ECUADOR – Columbia Forest Products (CFP) has acquired Plantaciones de Balsa S.A. (Plantabal) a hardwood veneer processing facility from 3A Composites in Ecuador.

This is tied to a long-term sourcing agreement for FSC-Certified wood from fast-growth hardwood plantations in the region that will be used to make Columbia’s “MPX” hardwood plywood panels, featuring PureBond® formaldehyde-free technology.

According to Steve Pung, Columbia’s Vice President for Technology, “this core veneer is essentially indistinguishable from conventionally-sourced hardwood core material from North America. When pressed into a panel, it features the same fabrication qualities as domestic wood; including the smooth-finishing characteristics our MPX panels are known for.”

Brad Thompson, Columbia’s President and CEO, added that this new sourcing program directly satisfies one of Columbia’s core strategies from its current 5-year plan. “We want to make sure we’re lining up strong and sustainable sources of fiber to satisfy the next 50 years of demand for Columbia’s products. This is a terrific way to ensure a steady, and scalable, stream of high-quality materials to utilize in our North American production network.”