Roseburg announced today that it plans to indefinitely close its particleboard plant located in Louisville, Miss. As a result of this closure, approximately 80 employees will be curtailed.

“Weak demand, increasing raw material cost pressure, and industry overcapacity are the key drivers of this unfortunate decision to close the Louisville particleboard plant,” explained Vice President of Composite Manufacturing Grady Mulbery.

In an effort to more closely align its asset base with both existing market conditions and anticipated future demand, Roseburg has made a series of strategic moves that include acquisition of a continuous line in Simsboro, La., and the closures of manufacturing facilities. These moves allow Roseburg to enhance its leadership position in the industry by having the full range of particleboard and thermally-fused melamine products available to our customers. In addition, we will be able to seamlessly transition our existing Louisville business to our other facilities located in the same region.

Vice President of Sales and Marketing Steve Killgore added, “The business environment and operating parameters that we have been accustomed to have fundamentally changed. In order to ensure that Roseburg will be in a position to competitively meet the long-term needs of our customers we have had to make some very difficult decisions. We believe the strategic moves we are making will enable us to earn and maintain a „preferred supplier‟ status with our valuable customers in the years to come.”

Source: Roseburg