Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Part of $15.5 Million Expansion Which Started In 1995

Groundbreaking ceremonies were held in frigid temperatures Wednesday, Jan. 31, to help kick off construction of Potlatch's new dry end modernization.

This is part of the company's$15.5 million expansion of the unit which began in May 1995.

Plant manager Brad Fountain said they are excited about the project and have been working on it for three years.

"This will move us to where we can compete with anyone in the business," he said. "This project was developed from the commitment of employees, and we are looking forward to being done in the fall."

Dick Bullard, Southern Woods Product Division vice president, complimented the Ozan unit for doing a good job. He said the overall project is going well and is optimistic for the plant's future.

Tom Smrekar, Potlatch Corporation Wood Products Group vice president, said he was proud of those involved in the operation.

"This is an extension of a project that began five or six years ago," he said. "We modernized the green end of the mill and have been wrestling with the dry end for some time."

Smrekar said the company has put the money in the plant to make it a first class mill which can compete with any other in the South. "We're delighted to do it," he said. "We want for Brad and the boys to get done and get cranked up."

According to a release from the company, the dry end upgrade includes replacement of the green stacker and existing planer lines with a high-speed planer and modern lumber-handling equipment. A second shift will be added at the sawmill upon the completion of the project.

This modernization, Bullard said, will make the Ozan Unit a more efficient operation.

In addition, it will also increase the drying and surfacing capacity of the mill, which will allow the company to add the second shift.

Fountain said the upgrade should be completed by the fall of this year.