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Working on the SmartSide

LP begins SmartSide wood strand production at Sagola

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LP BUILDING SOLUTIONS employees Ted Lundin, Jim Chartier and Brodie Anderson display the first Smartside board produced at the Sagola mill. Lundin, a dryer operator; Chartier, electrical lead; and Anderson, a supervisor, worked at LP Sagola when it pressed its first oriented strand board in 1988 and are still with LP today as the mill begins its SmartSide era. (Submitted photo)

SAGOLA -- LP Building Solutions has produced its first run of LP SmartSide products at its Sagola facility.

The production follows a multimillion-dollar conversion from the manufacture of oriented strand board-- a product LP has made at Sagola for 35 years -- to LP SmartSide Trim & Siding, the company's flagship product.

Exactly one year after breaking ground, the mill completed its conversion with the pressing of its first SmartSide board March 15.

"This accomplishment shows how resilient our entire team has been throughout the conversion process," LP Sagola Plant Manager Brett Wienen said. "Every one of our team members played a role in this conversion, and we should all be proud. The work was incredibly detailed and required diligence and a commitment to safety from all involved."

The $194 million expansion adds $84 million in new machinery and equipment, along with 134,000 square feet added to the mill. An additional 35 employees have been hired, bringing the site's headcount to approximately 185 people.

More than 1,200 contractors were involved, logging 475,000 contractor hours, said LP spokesman Colby Wilson. At peak construction, more than 300 contractors were on site.

At full capacity, the Sagola plant will be able to produce about 330 million square feet of SmartSide siding annually, bringing the company's total SmartSide production capacity to about 2.3 billion square feet.

SmartSide lap and panel siding utilize engineered wood strand technology that is advertised as an attractive, efficient and durable construction option.

"Expansion projects like this one in Sagola enable LP to meet increased demand for SmartSide siding across North America while positioning us for long-term growth," said Jason Ringbloom, LP executive vice president. When the project was announced, Ringbloom noted customer demand for the product was at an all-time high.

LP Building Solutions, headquartered in Nashville, Tenn., is an international leader in engineered wood building products for new construction, repair and remodeling and outdoor structures. The company has operated in Sagola Township since 1988.

The Sagola project is backed by a $325,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant announced by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer in August.

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