by Web Editor | Feb 27, 2015 | News
At first blush, year-end financials and stock prices for B.C.’s largest forest companies would suggest the province’s forestry sector is well on the road to recovery after a decade-long slump.
Interfor Corp., for example, posted record sales of $1.4 billion in 2014 and record production of 2.2 billion board feet. Stock values and market caps of B.C.’s three largest forestry companies – Interfor, Canfor Corp. and West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. – have soared since the end of 2011. Canfor’s share prices have increased almost 180%, West Fraser’s more than 220% and Interfor’s a whopping 410% since the end of 2011. Based on market cap ($6 billion), West Fraser is now B.C.’s seventh-largest publicly traded company.
But that increase in production and stock value is largely attributable to recent acquisitions of sawmills in the U.S., not to a boom in their B.C. operations. In fact, Canfor and Interfor have both closed mills in B.C. in recent years. Warmer winters that led to a massive die-off of pine from the mountain pine beetle infestation are largely to blame.
B.C.’s largest forestry company, West Fraser, now owns 15 American sawmills, compared with just seven in B.C. and five in Alberta. About 36% of its shipments of lumber now come from its U.S. mills, said Rodger Hutchinson, West Fraser’s vice-president of investor relations. Interfor owns five sawmills in B.C., nine in the U.S. and will add another four U.S. mills this year. About 43% of Interfor’s current production capacity is in B.C., 57% in the U.S. Canfor owns 12 sawmills in B.C., one in Alberta and 10 in the U.S. It also owns four pulp mills in B.C., one wood bioenergy plant in Alberta and one in B.C.
From Business Vancouver: https://www.biv.com/article/2015/2/shrinking-timber-supply-sends-bc-companies-us-mill/
by Web Editor | Feb 25, 2015 | News
A record number of guests attended the latest seminar offered by the Cabinetmaking & Millwork program at Madison College. “Interest in our seminars continues to grow” stated Program Director Patrick Molzahn. “This time we had 61 people, and there were several on our waiting list who did not get to attend”.
The seminar featured five speakers. Margaret Fisher (Lange Bros.) opened the day-long event with a presentation on how veneer is produced and issues which arise from improper specification and production. The group was then divided into two smaller groups. Margaret’s next session offered hands-on practice identifying and creating veneer matches. Each participant created their own sketch face with veneer provided by Saunders Wood Specialties.
Peter Van Dyke (Stiles Machinery) discussed best methods for processing and sanding veneer in the most efficient manner, including examples of state of the art machinery for working with veneer. Following Peter’s presentation, attendees were treated to lunch provided by the AWI-Wisconsin chapter. Madison College students had the opportunity to socialize with many of the employers present.
The afternoon was dedicated to adhesives and pressing. Josh Bartlett (Applied Adhesives) gave an overview of the different adhesive products available for veneering, and problems that can arise when they are not used correctly. Black Bros. shipped in a 24” roll coater for the seminar so we could conduct a demonstration of applying adhesive and pressing a panel. Todd Phalen and Ed Strahota demonstrated the roll coater and discussed different types of presses available for veneering and laminating.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/wood/wood-veneer/Madison-College-hosts-Veneering-and-Laminating-Seminar-293901041.html#sthash.2wEAVCGW.dpbs
by Web Editor | Feb 24, 2015 | News
From: Panel World Staff
Martco L.L.C. announced the selection of Corrigan, Texas as the location for a new, state-of-the-art oriented strandboard (OSB) facility. The facility is expected to employ 165. Construction is scheduled to begin this summer, with startup anticipated by fall 2017. Corrigan OSB, L.L.C. will complement Martco L.L.C.’s existing wood products manufacturing plants in Oakdale, La. (OSB); Chopin, La. (plywood); and Mexia, Ala. (lumber and timbers).
According to Martin Companies, L.L.C. Chairman and CEO Jonathan Martin, “Ever since my grandfather started out in the wood product industry more than 90 years ago, our family has taken pride in utilizing raw materials to the fullest extent possible. This business model has led to Martco’s growth as a leading supplier in the wood products industry. The timing is right for us to position ourselves to more effectively meet the increasing demand for building products into the foreseeable future.”
“We believe that East Texans have a tremendous amount of community passion, experience and knowledge, and we look forward to becoming a proactive community partner,” adds Roy O. Martin III, president. “Martco will extend its philosophy of being ‘employer of choice’ and ‘vendor of choice’ to this region, while maintaining the stability of a well-established, family-owned, professionally managed company committed to its stakeholders.”
Martco’s commitment to this region reaches beyond its future workforce. Senior Vice President and COO Scott Poole explains, “We look forward to extending our pride and dedication to sustainable forestry practices through additional foresters and loggers. With this expansion, we will continue to be good stewards of our forests, while delivering a full line of wood products across the country and world.”
Based in Alexandria, La., Martco L.L.C.’s existing manufacturing facilities employ 1,100. All of Martco L.L.C.’s wood products are available Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified.
by Web Editor | Feb 20, 2015 | News
From: Panel World Staff
Oregon State University has begun an initiative to build a $60 million complex to accelerate its forestry education programs and research on advanced wood products at Corvallis, Ore. The Oregon Forest Science Complex will encompass renovation of existing OSU campus facilities as well as new construction; showcase innovative uses of wood in building design; and allow the College of Forestry to help meet the world’s growing demand for energy efficient, tall buildings made from sustainable building products.
The project includes a $30 million fundraising goal. Once philanthropic commitments are secured, OSU will seek matching bonds from the state. Bonding for the project was included in the governor’s capital budget for consideration in the upcoming legislative session.
The initiative was announced in Portland at the Oregon Leadership Summit of the Oregon Business Plan by Thomas Maness, the Cheryl Ramberg Ford and Allyn C. Ford Dean of the College of Forestry.
“We are excited about leading a new national effort to advance the science and technology necessary to primarily use wood in the construction of 5- to 20-story buildings,” Maness says. “Developing these new, competitively priced, environmentally friendly products will not only increase the value of Oregon’s natural resources, but also grow jobs in our rural communities, with substantial benefits for our state.”
Seeking new methods to reduce the carbon footprint of high-rise construction, architects and engineers from Austria to Canada, Norway and New Zealand have begun constructing buildings with exceptionally strong wood products. This cross-laminated timber is made of strips of wood glued together across the grain, and panels can be more than 1 foot thick and 80 feet long.
Read more on this story in the March issue of Panel World…
by Web Editor | Feb 18, 2015 | News
From: Panel World Staff
Washington State University is establishing the Thomas M. Maloney Graduate Scholarship through the Voiland College of Engineering & Architecture.
Maloney, who died June 18 in Pullman, Wash. at age 83, was prominent in the development of many facets of the wood based panel industry, especially composite board, through his long association with WSU as professor of Mechanical & Materials Engineering and director of the Wood Materials & Engineering Lab.
“After consulting with Tom’s family, we all agreed that an endowed scholarship would be a fitting tribute to honor Tom’s commitment to education as we know he would be pleased to help deserving graduate students working in the field of wood composites and engineering,” the university stated.
The university has established a goal of $100,000 for this endowment. All donations will be acknowledged by the WSU Foundation and communicated to the Maloney family.
Any questions or for assistance in making a donation contact Bridget Pilcher at pilcher@wsu.edu or call 509-335-0144. Make checks payable to “WSU Foundation” and note “Maloney Scholarship.” Mail to WSU Foundation, Box 641925, Pullman, WA 99164-1925.
by Web Editor | Feb 13, 2015 | News
From: Panel World Staff
The Vienna International Wood Products/Markets Conference, Expo & Tours will be held June 16-21 in Vienna, Austria. The event is organized by International Wood Markets Group, Inc. and Georgia Research Institute.
On June 16 will be an invitation-only Schweighofer Prize reception and dinner. The Schweighofer Prize ceremony is held every two years and awards money for technologies, products and services that strengthen the competitiveness of the European forest-based industries. More than 600 international delegates from 40 countries are expected to attend.
The conference and expo will be held June 17 at the Hotel Savoyen Vienna. Speakers from Europe and worldwide will address trends, issues and outlooks in international sawn wood and panel markets, including Europe, Russia, China, Middle East and North America. The full day conference will assess global market opportunities and wood products trade. Concurrently on June 17 an all-day wood products equipment supplier exposition will be held adjacent the conference.
June 18-19 will feature an Eastern Austria Industry Tour of mills producing lumber, cross laminated timber and engineered wood products. The tour starts and ends at the conference hotel in Vienna, with one night spent outside of Vienna.
On June 20-21, Schweighofer will host a tour in the Radauti area of Romania of its large single line sawmill, a laminated post-and-beam plant, an edge-glued panel plant, particleboard plant and pellet mill. The tour will spend two nights in Radauti and ends at the Vienna Airport.
Read more on this story in the March 2015 issue of Panel World…
