Columbia Forest Products
Encyclopedia
Columbia Forest Products is the largest manufacturer of hardwood
veneer
and hardwood plywood
in the United States
. Founded in 1957, it is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina
. It specializes in decorative, interior veneers and plywood panels that are used in high-end cabinetry, fine furniture, architectural millwork and commercial fixtures. The company distributes its products primarily through a network of wholesale
distributors, mass merchandisers and OEM
s. Since 1976, the company has been completely employee-owned and currently has 10 manufacturing facilities throughout the U.S. and Canada
. At the end of 2006, Columbia converted all of its standard hardwood plywood production to produce formaldehyde
-free panels called PureBond. In 2007 Columbia added PureBond formaldehyde-free particleboard to its product range.
as Klamath Hardwoods, establishing its first hardwood veneer plant with 43 employees. In 1963, it was acquired by Columbia Plywood Corp. In 1966, it acquired additional facilities in Presque Isle, Maine
and Newport, Vermont
. The company was restructured by an employee buy-out in 1976, acquiring its current name. In 1982, it built a manufacturing facility in Old Fort, North Carolina
. In 1986, it acquired two additional plants in Chatham, Virginia
and Trumann, Arkansas
. In 1989, it acquired the Laminated Products Division in Thomasville, North Carolina
, as well as a hardwood veneer face manufacturing mill in Rutherglen, Ontario. In 1991, it acquired a half-round slicing operation in New Freedom, Pennsylvania
. In March 1996, it acquired two hardwood plywood plants in Danville, Virginia
and DeQueen, Arkansas. In August 1996, it acquired two plants in Hearst, Ontario
(Plywood, PBC & Melamines) and St-Casimir, Quebec
. In December 1996, the Laminated Products Division became Columbia Flooring. In January 1997, it acquired an additional hardwood plywood plant in Cuthbert, Georgia
. In June 2007 Mohawk Industries, Inc. (MHK) signed a deal with Columbia Forest Products to acquire two pre-finished solid plants and one engineered wood plant in the U.S. and an engineered wood plant in Malaysia.
Columbia Forest Products relocated its headquarters at the end of 2007 to Greensboro, North Carolina
from Portland, Oregon
.
Hardwood
Hardwood is wood from angiosperm trees . It may also be used for those trees themselves: these are usually broad-leaved; in temperate and boreal latitudes they are mostly deciduous, but in tropics and subtropics mostly evergreen.Hardwood contrasts with softwood...
veneer
Wood veneer
In woodworking, veneer refers to thin slices of wood, usually thinner than 3 mm , that are typically glued onto core panels to produce flat panels such as doors, tops and panels for cabinets, parquet floors and parts of furniture. They are also used in marquetry...
and hardwood plywood
Plywood
Plywood is a type of manufactured timber made from thin sheets of wood veneer. It is one of the most widely used wood products. It is flexible, inexpensive, workable, re-usable, and can usually be locally manufactured...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Founded in 1957, it is headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
. It specializes in decorative, interior veneers and plywood panels that are used in high-end cabinetry, fine furniture, architectural millwork and commercial fixtures. The company distributes its products primarily through a network of wholesale
Wholesale
Wholesaling, jobbing, or distributing is defined as the sale of goods or merchandise to retailers, to industrial, commercial, institutional, or other professional business users, or to other wholesalers and related subordinated services...
distributors, mass merchandisers and OEM
Original Equipment Manufacturer
An original equipment manufacturer, or OEM, manufactures products or components that are purchased by a company and retailed under that purchasing company's brand name. OEM refers to the company that originally manufactured the product. When referring to automotive parts, OEM designates a...
s. Since 1976, the company has been completely employee-owned and currently has 10 manufacturing facilities throughout the U.S. and Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. At the end of 2006, Columbia converted all of its standard hardwood plywood production to produce formaldehyde
Formaldehyde
Formaldehyde is an organic compound with the formula CH2O. It is the simplest aldehyde, hence its systematic name methanal.Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a characteristic pungent odor. It is an important precursor to many other chemical compounds, especially for polymers...
-free panels called PureBond. In 2007 Columbia added PureBond formaldehyde-free particleboard to its product range.
History
The company began in 1957 in Klamath Falls, OregonKlamath Falls, Oregon
Klamath Falls is a city in Klamath County, Oregon, United States. Originally called Linkville when George Nurse founded the town in 1867, after the Link River on whose falls this city sat, although no falls currently exist; the name was changed to Klamath Falls in 1892...
as Klamath Hardwoods, establishing its first hardwood veneer plant with 43 employees. In 1963, it was acquired by Columbia Plywood Corp. In 1966, it acquired additional facilities in Presque Isle, Maine
Presque Isle, Maine
Presque Isle is the commercial center and largest city in the sparsely populated Aroostook County, Maine, United States. The population was 9,692 at the 2010 census...
and Newport, Vermont
Newport (city), Vermont
Newport is a city in and the shire town of Orleans County, Vermont, United States. As of the 2000 census, the city population was 5,005. The city contains the largest population of any government in the county, yet encompasses the smallest area....
. The company was restructured by an employee buy-out in 1976, acquiring its current name. In 1982, it built a manufacturing facility in Old Fort, North Carolina
Old Fort, North Carolina
Old Fort is a town in McDowell County, North Carolina, United States. The population was 959 at the 2008 estimated census. The town is well known for its weekly Mountain Music concerts, attracting large audiences and many musicians from the surrounding areas to Old Fort's downtown each Friday at...
. In 1986, it acquired two additional plants in Chatham, Virginia
Chatham, Virginia
Chatham is a town in Pittsylvania County, Virginia, United States. Chatham's population was 1,338 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Danville, Virginia Metropolitan Statistical Area. Chatham is home to Chatham High School and Hargrave Military Academy. It is also home to Chatham Hall , an...
and Trumann, Arkansas
Trumann, Arkansas
Trumann is a city in Poinsett County, Arkansas, United States. The population was 6,889 at the 2000 census. It is included in the Jonesboro, Arkansas Metropolitan Statistical Area.-Geography:Trumann is located at ....
. In 1989, it acquired the Laminated Products Division in Thomasville, North Carolina
Thomasville, North Carolina
Thomasville is a city in Davidson County in the U.S. state of North Carolina. The population was 21,354 at the 2010 census. The city is notable for its furniture industry as are its neighbors of High Point and Lexington. This Piedmont Triad community was established in 1852 and hosts the state's...
, as well as a hardwood veneer face manufacturing mill in Rutherglen, Ontario. In 1991, it acquired a half-round slicing operation in New Freedom, Pennsylvania
New Freedom, Pennsylvania
New Freedom is a borough in York County, Pennsylvania. As of the 2010 census, the borough had a population of 4,464.-Geography:New Freedom is located at ....
. In March 1996, it acquired two hardwood plywood plants in Danville, Virginia
Danville, Virginia
Danville is an independent city in Virginia, United States, bounded by Pittsylvania County, Virginia and Caswell County, North Carolina. It was the last capital of the Confederate States of America. The Bureau of Economic Analysis combines the city of Danville with Pittsylvania county for...
and DeQueen, Arkansas. In August 1996, it acquired two plants in Hearst, Ontario
Hearst, Ontario
Hearst is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario. It is located in Northern Ontario, approximately west of Kapuskasing, approximately north of Toronto and east of Thunder Bay on Highway 11...
(Plywood, PBC & Melamines) and St-Casimir, Quebec
Saint-Casimir, Quebec
Saint-Casimir is a small village of about 1800 people in the Portneuf Regional County Municipality in the province of Quebec, Canada. It is located on the Sainte-Anne River, about southwest of Quebec City and northeast of Trois-Rivières....
. In December 1996, the Laminated Products Division became Columbia Flooring. In January 1997, it acquired an additional hardwood plywood plant in Cuthbert, Georgia
Cuthbert, Georgia
Cuthbert is a city in, and the county seat of, Randolph County, Georgia, United States. The population was 3,731 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Cuthbert is located at 31º46'15" North, 84º47'37" West ....
. In June 2007 Mohawk Industries, Inc. (MHK) signed a deal with Columbia Forest Products to acquire two pre-finished solid plants and one engineered wood plant in the U.S. and an engineered wood plant in Malaysia.
Columbia Forest Products relocated its headquarters at the end of 2007 to Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
from Portland, Oregon
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
.
External links
- Columbia Forest Products (official website)