The Columbia Story:
Over 50 years of Experience
Founded in 1957, Columbia Forest Products is North America's largest manufacturer
of hardwood plywood and hardwood veneer products. Columbia's decorative interior
veneers and panels are used in high-end cabinetry, fine furniture, architectural
millwork and commercial fixtures.
Employee-owned and headquartered in Greensboro, NC, Columbia has more than 2,000
employees and operates plants throughout the United States and Canada. Columbia's
products are sold through a network of wholesale distributors, mass merchandisers
and original equipment manufacturers from three distinct business units: plywood,
veneer and global services.
Hardwood Plywood
Columbia maintains a strong market presence in every plywood species, core and size
category, including veneer core, medium density fiberboard (MDF), combination core
and particleboard core. Wood species include ash, birch, cherry, hickory, maple,
red oak, alder, walnut and many others.
In 1999, Columbia's Klamath Falls, Oregon, plant began producing its plywood using
logs harvested from Forest Stewardship Council™ (FSC®) certified forestland.
Today, all of Columbia's plywood and veneer mills hold FSC chain of custody certified
by SmartWood, a not-for-profit subsidiary of the Rain Forest Alliance. By buying
products with an FSC label you are supporting the growth of responsible forest management
worldwide.
Hardwood Veneer
Columbia veneer is created using Northern Appalachian hardwoods such as birch, red
oak, maple, ash, poplar, cherry, hickory, pine, walnut and others. Columbia's rotary
cut veneer ranges in thickness from 1/30 to 1/42 inches and is supplied throughout
the decorative plywood, furniture, cabinetry, door and profile-wrap industries.
We go where the wood is
Columbia Forest Products operates the largest hardwood plywood manufacturing organization
in North America. Columbia's regional plant locations provide the production capabilities
to ensure a reliable, timely supply of high-quality product - an insurance policy
for customers uncomfortable with single-location manufacturers. An in-house supply
of decorative hardwood faces and backs, combined with self-sufficient green ends
for poplar, fir and aspen innerply veneers, enable quality control from the forest
to the finished product.