Associations
Columbia is proud to be affiliated with the following organizations:
American Hardwood Export Council American Home Furnishing Alliance Architectural Woodwork Institute Business and Institution Furniture Manufacturers Association Canadian Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association Composite Panel Association Hardwood Forestry Fund Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association International Wood Products Association Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association National Association of Manufacturers National Association of Floor Covering Distributors National Association of Store Fixture Manufacturers North American Building Material Distribution Association Quebec Lumber Manufacturers Association United States Green Building Council World Floor Covering Association Western Retail Lumberman's Association Woodworking Institute of California
Founded in 1957, Columbia owns and operates 20 plants in North America and Asia

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 Portland, Oregon, Columbia has more than 4,000 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 imports. For more information visit www.columbiaforestproducts.com.


Columbia maintains a strong market presence in every plywood species, core and size category, including veneer core, medium density fiberboard (MDF), combination core and lumber core. Wood species include ash, birch, cherry, hickory, maple, red oak, alder, walnut and others.

Newer proprietary products from Columbia’s hardwood plywood plants include Columbia Alder, Appalachian Traditions™, Europly™ and UV Wood™ (prefinished plywood panels).

In 1999, Columbia’s Klamath Falls, Oregon, plant began producing its plywood using logs harvested from Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified forestland. Today, Columbia facilities in Presque Isle, ME (veneer); Chatham, VA; Hearst, ON; St. Casimir, PQ; Old Fort, NC; and Trumann, AR; produce certified products as well. SmartWood, a not-for-profit subsidiary of the Rain Forest Alliance, certifies Columbia Forest Products to FSC requirements.


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.

To complement Columbia’s domestic production, the company’s international division began importing hardwood plywood in 1995. Since then, Columbia has grown to become the largest importer of Russian birch plywood in North America. With a wide selection of imported panel and flooring products from Indonesia, Malaysia, Taiwan, Africa and countries throughout South America and Europe, inventories are maintained regionally at strategic North American ports and Columbia plant sites.
Historic Timeline