Hood Industries Inc. has announced a major brownfield expansion at its facility in Waynesboro, Miss. This strategic $245 million upgrade will enhance the facility’s capabilities and reflects Hood Industries’ continued investment in operational performance and innovation across its manufacturing operations.
The project, to be built in multiple phases on the existing site, will be executed in close collaboration among the Hood team, Comact, and Piche to ensure the existing facility remains operational throughout the construction process. This phased approach is designed to keep production losses to a minimum, providing as little disruption to employees, timber suppliers, and customers as possible.
Operations at the modernized mill are set to begin in early October 2026, after which demolition of the existing facility will commence.
“We have partnered with both Comact and Piche on a successful modernization project at our facility in Bogalusa, Louisiana,” said Jay Galloway, president of Hood Industries, which is a lumber manufacturer member with the Southern Forest Products Association. “As we began to explore our options for upgrading the Waynesboro facility it became obvious to continue the partnership with these two companies. Their technical expertise, collaborative approach, and proven ability to deliver cutting-edge and reliable solutions made them a natural fit as we continue to invest in the future of our operations.”
The Waynesboro facility will feature a fully integrated sawmill provided by Comact along with two new continuous dual-path kilns and a new gas burner installed on the existing continuous dry kiln will increase drying capacity and energy efficiency.
The planer mill will be upgraded with lumber handling equipment from Piche to include a planer infeed system, trimmer, and sorter line with a lumber stacker. In addition, Comact will provide a Miller planer and GradExpert system in the planer mill. Comact’s AI-powered Smart Vision tools will be integrated throughout the process to continuously monitor operations and optimize throughput.
“Building on the strong relationship and trust we’ve developed over previous projects, our team is fully committed to delivering an integrated solution that enhances reliability, performance, and long-term value of (Hood’s) Waynesboro facility,” said Simon Potvin, CEO of Comact, an SFPA associate member. “We have set clear goals to deliver this project on time and on budget, ensuring Hood Industries can count on Comact for excellence and accountability at every stage.”
The team at Piche, another SFPA associate member, is also pleased to partner once again with Hood Industries on the Waynesboro project. This is the third major project Piche has collaborated on with Hood Industries since 2020.
“Building on the trust and successful results achieved together at Bogalusa and Silver Creek, our team is committed to delivering lumber handling systems that combine efficiency, reliability, and innovation,” said Jean-Benoît Piché, president and CEO of Piché. “We look forward to supporting Hood with solutions that ensure smooth installation and startup, and that create long-term value for their operations and their people.”
The Mississippi Development Authority is providing assistance through the Mississippi Flexible Tax Incentive, or MFLEX, program. MDA also is providing assistance for road and infrastructure improvements. Wayne County and AccelerateMS are assisting with the expansion, as well. The project is powered by Dixie Electric and Cooperative Energy.
“This investment is about more than a new mill — it’s about building a sustainable future for our company, our employees, and the Waynesboro community,” Galloway said.