Weyerhaeuser Invests in Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA, Miss. (AP) – Weyerhaeuser Co. is investing $57 million to modernize over the next three years at its softwood lumber mill in Philadelphia.

Weyerhaeuser says in a news release Monday the work will be done in a series of phases.

Plans are for installation of two continuous direct fired kilns and a new planer mill.

Weyerhaeuser’s Philadelphia sawmill is one of the company’s longest-running manufacturing facilities.

The mill was purchased from DeWeese Lumber Company in 1967 and employs approximately 188 people. The mill produces approximately 220 million board feet of Southern Yellow Pine lumber.

Company officials say products are shipped to more than 140 customers in 30 states.

Stan Webb, unit manager for Weyerhaeuser Softwood Lumber, says the customer demand for lumber products has improved over the past year.