Virginia OSB Plant Eyes Expansion

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Researched by Industrialinfo.com (Industrial Information Resources, Incorporated; Houston, Texas). Huber Engineered Woods, a unit of family-owned J.M. Huber Corporation (Edison, New Jersey), is in the early study phase of a possible expansion of an oriented strand board (OSB) plant in Crystal Hill, Virginia. Over the next two years, the company may invest approximately $40 million at the mill that could increase the plant's output from 550 million square feet a year to 600 million square feet a year.

Most of the improvements will take place in the green end of the mill, while the heart of the plant, a 14-opening press, will see minor modifications. In addition to increasing the plants output, the company plans to incorporate two regenerative or recuperative thermal oxidation units to maintain environmental compliance standards.

On initial startup in 1995, the plant's design capacity was 340 million square feet a year. Over the years, minor upgrades pushed production to 450 million square feet a year, and to its current level of 550 million square feet a year. More than 90% of the plant's output goes to the wood flooring market, while the remaining 10% are used for sheathing products.

After extensive research, Industrialinfo.com in July of 2002, reported on Huber Engineered Woods plans to construct a $130 million grassroot oriented strand board (OSB) plant in Oklahoma. This past April, the new plant in Broken Bow produced its first board.

J.M. Huber Corporation is one of the largest family-owned companies in the U.S. It is a diversified, multinational supplier of engineered materials, natural resources and technology-based services to markets ranging from paper and energy to plastics and construction. Huber Engineered Woods is a producer of oriented strand board products for both construction and industrial markets. It manufactures engineered panels and wood products for the construction market that are used in applications such as floors, walls and roofs. Huber Engineered Woods also serves industrial markets with products for engineered lumber, furniture and packaging applications.

Plant 1018544 1058840
PEC 27001524 08000933