Weyerhaeuser will indefinitely close its iLevel veneer facility, effective immediately

Dec 14, 2007. /Lesprom Network/. Weyerhaeuser announced on Friday that it will indefinitely close its iLevel™ Veneer Technologies facility in Valdosta, Ga., effective immediately. The announcement will affect approximately 245 associates at the site. Demand for engineered wood products continues to decline due to a slowdown in the housing market. As a result of these challenging market conditions, the Valdosta facility will close for an indefinite period of time, or until market conditions improve. "We need to continue to consolidate operations to balance supply with demand", company said in a statement. Affected associates will be counseled on specific details regarding benefits. Affected associates will receive regular pay and benefits for 60 days, as provided by the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN Act). “The demand for residential wood products continues to erode and this announcement is a direct result of the business environment we face,” said Scott Reed, plant manager at the facility. “This was a very difficult decision, our associates have done an excellent job of executing that which has been asked of them. This announcement is in no way a reflection of the performance by our associates,” Reed said. “The indefinite layoff announcement of November 9th was a recent action in the strategic analysis to address current market conditions. Unfortunately, ongoing business conditions now require that we take this further action. We recognize the impact of this closure on our associates and the Valdosta community, and we will do our best to work with affected associates through this difficult period.” In Georgia, Weyerhaeuser employs approximately 1,200 people at locations in Colbert, Columbus, Dacula, Duluth, Griffin, Tucker, Lithonia, Lyons, Madison, Oglethorpe, Port Wentworth and Valdosta.