continues growing Hardwood G-roup

ITH 70 successful years of manufacturing and selling hardwood lumber behind them, members of GeorgiaPacific's Hardwood Lumber Group are eagerly anticipating the future.

"During the past year we've doubled our kiln capacity at our sawmills," says J. Patrick Kenny, group sales & marketing manager. "As we move forward from this milestone anniversary year, we're investing time and energy into our continuous improvement programs.

IG-P manufactures red oak, poplar, white oak, cherry, maple, ash, basswood and beech hardwood lumber at its operations in South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia and Pennsylvania. During the next several years, the Hardwood Lumber Group plans on taking aggressive steps toward continuing production of its top quality kiln dried and green lumber.

The mills are strengthening their focus on kiln dried product. "We'll produce 100 million bd. ft. of kiln dried lumber in 1998," accordins to Kenny. "This product line has ieen rapid expansion in the past three years and we expect it to continue growing at a steady rate. We can ship anywhere in the world and the demand has been strong for this type of quality hardwood lumber product."

G-P's Alcolu, S.C., sawmill, for example, predicts a 30% increase in their 1998 production of hardwood lumber products, from 17 million bd. ft. in 1997 to 24 million bd. ft. this year.

Georgia-Pacific's hardwood lumber is purchased by customers in the cabinetry, millwork, flooring and furniture industries. Paneling, mantelpieces, door and window surrounds, along with crates and pallets are just a few of the uses for hardwood lumber.