BOISE, Idaho - One of the largest producers of plywood and engineered wood products in North America is shutting down its laminated veneer lumber (LVL) production at its facility in Roxboro, North Carolina.

 

Boise Cascade gave a 60-day notice of the shutdown, which will lay off 56 employees.

 

"Unfortunately, despite great effort by the team, we have been unable to reduce manufacturing costs to an acceptable level," said Boise Cascade CEO Tom Corrick. "We understand the effect this shutdown has on our employees, their families, and the community. We will work to place employees or make them aware of job opportunities at our other facilities, as well as share available employee assistance resources."

 

"We expect no impact on our customers from this curtailment as we have additional capacity at our Alexandria, LA, and Thorsby, AL, engineered wood facilities that allow us to maintain our current service level and also support future growth," said Mike Brown, Senior Vice President, Wood Products Operations.

 

The facility will continue to produce I-joists.

 

Boise has been in the news quite a bit over the last few months. Authorities and OSHA are currently investigating an employee's death in an accident that occurred last week at one of the company's Louisiana plants.

 

The company sold its lumbermill in Pilot Rock and La Grande, Oregon and its particleboard operations in Island City to Woodgrain Millwork in September. Idaho-based Woodgrain operates in 18 facilities around the U.S., manufacturing wooden doors, mouldings, and windows. In October, Boise acquired Ohio's Arling Lumber.