by Web Editor | Apr 17, 2015 | News
The American Wood Council has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to conduct research on the fire performance of mass timber buildings. AWC will partner with the National Fire Protection Association’s (NFPA) Fire Protection Research Foundation and the Property Insurance Research Group.
The AWC proposal is intended to advance the construction of taller wood buildings in the United States by demonstrating the fire performance of newer mass timber products. Over the last several years, tall wood buildings have been completed around the world using this new technology – including a 9-story building in London, 10-story in Prince George, Canada, and 14-story building now under construction in Bergen, Norway. These buildings have consistently demonstrated the successful application of mass timber technologies.
“Findings from this project will inform the building community and the insurance industry, providing an increased level of confidence in both the adequacy of this new construction type and when setting fire insurance premiums. This is a new method of construction to insurers, and in order to provide reasonable insurance coverage, they need to understand the performance of the material,” said AWC Vice President of Codes & Regulations Kenneth Bland. Increased use of wood in building construction also holds great promise for improved environmental impacts.
“Innovative mass timber wood products encourage sustainable forestry and capture large amounts of carbon, thereby reducing greenhouse emissions through both sequestration and the substitution of wood for more carbon-intensive products. The construction of tall wood buildings would put America at the forefront of an emerging global opportunity,” said AWC President & CEO Robert Glowinski.
When announcing the USDA 2015 Wood Innovations grant recipients, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack said, “Working with our partners, the Forest Service is promoting deployment of new technologies, designed to support new market opportunities for wood energy and innovative wood building materials.”
From the American Wood Council: https://www.awc.org/NewsReleases/2015/newsreleases2015.php#20150415
by Web Editor | Apr 15, 2015 | News
U.S. Sen. Jon Tester, D-Mont., helped secure a $250,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture for SmartLam, a cross-laminated timber manufacturer and distributor in Columbia Falls.
In January, Tester wrote a letter of support for SmartLam’s Wood Innovations Planning Grant application. The grant was announced last week.
“The folks at SmartLam are producing a unique product, and these additional resources will help them continue to grow and hire folks in the Flathead Valley,” Tester said in a news release. “Successful operations like SmartLam continue to show the country the high quality businesses here in Montana.”
SmartLam is the first manufacturer and distributor of cross-laminated timber products in the United States. When its expansion is complete, it will be the largest cross-laminated timber manufacturer in the world.
Wood Innovations Grants are awarded to companies that use wood products as a renewable energy source and as a building material. The money is designed to increase the use of wildfire fuel from public lands to promote forest health and create jobs.
From the Daily Inter Lake: https://www.dailyinterlake.com/members/tester-helps-secure-for-smartlam/article_ffe490e2-e2f2-11e4-b4b7-a774ff6ea976.html
by Web Editor | Apr 13, 2015 | News
Dieffenbacher Supplies OSB Line To Martco
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Dieffenbacher received an order from Martco, LLC (a Roy O. Martin company) for a forming and press line as part of Martco’s recently announced OSB plant to be built in Corrigan, Texas.
Dieffenbacher’s scope of supply includes a four head forming station, a Belt / Flexoplan combination forming line and a 12 ft x 26 ft / 14 daylight multi opening hot press.
Construction will start on the Corrigan facility in the last half of 2015 and the first board is anticipated in 2017.
The plant is the second Martco OSB facility to utilize a Dieffenbacher press line. A similar line is currently operating at the Martco facility in Oakdale, Louisiana, which was commissioned in 2006.
From Fordaq: fordaq.com
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by Web Editor | Apr 10, 2015 | News
Boise Cascade will make a $43 million capital investment to upgrade and increase capacity at its Florien, Louisiana, plywood mill located in the state’s Northwest Region. The Florien mill is one of three major manufacturing sites Boise Cascade operates in Louisiana. Other locations include a plywood mill in Oakdale and an engineered wood products mill in Alexandria. The expansion is scheduled to begin this summer.
In Florien, Boise Cascade will replace two dryers and substantially increase its capacity for manufacturing veneer products, with the company also adding log yard storage space and new press equipment that will boost capacity. The Florien mill supplies veneer for Boise Cascade’s Alexandria engineered wood products mill, where the company produces such items as I-joists and laminated veneer lumber. The company also produces veneer for plywood manufactured in Florien and Oakdale and used for concrete forms, sheathing and subfloors.
“Having spent the last seven years of my career working with our employees at our three Louisiana locations, I am very pleased to have Boise Cascade invest in its future here and in the future of our Louisiana employees,” Boise Cascade’s Mike Brown, Wood Products operations manager said. “With over 1,150 Louisiana employees and a Louisiana payroll of over $3.8 million per month, Boise Cascade sees Louisiana as an integral part of the company’s future. This investment will enable us to continue to provide great jobs for Louisianians starting almost immediately.”
The company is expected to utilize Louisiana’s Industrial Tax Exemption incentive. After beginning the expansion this summer, Boise Cascade anticipates completion of the dryer installations by the end of 2016 and completion of the additional upgrades in 2017.
From Area Development: https://www.areadevelopment.com/newsItems/4-10-2015/boise-cascade-upgrades-florien-louisiana-plywood-mill677788.shtml
by Web Editor | Apr 8, 2015 | News
Louisiana-Pacific Reconfigures Management Team
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Louisiana-Pacific Corp. announced several changes to its executive management team. CEO Curt Stevens says, “These changes provide opportunities for LP to benefit from the shared perspectives and best practices across businesses as we continue to develop our top leadership talent.”
Mike Sims becomes senior vice president sales and marketing. He replaces Rick Olszewski, executive vice president of sales, marketing and South America, who is retiring from LP. Frederick Price, president of LP South America, reports to Stevens.
Brad Southern becomes executive vice president OSB, replacing Jeff Wagner, who will retire from LP mid-year. In the interim, Wagner will be executive vice president Growth and Innovation, reporting directly to Stevens.
Brian Luoma becomes executive vice president Siding, replacing Southern in that position. Neil Sherman becomes senior vice president, EWP, replacing Luoma in that position.
Stevens continues, “LP is very fortunate to have a strong bench of management talent; these team members represent decades of industry and LP experience. We were able to make these moves internally as a result of the talent pool within LP and our robust succession planning process. I would also like to thank Rick Olszewski and Jeff Wagner for their important contributions to LP.”
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Complete the online form so we can direct you to the appropriate Sales Representative. Contact us today!
by Web Editor | Apr 6, 2015 | News
A gradual increase in housing starts across the U.S. and better timber prices are two factors behind Plum Creek Timber Co.’s decision to invest $10 million in plant improvements at its Northwest Montana manufacturing plants.
“We’re optimistic overall for another good year,” said Tom Ray, Plum Creek’s vice president of northwest resources and manufacturing. “The largest single concern is the lack of raw materials, but we’re hoping Congress will address that.”
One of the largest landowners in the U.S., Plum Creek had a strong year in 2014, reporting earnings of $214 million on $1.48 billion in revenues. Harvest numbers were 13 percent over 2013. But timber resources in Northwest Montana can be a concern. Last year, Plum Creek cut back hours for workers at the Columbia Falls sawmill from 40 hours per week to 36 after a federal court ruling blocked several timber sales on state forest land. “We had a decline there, but once we get past breakup and into early summer, we’re hopeful to go back to a regular schedule,” Ray said.
Plum Creek plans to invest $6 million at its medium-density fiberboard plant in Columbia Falls. The No. 1 line, which was built in 1974 and manufactures panels up to 1 1/4 inches thick, will see $1.6 million for improvements to reliability and efficiency. Another $300,000 will be spent on computer equipment and monitoring cameras.
The company also plans to spend $2 million on the MDF plant’s No. 2 line, which was built in 2001 at a cost of $80 million and produces thin panels one-tenth of an inch thick. The furniture industry is a major customer, but other businesses now use MDF products.
From Hungry Horse News: https://www.flatheadnewsgroup.com/hungryhorsenews/plum-creek-to-invest-mil-in-local-plants/article_e8e443a2-d883-11e4-ad41-cfbdb6471aba.html
