Hood Industries Upgrading Mississippi Sawmill Facility

Canadian wood processing company Comact is collaborating with Hood Industries to level up its facility in Waynesboro, Mississippi. The total investment is reportedly $245 million. 

“We have partnered with Comact on a successful modernization project at our facility in Bogalusa, La.,” says Jay Galloway, President of Hood Industries. “As we began to explore our options for upgrading the Waynesboro facility, it became obvious to continue the partnership. 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 upgraded Waynesboro facility will feature a fully integrated sawmill, including a high-performance hybrid sawline to maximize fiber recovery and operational efficiency. Two new Continuous Dual Path Kilns and a new gas burner, installed on the existing kiln, will increase drying capacity and energy efficiency, while the planer mill will be upgraded with a Miller Planer and Comact’s GradExpert system. AI-powered Smart Vision tools will be integrated throughout the process to continuously monitor operations and optimize throughput.

Comact says the project will be executed in phases to ensure existing systems remain in operation while construction takes place around them. 

“We’re proud to continue our collaboration with Hood Industries through this important modernization project,” said Simon Potvin, CEO of Comact. “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 their Waynesboro facility. 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 first day of operation is scheduled for early October 2026.