Watch for these ExciJing Issues in Coming IUIonths

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May: Outdoor Special Issue

June: Panel Products Special lssue

July: Door & Window Special Issue

August: Moulding & Millwork Special lssue

September: Computer Special Issue

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An interactive computer-based design system to help customers transform home improvement ideas into three dimensional designs will be installed by Weyerhaeuser in some 250 selected home centers and lumber yards this spring.

Called the most innovative and significant home improvement tool for the building products industry, the Designcenter module will allow do-it-yourselfers, with the assistance of a Weyerhaeuser trained sales person, to explore various deck configurations on a video screen.

"Consumers can walk into the Weyerhaeuser DesignCenter with a rough idea, and walk out with a three-dimensional rendering of a suggested design, construction details and materials list to build a deck or another project," according to Bill Simmonds, Weyerhaeuser vice president of total quality. "And, even more, they will have enjoyed the iir'ocess and will very likely come back to one of our retailers when they approach another building project. "

"The DesignCenter is part of our increasing emphasis on strengthening the brand awareness for Weyerhaeuser products such as Lifewood

Slmpoon's Redvrood Strategy

In a move to focus its marketing and production efforts on young growth redwood, Simpson Redwood Co., an operating division of Simpson Timber Co., plans to close its Arcata, Ca., remanufacturing plant in mid-I989. The office will remain open for the present, although it is expected that it will move to the young growth redwood facility Simpson operates at Korbel, Ca., in about two years.

Two other Simpson facilities involved in old growth redwood will continue to operate at current levels: Orick. Ca., and the Brainard mill between Arcata and Eureka, Ca.

Old growth redwood operations will be handled solely by Arcata Redwood Co., which Simpson acquired in June. It will cut all of Simpson's old growth logs and is expected to continue doing so for approximately seven or eight years.

In old growth, Simpson competes with the Pacific Lumber Co.. which treated lumber and specialty products and Choicewood hardwood lumber," he added. is expected to be a dominant player well into the next century. Industry sources say Miller Redwood's old growth redwood supply is not expected to last beyond the late 1990s.

The design software and hardware was created by Innovis Interactive Technologies, a Weyerhaeuser subsidiary. The first DesignCenter systems will be located in Chicago, ll.; Boston, Ma.; Hartford, Ct.; Detroit, Mi., and Minneapolis, St. Paul, Mn.

Major Simpson competitors in the young growth redwood market are Georgia-Pacific and Louisiana-Pacific. Smaller competitors include Eel River Sawmills, Redwood Empire and Harwood.

By dividing its efforts, Simpson says it can best direct its efforts to longer term operations in young growth redwood, which it anticipates to increase 3000/o in the next 10-15 years.

Weyeftaeuser Renews PBS TV

Weyerhaeuser Co., Tacoma. Wa.. will continue to underwrite the Emmy-Award-winning public television program This Old House for a second year.