U.S. – Arauco, the No. 2 global producer of wooden panels, announced the two leaders that will manage construction and operation of the company’s new USD 400 million particleboard investment located in Grayling, Mich. Tex Giddens and Lloyd Hotchkiss were named to manage construction and operation of the particleboard plant investment.

“It gives us confidence that Tex Giddens is managing the construction of the biggest, most important investment we’ve made in North America.” said Jake Elston, Vice President of Operations of Arauco North America.

“As a former Manufacturing Director for Arauco’s Canadian Operations, Lloyd Hotchkiss comes to Grayling with a wealth of knowledge and extensive industry experience in all aspects of panel board manufacturing operations,” said Kelly Shotbolt, President of ARAUCO North America.

Construction plans for the ARAUCO Grayling facility are progressing on schedule, and the project has received all required environmental permits. Actual construction will begin when weather permits in the spring of 2017 and board production is expected to begin in late 2018. Once complete, the plant will measure 820,000 sq. ft. with an annual capacity of 800,000 m3 or 452 million sq. ft. of particleboard, along with full lamination capabilities.