Canfor to Invest $130 Million to “Significantly Upgrade and Expand” Its Urbana, Arkansas Facility

Canfor Corporation announced on Thursday (4-21-22) that it will invest approximately $130 million to “significantly upgrade and expand” its sawmill and planer facility located in Urbana, Union County, Arkansas.

The upgrades include major improvements to the planer, sawmill, and log yard. They are expected to commence in the third quarter of 2022 and will take approximately 18 months to complete. The facility will continue to operate while the modernization project is underway.

According to Canfor, the investment will capitalize on high-quality fiber to enhance the manufacturing of high-value products, increase annual production at the facility by 115 million board feet, and result in a meaningful reduction in the facility’s cost structure. The investment aligns with Canfor’s growth and diversification strategy to keep pace with growing customer demand, the company said.

Commenting on the investment, Canfor’s President and CEO, Don Kayne, said, “We are excited to be investing in our Urbana facility with state-of-the-art technology to modernize the work environment for our valued employees and significantly increase our ability to produce sustainable wood products that will meet the growing needs of our customers.”

“With more than 19 million acres of forestland and a ready-made labor force, timber plays an important role in the Arkansas economy,” Arkansas’ governor, Asa Hutchinson, added. “It is only natural that Canfor chose to expand their operations in Urbana and invest in the workforce and the community.”