Roseburg Forest Products has restarted construction on its planned Dillard MDF facility, a major manufacturing project in southern Oregon that will produce medium-density fiberboard products for North American markets.
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The project had been temporarily paused in early 2025 as the company evaluated economic conditions and regulatory uncertainty. With market stability improving, the company announced it is moving forward with development of the advanced manufacturing facility.
Once operational, the plant is expected to become one of the company’s key production hubs for composite wood panels used in construction, cabinetry and flooring applications.
The new facility, known as Dillard MDF, will incorporate modern manufacturing equipment designed to improve efficiency and reduce production costs.
Central to the plant’s operations will be a next-generation continuous press system supplied by Siempelkamp. The technology will enable the plant to convert wood residuals and by-products into high-value engineered panels.
The facility will manufacture both medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and high-density fiberboard (HDF) products used across a range of industries, including residential construction, furniture manufacturing and interior building materials.
“We are very pleased to announce the restart of our Dillard MDF project,” says Stuart Gray, president and CEO of Roseburg Forest Products. “Dillard MDF plays a key role in our future. The plant will be one of the lowest cost producers in the world, which significantly enhances Roseburg’s long-term competitive position in composite panels in the West specifically and North America in general.”
Industry analysts note that demand for engineered wood products continues to grow as builders and manufacturers seek durable and cost-effective materials for residential and commercial projects.
Roseburg originally paused construction on the project in early 2025, citing concerns about economic volatility, shifting market demand and potential policy changes within the state.
At the time, uncertainty around regulations and broader economic conditions prompted the company to reassess the timing of the investment.
According to company leadership, strategic adjustments made during the past year helped stabilize operations and allowed the project to move forward again.
“During 2025, we took a number of strategic steps to strengthen our overall business performance in uncertain times and downcycle market conditions,” Gray says. “These moves coupled with improving stability in state policy confirmed our long-term outlook for this project. We are confident in Dillard MDF as a strategic investment and look forward to continued state and local support to ensure the viability of this level of investment in Oregon.”
The Dillard MDF plant is expected to deliver significant economic benefits to the region once completed.
Roseburg plans to employ more than 140 workers at the facility when operations begin, creating new manufacturing jobs in southern Oregon. In addition to direct employment, the project could also generate additional opportunities across the regional supply chain, including forestry operations, transportation and equipment maintenance services.
Local officials have previously highlighted the potential economic impact of the project, noting that advanced manufacturing investments help support rural economies and expand long-term employment opportunities.
For Roseburg Forest Products, the Dillard MDF facility represents a long-term investment aimed at strengthening the company’s position in the competitive composite wood products industry.
By producing both MDF and HDF panels, the plant will supply materials used in cabinets, flooring systems, furniture components and interior construction products.
The company expects the facility to enhance its manufacturing footprint across the western United States while improving access to markets throughout North America.
Construction activity has now resumed, with the project scheduled to move forward in phases over the coming years. If development continues as planned, the Dillard MDF plant is expected to begin operations in late 2028, adding a major new production asset to Roseburg’s manufacturing network.
Originally reported by Annie Dameworth in Hardware Retailing.
