Boise Cascade curtails Alabama lumber operations

Boise Cascade Company has indefinitely curtailed lumber production in Chapman, Alabama. 

The curtailment will affect approximately 80 positions. Plywood operations at the Chapman location are not part of the curtailment, however.

The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) Act notification was provided to impacted employees and specifies that operations will cease on Jan. 28, 2024, Boise Cascade said in a press release issued this morning.

“The team has worked diligently every day; however, a combination of challenges, including required future investments and overall profitability, has led to this decision,” said Chris Seymour, senior vice president of manufacturing operations. “It was a difficult and unfortunate decision, but after evaluating a number of factors over the past year, it is not feasible to continue operating at an efficient level.”

“We understand the impact that this shutdown has on our employees and their families,” continued Seymour. “We are communicating about job opportunities within the Company as well as resources that are available to assist them.”

Boise Cascade previously announced that third quarter 2023 sales fell 15% to $1.58 billion as sales in the company Wood Products Division decreased 13% to $512.8 million.

“We will work with our Chapman Lumber customers to manage the transition between now and the eventual curtailment,” said Mike Brown, Boise Cascade executive vice president, wood products. “We continue to focus on growing our engineered wood products business and supporting the remainder of our manufacturing locations.”