28 February 2023

ARAUCO_CHILE, A LEGACY OF CONTINUAL PROGRESS...

In 1960, two families - the Greten and Baehre families from Germany - pooled their entrepreneurial talents to try out a new wood panel manufacturing process. The shareholder group increased in 1966 to include the Shotbolt family, resulting in the Flakeboard Company Limited of today, which for over four decades now has been defining the industry of composite wood panels. The history of our major accomplishments is testimony to our philosophy of innovation and growth: • Introduced the first melamine surfacing operation in Canada in 1969.

ARAUCO, A LEGACY OF CONTINUAL PROGRESS... In 1960, two families - the Greten and Baehre families from Germany - pooled their entrepreneurial talents to try out a new wood panel manufacturing process. The shareholder group increased in 1966 to include the Shotbolt family, resulting in the Flakeboard Company Limited of today, which for over four decades now has been defining the industry of composite wood panels.
The history of our major accomplishments is testimony to our philosophy of innovation and growth:
• Introduced the first melamine surfacing operation in Canada in 1969.
• In 1972 Flakeboard unveiled the first continuous Mende thin board line in North America.
• In 1985, we became the first producer of particleboard, utilizing continuous technology, in North America.
• In April 1996, the first panel rolled off the world's largest continuous MDF press at G-P Flakeboard in Sault Ste. Marie, our second joint venture with Georgia-Pacific Corporation.
• In August of 2005, we acquired the Georgia-Pacific interest in the joint venture MDF mill in Sault Ste. Marie, making it a fully owned Flakeboard plant.
• On September 22, 2006, the company announced a $16.5 million investment in the Sault Ste. Marie backed by a 10% grant from the Ontario government. The investment consisted of an energy recovery system, plant capability modifications and the installation of patented resin application technology.
• In the spring of 2007, Flakeboard announces that the company will purchase three state-of-the-art Siempelkamp melamine presses to be installed in Simsboro, LA; Albany, OR and Bennettsville, SC plants. The presses were phased into the locations over a 12 month period.
• The company celebrated 50 years in business in 2010, and launched its first ever Sustainability Report. • In February 2011, significant investment initiatives at the Malvern site bring improved quality, consistency, and the ability to supply products into more demanding markets and applications.
• The Simsboro, Louisiana plant was sold to Roseburg Forest Products in June 2011 in order to allow Flakeboard to better focus resources and long-term strategic goals. • 2012 Arauco purchase of all Flakeboard shares.
The purchase agreement combines Flakeboard’s seven North American operating facilities with that of Arauco’s recently acquired Particleboard and MDF plant in Moncure, North Carolina. The eight North American assets will operate under the Flakeboard name and Management.
For more information:

ARAUCO Forestal SA
150 El Golf Avenue
Las Condes / Santiago / Chile
Ph. +56 224 461720 Fax +56 226 985967
E-mail: info@arauco.cl