Weyerhaeuser adds capacity at Arcadia, Louisiana, OSB plant to manufacture specialty OSB products using high-performance MDI adhesives; mill can now produce Edge Gold floor panels

Allison Oesterle

ARCADIA, Louisiana , November 6, 2012 (press release) – Addition of MDI resin processing enables specialty OSB products, including Edge Gold™ flooring panels

Forest products company Weyerhaeuser has added the capability to manufacture specialty oriented strand board (OSB) using high-performance MDI adhesives at its OSB plant in Arcadia, Louisiana. The mill can now produce Weyerhaeuser Edge Gold™ floor panels, a subfloor product designed to resist edge swell for smooth, even floors. The MDI capabilities also enable potential production of furniture grade OSB and rimboard. www.woodbywy.com

"Converting to MDI allows Arcadia to produce higher quality OSB and gives us the ability to respond to customer needs by providing a wider variety of products not previously available close to southern U.S. markets," said Curtis Rhodes, Arcadia plant manager for Weyerhaeuser. "Plus, the curing properties of MDI allow the press to run faster, which increases our throughput."

Mit Scott, Dallas-based OSB sales representative for Weyerhaeuser adds, "We're excited to have Edge Gold panels available now to serve our Arcadia customers without having to rail them in from another mill. This is a very timely addition to our product line, too, as housing starts are improving and more homebuilders are looking for enhanced flooring to eliminate their need to sand their subfloors."

Weyerhaeuser Edge Gold floor panels are engineered for consistency to help builders construct flat and stable floors in homes, multi-family projects and light commercial construction. In 2012, Weyerhaeuser also started adding patented Down Pore™ self-draining technology to the panels to drain water off during construction, which helps eliminate potential panel damage from moisture and reduces delays in construction. Weyerhaeuser provides a 200-day no-sand guarantee and a limited 50-year structural warranty against panel delamination on Edge Gold flooring.

MDI (Methylene Diphenyl di-Isocyanate) resin provides a high-strength bond for wood fibers and improved moisture resistance to help eliminate edge swell in OSB panels. The resin contains no added formaldehyde.

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About Weyerhaeuser

Weyerhaeuser, one of the world's largest forest products companies, began operations in 1900. Our wood products business offers leading structural frame materials, software and technical support for residential, multi-family, and light commercial under the Weyerhaeuser and Trus Joist® brand names, and is one of the largest building products distributors in the U.S., offering products from more than 300 suppliers. We manage our timberlands on a sustainable basis in compliance with internationally recognized forestry standards, and all of the structural wood products we make are SFI® certified. At the end of 2011, the entire company employed approximately 12,800 employees in 11 countries and generated $6.2 billion in sales. www.woodbywy.com.

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