State leaders tour Interfor Sawmill to view improvements underway

Published 10:00 am Wednesday, July 13, 2016

PRESTON — On Wednesday, state leaders Sen. Freddie Powell Sims, D-Albany, and Rep. Gerald Greene, R-Cuthbert, toured and met with the leadership at Interfor’s Preston Division sawmill to view firsthand the improvements underway at the mill. Mill Manager, Eddie Riles, led the officials on a tour of the operation and discussed the ongoing capital investment project at the mill.  The $15 million capital project consists of modifications to three kilns aimed to improve product quality, increase kiln capacity and ensure the mill meets US environmental standards. The work began in June, and is expected to be completed by early 2017.
“Since Interfor acquired the Preston mill in 2014, we have been looking for ways to improve efficiency and increase lumber production,” shared Riles. “This project will deliver both production and environmental advantages.”
“It’s important that we hear and understand the issues that our current industry faces so that we are equipped to be able to serve their needs – and, more importantly, work with them so that they can continue to provide valuable job opportunities to the citizens of Webster and surrounding counties,” Powell Sims.
“It excites me to see Interfor making such a sizable investment into the Preston mill,” stated Greene. “It shows me that Interfor believes the Preston operation and the employees at the mill will be a significant contributor in the company’s success for many years to come.”
Interfor’s Preston Division employs 170 individuals and produces over 200 million board feet of lumber, making it the largest sawmill in the state of Georgia.
ABOUT INTERFOR
Interfor is a growth-oriented lumber company with operations in Canada and the United States. The Company has annual production capacity of more than 3.2 billion board feet and offers one of the most diverse lines of lumber products to customers around the world. For more information about Interfor, visit the website at www.interfor.com.