Coastal Lumber Ceases Operations
Charlottesville, Va. based Coastal Lumber Co., long a major hardwood lumber producer, closed operations in mid-August. The company laid off 200 employees and shut down five sawmills in West Virginia, nearly 70 employees and the sawmill in Weldon, NC, nearly 70 employees and the sawmill in Hopwood, Pa., as well as six executive positions in Virginia and 30 companywide in sales, accounting, clerical and transportation.
On its web site, Coastal Lumber, which was founded in 1937, stated it produces more than 90MMBF feet of hardwood lumber each year and operates more than 25 dry kilns with 1.5MMBF board feet of kiln capacity, while also producing more than 70MMBF of green and air-dried lumber, and industrial grade hardwoods for use in the pallet and railroad tie industries.
In a statement to customers and suppliers, President, CEO and owner Victor Barringer, grandson of the company founder, blamed the “prolonged downturn” in the economy and the company’s inability to obtain reorganization financing for a plan to keep it afloat. Barringer said he was asked to make certain concessions that he was not willing to make as part of a new financing plan, but that he is still hopeful the company can find alternative financing in the future.
Latest News
Industry Says Goodbye To Walter Jarck
Walter Jarck, whose career in the forest products industry spanned 65 years and ranged from logging machinery to engineered wood products, died January 3, surrounded by his children, in North Wilkesboro, NC. He was 92.
Carbotech Acquires Sawquip
Carbotech Group has acquired Sawquip, a manufacturing company specializing in the design and manufacture of sawmill equipment for the primary and secondary breakdown of logs into lumber. This acquisition allows Carbotech Group to add on a new field of expertise, providing customers with innovative new solutions for lumber production. Sawquip’s innovative products include log turners and optimized log infeeds, chipping canters, twin and quad circular saw modules, as well as optimized gangs for controlled shape sawing, among others.
Oregon Truckers File Suit Against State
Rob Freres, president of Oregon-based Freres Engineered Wood, a manufacturer of lumber, veneer, plywood and mass timber, has thrown in his support for a lawsuit filed by the Oregon Trucking Assn. and three Oregon-based trucking companies against the state of Oregon for overcharging truckers under the weight-mile tax.
Find Us On Social
Newsletter
The monthly Timber Processing Industry Newsletter reaches over 4,000 mill owners and supervisors.
Subscribe/Renew
Timber Processing is delivered 10 times per year to subscribers who represent sawmill ownership, management and supervisory personnel and corporate executives. Subscriptions are FREE to qualified individuals.
Advertise
Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative.