Wood & Paper Manufacturing
North Louisiana knows the wood and paper manufacturing industry. Our abundant timber resources generate productivity and investment for the region. Our warm climate contributes to the fast growth of this natural resource, making timber our region’s leading agricultural crop. Existing industry continues to experience growth due to market demand, proximity to our healthy wood basket, and access to an efficient multimodal transportation system. North Louisiana timber products are exported across the globe and support a variety of industries, ranging from construction, renewable energy, and e-commerce.
Contact the Expert
Sheena Bryant, CEcD, EDFP
Business Development Strategy Vice President
- Phone: 318-677-2558
- Phone: sbryant@nlep.org
Major Employers
“This acquisition marks a significant event in the growth of Kronospan’s North American business, as it will enable us to expand our footprint in the particleboard and TFL markets and provide even better service to our existing and future customers. The Simsboro site has a long history in the particleboard industry and this acquisition fits our growth portfolio well. We are excited to welcome our newest teammates to the Kronospan organization.”
Hans Obermaier
CEO
Kronospan North American Operations
“State and local officials made it an easy investment decision. They were welcoming, understood our needs, and offered a lot of information. The state offers a stable investment climate with consistent rules and taxes, so we can invest with confidence. We’re grateful for that, and look forward to doing our part in return – creating good jobs and contributing to state coffers.”
Workforce
North Louisiana is a regional hotspot for talent supporting wood and paper product manufacturing. Employers enjoy a deep supply of skilled talent. Our technical schools tailor their curricula to meet the needs of industry. Programs include industrial maintenance, instrumentation, engineering technology, precision production, and commercial driving. Not only does our talent keep your operations running efficiently, but our local workforce also ensures the sustainability of our resources. Students majoring in forestry at Louisiana Tech University graduate from the #1 Forestry Program in the South, a top-ranked program nationally, and one of the few programs in the nation accredited by the Society of American Foresters. LA Tech University is committed to transformative research that will help develop advanced, innovative applications of wood-related products, with the goal of enhancing the sustainability of forests and forest-related industries. Plans are in place to build a Forest Products Innovation Center that will assist with cutting-edge research.