RoyOMartin Makes a $9.5 million Investment in a Louisiana Lumber Factory

Martco, LLC, the parent company of RoyOMartin, a third-generation family-owned timber sourcing and manufacturing company, announced a $9.5 million investment in technologically sophisticated manufacturing equipment at its Natchitoches Parish lumber plant.

The RoyOMartin plywood production business in Chopin is one of the parish’s top employers, and the expansion will allow the company to keep 684 existing employees in place until 2035.

“For nearly 100 years, RoyOMartin has been driving economic activity and providing good jobs for Louisiana workers in north and central Louisiana, and I thank them for their continued commitment to our state,” stated Gov. John Bel Edwards.

“The timber industry has long been a significant contributor to Louisiana’s economic prosperity, with an annual impact of $7 billion. Investments like this one assist to support our rural communities while also ensuring that Louisiana lumber mills remain an important part of global supply networks for many years.”

The Chopin plant, located along Interstate 49 between Alexandria and Natchitoches, began production in 1996 and has since undergone many expansions, making it one of the largest single-site plywood production plants in North America. The equipment updates will include cutting-edge vision and robotics, as well as other technical advancements, all with the goal of producing plywood, timbers, and boards faster and more efficiently.

“The RoyOMartin-Plywood manufacturing facility continues to modernize its operations in order to remain competitive in the future,” stated RoyOMartin Chairman, CEO, and CFO Roy O. Martin III.

“The plywood factory has been in continuous operation since 1996 and has survived the Great Recession, COVID epidemic and other tough barriers without interruption. The facility’s team leaders and team members deserve the job stability and security that this project and past modernization projects give.”