Roseburg Forest Products has resumed construction work on its medium-density fiberboard (MDF) manufacturing facility in Dillard, Oregon, reviving a major investment project that had been paused amid economic uncertainty.
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The facility is a central component of the company’s long-term growth strategy and is expected to strengthen its presence in the engineered wood products market. Construction activities were previously halted in early 2025 as the company assessed broader market conditions, but work has now restarted as economic outlooks stabilize.
Once completed, the plant will produce both medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and high-density fiberboard (HDF) panels used in a variety of applications including construction materials, cabinetry manufacturing and flooring production.
The new plant will feature a next-generation continuous press supplied by Siempelkamp, designed to manufacture engineered wood panels with thicknesses ranging from 2 millimeters to 28 millimeters.
This advanced system will allow the facility to produce a broad range of panel products while improving efficiency and production consistency. The press technology will be installed at the same location where the company installed its first Siempelkamp press more than 50 years ago, highlighting the long-standing partnership between the two companies.
According to company leadership, the project is expected to significantly enhance the manufacturer’s cost competitiveness in global wood panel markets.
"The plant will be one of the lowest cost producers in the world, which significantly enhances Roseburg's long-term competitive position," said Stuart Gray, president and CEO of Roseburg Forest Products.
The new MDF facility will operate as part of Roseburg’s existing industrial complex in Dillard, allowing the company to leverage local resources and established infrastructure.
Wood residuals generated from regional forestry and milling operations will be converted into engineered wood panels, maximizing the use of raw materials that might otherwise go unused. The plant will also integrate biomass energy systems already operating at the Dillard site, improving energy efficiency and sustainability.
By combining wood fiber supply, manufacturing infrastructure and renewable biomass energy, the company aims to create a highly efficient production system that supports both environmental and economic objectives.
Operations at the facility are expected to begin in late 2028. Once fully operational, the plant will employ more than 140 workers, providing a significant economic boost to the surrounding region in Oregon.
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The restart of construction reflects renewed confidence in the long-term demand for engineered wood products. MDF and HDF panels remain widely used across multiple industries, particularly in furniture manufacturing, interior construction and cabinetry.
Demand for these materials has grown alongside housing construction and home renovation activity, while manufacturers are also exploring new applications for engineered wood panels in modular construction and sustainable building systems.
Roseburg Forest Products has been expanding its production capacity in recent years as part of a broader strategy to strengthen its position in North American wood products markets. The Dillard MDF facility represents one of the company’s most significant manufacturing investments and is expected to support growing demand across the construction and building materials sectors.
With construction now back underway, the project is moving toward its anticipated completion later this decade, positioning Roseburg to increase production capacity and improve supply capabilities for customers across the United States.
Oriiginally reported by Lesprom.
