Boise Cascade lumber shuts down Oregon operation
boise-cascade-lumber.jpg
ELGIN, Ore. - Idaho-based lumber producer Boise Cascade has announced it will shut down its lumber operation in Elgin, Oregon. Over 500 employees are employed at the mill and in the surrounding region.
 
“Boise Cascade has operated the Elgin lumber mill since 1960. This portion of the Elgin complex is not cost competitive in the marketplace given its age, size, and technology,” stated John White, regional manager. “Even with significant new capital investments, it is not clear the lumber mill can be positioned to be cost competitive. We have announced an indefinite curtailment as we assess the future of the Elgin lumber operation.”
 
The operation will close 60 days from now. The 60-day notice includes the sawmill, planer and shipping department. The powerhouse and log utilization center will remain operational.
 
A phased shutdown approach will be deployed, starting first with the sawmill, followed by the planer, concluding with the shipping department once existing inventory has been exhausted.
 
Boise Cascade continues to employ more than 500 people at the Elgin Plywood Mill and its facilities in nearby La Grande, Island City, and Pilot Rock.
 
Boise Cascade is one of the largest producers of engineered wood products and plywood in North America and a leading U.S. wholesale distributor of building products.

Have something to say? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.

Profile picture for user rdalheim
About the author
Robert Dalheim

Robert Dalheim is an editor at the Woodworking Network. Along with publishing online news articles, he writes feature stories for the FDMC print publication. He can be reached at [email protected].