ATLANTA, GA - Panel producer Arauco North America expands its capabilities with the purchase of Suddekor's paper treating business in Biscoe, NC. 

Arauco, which acquired the assets January 26, now has the ability to impregnate decorative paper with melamine based resin for the production of its thermally fused laminate (TFL)  panels. The Biscoe facility will supply Arauco's five laminating centers located in Albany, OR; Bennettsville, SC; Moncure, NC; Sault Ste. Marie, ON, and St. Stephen, NB.

Süddekor opened the Biscoe treating facility in January 2008. The company also operates a  treating facility East Longmeadow, MA.

"The investment in treating decorative papers provides us with the opportunity to better manage an important part of our supply chain," said Kelly Shotbolt, President "... and it's part of a vertical integration strategy that will further develop our TFL program by enhancing our ability to deliver new and innovative products to our customers."

This follows yesterday's announcement by Arauco to invest $30 million on a next generation fast-cycle press to produce TFL products, and to expand the particleboard panel capacity at its plant in Bennettsville, SC.

Based in Santiago Chile, Arauco manufactures composite wood and TFL panels, plywood, millwork, lumber and pulp procured from company-owned and managed forests throughout South America. Arauco's North American headquarters are in Atlanta, GA. The company consolidated its Canadian and U.S. operations in July 2014.