DILLARD, OR -- Roseburg Forest Products (RFP) has entered into an agreement to purchase Flakeboard's Simsboro, LA, particleboard manufacturing and laminating facility.

Announcement of the acquisition came less than one month after RFP laid off more than 200 workers at three oF its wood products manufacturing plants in Oregon, according to kcby. The layoffs included up to 140 people at RFP's Riddle plywood mill and up to 50 people at its Dillard particleboard mill.

Allyn Ford, CEO and president of RFP, said, “This acquisition demonstrates our continued commitment to the composite industry and the customers we serve. Through our purchase of the plant in Simsboro, Roseburg will own one of the most modern continuous presses in the United States. This unique opportunity will fill a gap in our product line, allowing us to better meet the current and emerging needs of our composite customers.”

"Roseburg is a long-term and respected member of the composite panel business and we believe this transaction will be good for the mill, the employees, and the customers that rely on laminated particleboard (LPB)," said Flakeboard President Kelly Shotbolt. "This transaction will allow Flakeboard to better focus our resources and align our assets with the long term strategic goals of the company.

When the transaction is completed, RFP will own and operate 10 particleboard mills in the southeast and northwest. Six of them were purchased in 2006 from Georgia-Pacific Corp.

Flakeboard of Markham, ON, purchased the Simsboro particleboard mill from Weyerhaeuser along with five other particleboard and MDF plants in June 2006. Weyerhaueser had purchased the mills from Willamette Industries in 2002. Three years earlier, Weyerhaeuser had temporarily exited the particleboard/MDF making business when it sold its assets to SierraPine.

Among plant upgrades, Flakeboard added a 5x20 fast-cycle melamine press in multi-length dimensions of four and five foot widths in early 2008.