Boise Cascade adds sawmill in Washington to its Inland Region group

Boise Cascade Wood Products announced yesterday it has closed the deal on the Stimson Lumber Company sawmill in Arden, Wash.

The mill becomes a part of Boise Cascade's Inland Region, which includes mills in La Grande, Island City, Elgin and Pilot Rock in northeast Oregon, and also in Kettle Falls, Wash.

Inland Region Manager Tom Insko said the Arden mill fits well in the region's operations because it is ideally located and well equipped.

"Given that the mill is geographically located near our Kettle Falls operations and is a well-designed, highly efficient facility, it's a nice complement to our lumber business," Insko said.

Insko said Boise will initially operate the Arden sawmill on a single shift, and that its production will integrate well with Kettle Falls lumber output.

"But in the longer term, the Arden mill offers us the flexibility to expand production as markets improve," he added.

Boise Cascade said it initially plans to complete the processing of Stimson's cedar logs through the facility for about four weeks, and will then change over to its own pine production. Insko said Boise has hired the majority of the 52 employees that previously worked at the Arden mill.

"We are pleased to have the experienced team with a history of industry-leading safety performance joining our organization," he said.

Portland-based Stimson Lumber is a forest products and natural resources company operating in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana.

In September 2011, Stimson announced plans to lay off 67 employees at the Arden mill in November and eventually close the facility. In December, Boise announced that it was planning to buy the mill, though the transaction was contingent on results of the due diligence process.

Insko said at the time that the combination of the Kettle Falls and Arden mills would increase efficiencies and enhance Inland Region product mix capabilities.

Boise Cascade, headquartered in Boise, Idaho, manufactures engineered wood products, plywood, lumber and particleboard and distributes a broad line of building materials.

With a sawmill in La Grande, a particleboard plant near Island City and a plywood plant and stud mill in Elgin, the company is one of Union County's largest private sector employers.

Boise Cascade Wood Products is a subsidiary of Boise Cascade LLC.