Uniboard employees observe the first panel exiting the press in February at the company's new "mega" mill in Moncure, NC.

Uniboard hosted a party last week to showcase its versatile $160 million panel manufacturing plant that began churning out products in February.

Though dubbed as the "Moncure MDF Mill," the plant's more than 120-foot-long Dieffenbacher press also is able to produce particleboard, high-density fiberboard (HDF) and low-density fiberboard (LDF) in thicknesses ranging from 3/16 inch to about 1-1/4 inches. In addition, a nearby facility houses a pair of thermo-fused melamine lines. The plant has the capacity to produce up to 26 million square feet of panel on a 3/4-inch basis per year.

What's more, Uniboard announced on Oct. 6 that the Moncure mill had been certified by the Composite Panel Association to meet California Air Resources Board Phase 2 emissions standards for the production of MDF panels.

Based in Laval, QC, Moncure is Uniboard's first U.S. manufacturing facility. The company operates four plants in Canada and its parent company, Pfleiderer also owns Pergo, which operates a laminate flooring production plant in Garner, NC, less than one hour from Moncure. Pergo is one of the Moncure operation's founding customers.

A self-guided tour of the mega plant's 340,000- square-foot facility kicked-off the Moncure plant's grand opening celebration.

Approximately 220 people participated in the gala event, including dignitaries, suppliers, distributors and employees.

Following a self-guided tour of the 340,000-square-foot plant, attendees gathered for lunch and presentations by officials of Uniboard, its parent company Pfleiderer and local, state and national political representatives.

In heralding Uniboard's first U.S. plant, Hans Overdiek, head of Pfleiderer, called the Moncure mill "the cornerstone of Uniboard's growth strategy in the U.S." 


Rep. Joe Hackney, speaker of the North Carolina House, said Uniboard came to the right place for the 200-plus workers it hired and the raw materials it needs. The plant is surrounded by rich stands of southern yellow pine trees, whose shavings are processed into the fibers for the Moncure plant's board products.

Rep. Bob Etheridge (D-NC), who in a dog fight to retain his seat in Tuesday's mid-term election, said he is confident Uniboard will recoop its investment in the Moncure mill and then some. He added that he hopes the company will expand the facility in the future.

James Hogg, president and CEO of Uniboard, assured all of those in attendance that the company is intent on future expansion.

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