CHILE – Arauco, one of the world’s largest manufacturers of wooden panels, has stopped producing one of its most popular products: Cholguán hardboard. Consequently the Company shut down its hardboard manufacturing line in the Trupán Cholguán industrial complex, located in the Bío Bío Region and relocated the majority of its employees to other production lines within the complex.

The beginnings of industrial hardboard manufacturing in Chile date back to 1935, when the Irarrazabal, Larraín and Zañartu families managed to successfully plant 16,000 hectares of radiata pine in the vicinity of Huépil, currently belonging to the Ñuble region. In 1953 it was decided to install in the area an industrial plant of high density boards (Hardboard), which began operations in March 1959. The equipment corresponding to the 12 openings press was acquired from the supplier Siempelkamp.

At its highest point, this operation, acquired by Arauco in the year 2000 and its only hardboard line, produced 55 thousand cubic meters per year. Its main use being furniture backings, drawer bottoms, door manufacturing, packaging, in addition to other applications.

The appearance of new products, mainly thin MDF, added to the strong competition in the national market, was what caused a drop in demand and therefore, a decrease in production that has been a constant in recent times. The decision to close this line responds to a process of product substitution, after the appearance of more modern and efficient technologies.

The Trupan Cholguán industrial complex continues to produce MDF in various densities and in thicknesses of 3.0 to 50 mm (two lines), MDF moldings, melamine boards, lacquered boards, laminated beams, sawn timber and finger joint moldings, with close to 1,600 workers in total.