Columbia Forest Products is converting FSC-certified hybrid poplar into hardwood plywood through a collaboration with the GreenWood Tree Farm and Collins Companies.

Columbia Forest Products is investing $9 million to upgrade its sawmill in Boardman, OR, including adding a Meinan lathe. The mill will process hybrid poplar harvested from the 35,000-acre GreenWood Tree Farm into veneer.

The fast-growing plantation-raised hybrid poplar is used to make core veneers that will be used to make MPX plywood using PureBond formaldehyde-free resins at Colubmia Forest Products' mill in Klamath Falls, OR. The product is used by manufacturers of cabinets, furniture and other secondary wood products.

The Collins Companies manages a sawmill at GreenWood Tree Farms and markets lumber under the brand of Pacific Albus.

A new Meinan lathe will be installed alongside GTFF’s existing Upper Columbia Mill at the Boardman plantation, assuring a highly-efficient supply of core veneer cross-bands to CFP’s plywood mill in Klamath Falls, OR.

The accompanying video details how hybrid poplar is grown, harvested and processed.