North Carolina State Forestry Students Tour Columbia Plywood Mill

Jim Sitts answering questions and providing advice to forestry students from NCSU

Forestry students from North Carolina State University (NCSU) toured Columbia’s Old Fort plywood mill as part of their management courses. Traditionally, students visit plywood and lumber mills in the field and then return to the classroom to work on mathematical optimization models for those mills. Students study the economics of converting logs into forest products.

Dr. Joe Roise, Professor or Forestry, brings students to Old Fort each year to see how logs are turned into decorative hardwood plywood. Students see the entire process from delivery of logs, to peeling them on an industrial lathe, to gluing and construction, and lastly to shipping and out to the customer. Columbia’s foresters also take time to talk about what it is like day to day to work in the forestry profession and also answer questions.   Many of Old Fort’s forester graduated from NCSU and are glad to help out students just getting ready to launch their own careers.

Dr. Roise was instrumental years ago in helping Old Fort develop computer modeling of its plywood mill to help improve recovery. Eventually, this type of modeling became a part of NCSU’s Forestry Curriculum and students toured Columbia’s mill to gain an understanding of the plywood manufacturing process.

Columbia is proud to be affiliated with NCSU and to be able to work with students and help them in any capacity.