Arauco North America promoted Al Murray to U.S. National Sales Manager, MDF. The move comes in the run-up to the opening of the massive Grayling, Michigan, plant, as the company reorganizes sales. Murray will be reporting directly to Kevin Shotbolt, Vice President, Sales and Marketing.
Murray (in the left photo) brings a wealth of experience to this position, most recently as Mill Sales Manager for the composite plants in Moncure, NC and Bennettsville, SC. In addition to his other responsibilities, he was selected to be part of a dynamic SAP implementation team responsible for transitioning the company to its new and current operating platform; a role which utilized his other skills including, scheduling, logistics and planning.
As sales manager for North America's largest MDF producer, Murray will have responsibilities for Arauco's four U.S.-based MDF mills located in Moncure, North Carolina; Bennettsville, South Carolina; Malvern, Arkansas; and Eugene, Oregon.
Arauco is headquartered in Chile, and its North American business produces composite panels at nine mills across the U.S. and Canada, with 1,400 employees across all locations.
The North American market accounts for a little over 25% of Arauco’s total sales and this initiative is an addition to the investments made by Arauco in North America in recent years –Moncure and Flakeboard- with nine production facilities distributed in the United States and Canada. In addition, the company announced that one of its key objectives is to improve logistics throughout its production chain and support the growth of its customers located in the mid-western region.
Arauco has expaned in Argentina and Brazil in recent years and the company has achieved sustained growth in terms of wood panel production. Arauco also purchased production facilities in the United States and Canada.
The Michigan plant will have North America’s largest single continuous particleboard press (supplied by Dieffenbacher) and one of the most productive in the world. With a 750,000 ft2 facility, the particleboard plant will have an annual capacity of 452 million sq. ft. (800, 000 m3), together with full lamination capabilities.
