ATLANTA - Arauco announced it has signed an agreement to acquire Prime-Line Inc., a privately-held manufacturer of MDF moulding and millwork products. The global wood panel and products producer said the acquisition strengthens Arauco’s presence in the North American moulding industry with an integrated solution that enhances its ability to provide customers with value-added products.

Details of the transaction, expected to be completed Sept. 3, were not provided. The business will continue to operate under the Prime-Line name, and Arauco said it will work alongside Prime-Line’s team to facilitate a smooth transition for customers and employees at the Arkansas facility.

Prime-Line started in Malvern, Arkansas, in 1996. In 2014, the company expanded with a new, state-of-the-art plant on a site adjacent to Arauco’s MDF plant in Malvern. The 100,000-square-foot facility includes three fully automated moulding lines with an installed annual capacity of 135,000 m3. Arauco has been a long-time partner of Prime-Line and has been its primary supplier of MDF panel for many years.

Prime-Line's facility includes three fully automated moulding lines

“We are excited to have Prime-Line join the Arauco team,” said Pablo Franzini, president of Arauco North America. “This acquisition further executes on our commitment to create higher value for our customers through product diversification, expanded services and supply chain efficiencies. We are confident this will make us a better supplier to our North American partners and help them grow their business.”

“We are truly excited to become part of Arauco,” said Brian Feeney, president and CEO of Prime-Line Inc. “Arauco has been a great partner for many years, and we look forward to the future opportunities this creates for our customers, our employees and our community.”

“The shared vision for superior customer service and the proximity of Prime-Line to our Malvern MDF operations create many synergies between our two companies,” said Russ Jordan,  vice president of Sales & Marketing for Arauco North America. “This new capability complements our South American millwork operations and allows us to expand our service model to customers across North America.”

Arauco also opened a $450 million particleboard and TFL operation earlier this year.

Arauco is a global manufacturer of composite panels, premium plywood, millwork, lumber and wood pulp. The company operates 11 mills across the United States and Canada, and imports Arauco produced moulding, plywood, lumber, composite panels, and wood pulp.

Arauco has been in the news recently, including the recent announcement that it will end particleboard production at its St. Stephen, New Brunswick facility, which also produces MDF panels. Earlier this year, Arauco made headlines when it opened a $450 million particleboard operation in Grayling, Michigan, featuring North America’s largest-capacity, continuous single-line particleboard press, two thermally fused laminate (TFL) lines and a large stocking warehouse for just-in-time delivery. In February, Arauco also closed on a deal to purchase two Masisa mills in Mexico.