News in mill capacity changes

Blue Wolf Capital Partners LLC, a New York based private equity firm, announced today (2-8-21) that it has made an investment in Vicksburg Forest Products, LLC (VFP) a manufacturer of Southern Yellow Pine lumber products at their sawmill facility in Vicksburg, Mississippi.

Resolute Forest Products announced on Thursday (2-4-21) that they are going to reopen the Ignace sawmill, starting with one shift next week, and that is going to increase the on-site employment to about 25 people. Seth Kursman, Resolute spokesperson added they idled the sawmill in 2019 but kept a skeleton staff on hand, spending about $125,000 a month to maintain the mill.

When Itasca Capital purchased the Kenora Sawmill back in October of 2020, the company made it clear that before they could reopen the facility, they needed a steady and reliable source of logs. The Province of Ontario continues to work with the company on finding a source of wood, with the potential for the First Nations in the area as partners in the project.

Milan Lumber Company, LLC, located in Milan, New Hampshire, has announced a $10 – $12 million dollar modernization plan that will make the plant safer, more efficient and hopefully more profitable. The company plans on commencing work in April, and that work will include the revamping of the planning mill and getting an additional drying kiln in operation by the fall.

Biewer Lumber Company, with corporate headquarters in St. Clair Michigan, has announced they are in the process of developing and building a new state-of-the-art sawmill to be located in Winona Mississippi. The new sawmill is expected to be completed and operational by January 2022.

Resolute Forest Products has announced that it plans to restart sawmill operations at their Ignace Ontario sawmill on February 8th, 2021. The plant was closed two years ago due to poor market conditions. However, in anticipation of improved market conditions, Resolute has kept a handful of employees working at the facility keeping it maintained and ready to restart.

Good Earth Power AZ and its operating entity, NewLife Forest Products, one of Arizona’s leading forest products company, has acquired the former Essity AB., tissue production plant in Bellemont Arizona.