Wholesaler's Oregon remanufacturing mill

TClOUTHERN California wholesaler Fremont Forest ElproOucts has modernized its Oregon lumber remanufacturing mill. Located in the heart of the Willamette Valley, next to the Interstate 5 conidor, 10 miles south of Eugene in a community called Creswell, the planing mill has been used by Fremont to remanufacture Douglas fir boards since June 1990.

The manufacturing system has been consistently improved during Fremont's ownership. Purchases made at Weyerhaeuser's Springfield liquidation sale in September 1991 provided an all-steel computerized drop saw for precision trimming and a Stetson and Ross planer for surfacing. Finished product is handled by a newly installed lumber extraction system.

The Creswell plant runs one shift, producing 40,000 bf of product daily. It surfaces 1x3, 1x4 and 1x6 green lumber with packaged lengths from 6 ft. r0 20 ft. The boards are sorted into grades consisting of D & Better clears, Select Merch, Standard, Utility and Economy. Special pulls in rough or surfaced and custom milling are also produced at this location. Chips and planer shavings are sold to Willamece Industries to be processed into paper and pressboard.

Grade certification to West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau specifications is provided by Timber Products Inspection agency.

Jerry Grimes manages Fremont Forest Products', Creswell Division. His 20 years' experience has helped improve the efficiency of the plant's production.

The plant is open to visitors. Grines is always happy lo give tours, show the quality p,roduct ptoduced at the plant and quote board needs.

Operations such this play an important role in the secondary forest industry by producing an essential product. In addition, the mill, which is located in a timber dependentcommunity, isproviding much needed jobs.