Weyerhaeuser Restructuring Plan Calls For High-Tech Mill

March 7, 2007

New location situated closer to transportation links.

Weyerhaeuser Co. is scheduled to open a modernized sawmill at an existing operation in Longview, Wash., by mid-2008 as part of a restructuring plan that also will result in a facility closing and the elimination of 130 jobs.

The new facility will employ about 230 people who will produce lumber for the West Coast and Northeast residential homebuilding markets. Once the new mill begins operations, the company will close its Green Mountain mill in Toutle, Wash.

The new mill is "going to be a highly automated site that will allow us to use more technology to cut lumber," says Shawn Watson, business relations manager.

Weyerhaeuser will build a new mill near this Longview, Wash., site.The company chose the Longview site partly because of its strategic location. "It has good rail and transportation links, good proximity to customers, will be easy to construct and will provide room for future growth," says Rob Taylor, vice president of Weyerhaeuser's iLevel brand of lumber technologies.

See Also

About the Author

Jonathan Katz | Former Managing Editor

Former Managing Editor Jon Katz covered leadership and strategy, tackling subjects such as lean manufacturing leadership, strategy development and deployment, corporate culture, corporate social responsibility, and growth strategies. As well, he provided news and analysis of successful companies in the chemical and energy industries, including oil and gas, renewable and alternative.

Jon worked as an intern for IndustryWeek before serving as a reporter for The Morning Journal and then as an associate editor for Penton Media’s Supply Chain Technology News.

Jon received his bachelor’s degree in Journalism from Kent State University and is a die-hard Cleveland sports fan.