Oregon Plywood Mill Expected To Close

Lane Plywood has told its 200 workers it will shut down permanently on Nov. 19 unless sales improve.

The announcement comes 15 months after a local investment group, Pioneer Resources L.L.C., bought the mill, its timberlands and the 120-acre mill site for $10 million.

Pioneer has invested more than $300,000 in new equipment to keep the mill running.

Poor sales and consistent operating losses led to the closure, a management committee made up of Pioneer’s five owners decided.

“The plywood market hasn’t been that strong and we’ve had a string of losses that lead us to believe we won’t be able to turn the corner,” said owner Ed King.