Arauco, a global leader in sustainable forest products, is expanding its existing particleboard operations in Marlboro County.
The $30 million investment is expected to result in expanded capacity for the company’s Bennettsville, S.C. facility.
Established in 1967 as Industrias de celulosa Arauco S.A. in Chile, Arauco has grown tremendously since its inception.
The company began operating its first wood pulp mill in January 1972, and today serves clients in more than 75 countries worldwide. With five main business areas – forestry, wood pulp, sawn timber, panels and energy – Arauco is committed to sustainable resource management and employs certified production processes ensuring minimal environmental impacts.
Expansion of the company’s Marlboro County facility, located at 582 Willamette Road, Highway 912 in Bennettsville, S.C., will allow the plant to grow the capacity of its particleboard and thermally-fused laminate (TFL / melamine) operations. The particleboard expansion will increase by 60 million square-feet annually; to expand TFL production, Arauco is investing in a next generation fast-cycle press. These investments will allow the company to meet the growing demand for particleboard and broaden its TFL design offering in the region.
The TFL and particleboard expansions are expected to start-up in the fourth quarter of 2015, and first quarter of 2016 respectively.
For more information on Arauco, visit www.arauco-na.com.