Iop PnEssURE TnEHIERS

hange was the rule with Building Products Digest's fourth annual production ranking of the nation's top pressure treaters. Only six of the Top 25 wood preservers hold the same spot as last year.

Although none of the treaters experienced significant drop-offs in production, several enjoyed double-digit percentage increases, vaulting them past steadier producers. Perennial top producer Universal Forest Products extended its lead by increasing treated wood production by 92 million bd. ft., or l6Vo, and may further solidify its position after opening a treating plant this spring at its Moultrie, Ga., complex.

In hopes of eventually overtaking Universal at the top, Great Southern Wood Preserving opened its fifth and largest plant late last year in Muscle Shoals, Al. Tightening the race, #3 Southeast Wood upped production by 50 million bd. ft., a l9Vo ir.crease.

L.L. Brewton enjoyed the greatest percentage-wide increase at36Vo to jump five spots and crack the Top 10.

1996 1995

Company

@(including number ol treating plants)

Universal Foi€St, Froducts

Grand Rapids, Mi.

16 olants: Windsor, Co.;Auburndale, Fl.;

-Union City, Ga,; Granger, In.; Belchertown, Ma,; North East, Md,; Hanisonville, Mor; Eli2abCth City, Salisbur){i N,C.; , tlamiltdn, Oh;; Gordon, Slockertown, Pa.; Saginaw, Tx.; Janesville, Wi,; Ranson, W.V. [Opening 1997: Moultrie, Ga.]

Other big gainers include International Paper, which climbed six spots to #15, and New South, which over the last four years steadily has risen nine spots to #12. Heading in the other direction is Louisiana-Pacific, which sustained production at 90 million bd. ft. despite closing its Grenada, Ms., plant last year and seeing its standing gradually slip eight spots over four years.

Firms to watch for next year are Culpeper Wood Preservers, which opens its third treating facility this month in Fredericksburg, Va., and Allweather Wood Treaters, which acquired plant #3 from Chemco in October and #4 from Colorado Wood Preserving in January.

Companies are ranked by production of lumber, timbers and specialty products. Firms exclusively treating poles, pilings, railroad ties, etc., are not included. Abbreviations include FRT (fire retardan$ and WR (water repellent).

All data were provided by the companies themselves. While every effort was made to ensure full accuracy and completeness, a handful of treaters elected not to particiPatein

Annual Production

1996 1995 (millions (millions of bd. ft.) of bd. ft.)

,",.,,

Annual Production Products

(rnctuding trcafng plants) 1996 (millions of bd. fi.)

(including number of trcating plants)

Grqat Southem Wood Preserving Nor Abbev{le, Al. tur t plants; Abbedlle, Moblle, Mrsdeshoals, R.ftaron Al.; Conyels, Ga,; $.rnter County, Fl.

Southeast Wood Montgomery, Al.

5 olanis: Jasper, Louisville, Al.; Rockledge, Fl.; Rochelle, ll.; Richmond, In.

Quality Wood Treating Co., Inc.

:Prairie du Chien, W.

Adads Lan$ing, Mi.;St, Paul, [ft.; l!|agh; Shelbyvllle, kr.; CulFeper, Va.;

:Oolwnbus, Oh.; Por$ell, Pa.; Janesiille, Praide du Chi€n, Wi.

Walker Williams Lumber Co., Inc. Hatchechubbee, Al.

5 plants: Falkville, Hatchechubbee, Al.; WesMlle, In.; Blandrester, Youngstown, Oh.

Gulpeper Wood Preserverc Culpeper, Va.

Va.l

Weyerhaeuser Co. Tacoma, Wa.

3 plants: Millporl, Al.;Westland, Mi.; Plymouth, N.C,

C,il. TuckerLumber

Pageland, S.C.

.fplEqg;,f,lendeoon, l.l,C.; Pageland.

Rocky Top Wood Preservers

Rocky Mount, Va.

3 plants: Streator, ll.; Hagerstown, Md.;

Roc$ Mount.

:: L.L Brewton Lumber Co., Inc.

Winnlield, La.

2 plants: Wnnfleld; Caddo Mi[, Tx.

Oranoeburo. S C. 0-Bladc: Augusta, Ga.;

3 plants: Athens, Al.; Roanoke Rapids, N.C.; Rock Hill, S.C. 21 International Paper Co. Dallas,

, ? ts:PlaasahtHill;,Mb,;,Mlneola, tx.

John A. Biewer Lumber Co. Sl. Clair. Mi.

6 plants: Seneca, ll.; Sl. Clair, Schoolcrafl, Mi. ; Toledo, Washington Court House, Oh.; Prentice, Wi.