegrown Irish business with a global footprint, this latest recognition serves as a powerful reminder of the company’s ongoing success and its critical role in shaping the future of the material handling industry.

Photo  L-R. Ian Hyland – Business & Finance, Martin McVicar -Combilift, Seamus Hand – KPMG

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Burton Mill Solutions has announced its acquisition of Menominee Saw & Supply, based in Menominee, Michigan. Menominee specializes in supporting wood processors in the Northern Great Lakes region and across the Midwest by supplying and reconditioning a variety of industrial cutting tools, including machine knives, small- and large-diameter circle saws, and wide and narrow band saws.

This acquisition significantly expands Burton’s geographic footprint and enhances its technical capabilities, enabling it to provide better service to primary wood producers. With the addition of Menominee, Burton strengthens its already comprehensive technical expertise in wood processing technology, including saws, knives, filing room equipment, technical services, and industrial wear parts.

Chuck Wert, Senior Vice President of Burton, commented, “We are excited to work more closely with the Menominee team. This partnership will allow us to elevate our service offerings and better address the needs of our customers in the Midwest.”

John Brock, General Manager of Menominee, shared his thoughts, saying, “Burton has been important partner for many years, but by joining forces, we’ll be able to significantly expand our network and capabilities. I can’t wait to see what we accomplish together.”

Dale Brown, CEO of Burton Mill Solutions and sister companies USNR and Mid-South Engineering, added, “this acquisition aligns perfectly with our mission to provide innovative solutions that enhance productivity and efficiency in the wood processing industry.”

Menominee’s Great Lakes location will complement Burton’s existing network of saw and knife reconditioning service centers in Maine, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, and Louisiana.

About Burton Mill Solutions

Burton Mill Solutions is the leading North American manufacturer and supplier of industrial saw blades, machine knives, filing room equipment, cutting tool reconditioning services, and vocational training to the lumber, pulp, and wood biomass industries, with a history dating back to 1832.

About Menominee Saw & Supply

Based in Menominee, Michigan, Menominee Saw & Supply specializes in designing, manufacturing, and reconditioning cutting tools and supplying a variety of related products to the primary and secondary wood products markets in the Northern Great Lakes region, and across the Midwest.

Image: Dale Brown, CEO of Burton Mill Solutions

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