Obituaries

George Gaut III, 68, director of the engineered wood products division of Wholesale Wood Products, Dothan, Al., died Oct. 5 in Birmingham, Al.

Born in Lakeland, Fl., he joined Moore Handley Hardware, Birmingham, in 1950, transferring to Mobile, Al., in 1954. A year later, he joined Chapman Construction, Gainesville, Fl., as a building supervisor. He also worked for Malone Homes, Lindey Homes and Saliba Construction before joining Wholesale Wood Products in 1989.

James Ralph Garrison, Eufaula, Al., lumberman, died Sept. 26. He was 81

Born in Gordo, Al., he served as a captain in the Army during World War II before becoming a partner in family-owned Garrison Brothers Lumber, Lakeside Lumber Co. and Cowikee Lumber Co., Eufaula, Al.

He was a past president of the Alabama Forestry Association.

L-P Agrees To Siding Suit Settlements

Beleagured Louisiana-Pacific Corp. has settled a Florida class action suit over allegedly defective siding and proposed an up-to-$425 million settlement for claimants in other states.

More than 11.000 Inner-Seal siding customers have participated in class action suits against L-P in seven states, claiming that the product rots, swells, cracks and sprouts mushrooms when exposed to high moisture.

A U.S. District Court judge tentatively approved L-P's offer to pay up to $425 million to homeowners nationwide. The company would pay $275 million to settle claims during the first four years, then have the option of paying up to $50 million more annually during the next two years. After the seventh year, it could pay another $50 million or half of the remaining unpaid claims, whichever is greater.

Until now, if L-P agreed siding was faulty, it offered to pay twice the original cost of the damaged siding. Under the new settlement, claimants will be paid for materials, labor, painting and other replacement costs, which could come to three to four

Panel Producers Warned Of Overcapacity

Rising production capacity poses a major long-term marketing challenge to the North American structural wood panel indusfiy, APA-The Engineered Wood Association members were told at its 59th annual meeting.

"Here's the problem, simply stated: industry capacity is growing faster than market demand," said chairman Thomas Smrekar, Potlatch. "You can debate the numbers. But the best estimate says we'll add 8 to 10 billion feet of new production capacity by the year 2000. At the same time demand is expected to grow by only 2 to 3 billion feet."

Wrthzz new OSB mills planned or now under construction, pressure to compete for markets and operate profitably continues to intensify. Especially susceptible are plywood producers and those in the supplyconstrained West. "But it's not just a plywood problem," he added. "Nine billion feet of new OSB capacity will also force existing OSB plants to become rnore efficient."

APA's long-term strategic marketing plan, to be presented with funding options for final approval by APA trustees in Dec., could help close the demand-capacity gap, but Smrekar emphasized that "all of us better put this issue on the front burner because overcapacity is the issue of the hour."

The strategic plan identifies 4.6 billion sq. ft. of additional annual demand and outlines market development strategies and tactics to achieve times the warranty payments. that goal. Of that volume, about 2.7 billion sq. ft. is targered in North American and 1.9 billion sq. ft. in foreign markets. Two to 3 billion sq. ft. is expected from overall economic growth and past industry promotion.

The proposed settlement would cover all siding installed before Jan. l,1996, but would not affect separate consumer fraud investigations now under way in Washington, Oregon and Florida.

"Once they replace what they have to replace I think that line of business (Inner-Seal siding) will become history," projected analyst Mike Shea.

L-P has also been beefing up its management ranks by adding middle executives, including three managers to its 4O-facility Northern Division.

The company currently has no plans for a similar restructuring of the more-than-60-plant Southern Division since plants are geographically much closer together. Formerly under the control of Ronald Paul, Southern mill managers now report to acting gen. mgr. Gene Myers.

APA president David L. Rogoway addressed marketplace demands for product quality. He noted that rapid advances in production technology, raw material variations resulting from a changing resource base, the diversity of manufacturing processes, and the international trend toward process quality management all point to the need to "embark on a bold new path...that takes the best elements of different approaches." He said approaches may include the use of data generated in the mill laboratories, in-line testing and testing technologies that aren't yet fully developed.

Still, Rogoway noted, "production technology is only as good as the quality control and quality verification that go along with it."

About 550 attended the meeting Sept. 24-26 in Palm Springs, Ca. Reelected as regional trustees were Thomas Luthy, Weyerhaeuser Co.; Floyd Vike, Willamette Industries; John Galloway, Hood Industries, and Horst Sturmlinger, J.M. Huber Corp.

Appointed to the board as at-large trustees: Allen Ainsworth. C. Steven Clark, Donald Deardorff, Charles Grenier, Gene Meyers, Davis Mortensen, Dennis Spencer, James Sterrett and Jack Sweenv.

Acid Spill Evacuates Store

The second muriatic acid spill at a Scotty's in two months sent 10 people to the hospital and forced the evacuation of the Clermont, Fl., store.

The accident occurred Sept. l2 when as much as 40 gallons of the hydrochloric-type acid fell from a forklift inside the store. Employees attempted to contain the spill but were overcome by the fumes.

Ten victims, mostly employees, were treated and released later in the day after exposure to the acid's fumeg caused some breathing problems.

The store was temporarily clgsef, as firefighters used bicarbon4te pf soda to neutralize the cgryosive acid, which is typically used to clean concrete and stone surfaces.

No injuries were sustained at a similar muriatic acid mishap at the Leesburg, Fl., Scotty's July 18.

PLA$IlC-llEll" YHI||W-CAPtTAIlS

ALABAt,ilA

Atlantic Trading Co.. ......(800) 443-9003

Erown Moulding Co. {800) 756-0199 (205) 665-2546

Brungarl Equipmenl ......(2051 52G2000

Fasco America.....................(205) 381 -6364 (800) 2398665

Great Soulhem Wood Preservin9 ..................(800) 633-7539

SoutheastWoodTreating.............. .......(800)444-0409

Stringlellow Lumber Co., Inc. .........................(800) 825-9400

WalkerWllrams Lumber C0...........................(800) 727-9m7

Weyerhaeuser C0................(800) 541 -4825 (205) 381 -3550

Wholesale Wood Products (Birmingham) ......(800) 421-6970

Wholesale Wood Products (Dothan)..............(800) 633-0906

ABKANSAS

Anthony Foresl Products Co. .............(80q n1-2326

Bean Lumber Co., Curt .......(800) 232-2326 (800) 482-2352

Hixson Lumb€r Sales (Magnolia) ...................(501 ) 234-7820

Hixson Lumber Sales (Pine Blufl) ..................(501) 535-1436

Hixson Lumber Sales (Plumerville) ................(501 ) 354-1 503

Drive Easily Hold Tight Economical

King & C0.. (800) il3-9s30 (501 ) 7s4-6090

Weyerhaeuser Co. ........(800) 643-1 51 5

While River Hardwoods..................................(800) 558-01 1 9

FLORIDA

Bontel Fastener Corp...........(800) 241-0790 (813) 544-6667

Brown Moulding Co. (800) 756-0399 (407) 323-2062

Brungarl Equipment. .....(813) 623.67CS

Building Pro'ducts ol America.........................(800) 962-1 51 8

CSD-Computer System Dynamics.................(407) 788-1 m3

Dalallne Corp. ...............(800) 7233676

Dixie Prywood Co. (Fo11 Lauderdale) .............(305) 583-6551

Dixie Plwood Co. (Tampa).............................81 3) 248-41 07

Florida Perma-Wood Trealers........................(800) 233-4992

Hardie Building Products, James...................(800) 942-7343

Scientilic Plastjcs Inc...........(305) 557-3737 (800) 6830999 soulheastem Melals......................................(800) 737-7327

Soulhem Pine Inspeclion 8ureau...................(904) 434-261 1

Soulhem Wre Cloth C0.......(800) 345-6589 (305) 688-2572 UtrUnL:lA

Amencan Fence Assn..........(800) 822-43/2 \4M) 299-8927

Bames Lumber Mlg., Inc. ..(912) 764-8875 (800) 441-2340

Burt 1umber............. ......(706) 678-1531

Cameron & Co., Wm. ........ 1a0a) 355-9219

Can|or...................... ......(770) 591-5660

Caribbean Lumber C0....................................{9121 748-7400

CSD-CornputerSystem Dynamics........... (770) 995-0658

Coller & Co. (True Value)...............................(404) 717-5855

Delaney C0.............. (800) 952-4430 (770) 844-1941

Dixie P[lflood & Lumber C0............... ...........(91 2) 236-3385

Frtzgerald Foresl Products.. (800) 7i3.9329

Hickson Corp. (Wolman) ................................(770) 25G8469

Hoover Treated Wood Products.....................(800) 832-9663

Me11c0...................... ......(800) 866-1114

Melton Classics Inc.......................................(800) 963-3060

Osmose................... .FlA)228-8434

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Pacific Lumber Co... ......(770) 993-8939

Randall Brothers...... ......{800) 476-4539

Sunbelt Material Handling....(8m) 353-0892 (770) 587-5933

Thomas Lumber Co.............(800) 845-7892 (800) 282-0342

Thompson Lumber Co., Inc., H.V. & I.G. ......(91 2) 583-2236

Universal Forest Products..............................(91 2) 985-8066

Weyerhaeuser C0................(800) 282-3370 (404) 355-5971

Wrenn Handling....... ......(770) 987-7666

KENTUCKY

Brown Moulding C0.............(800) 756-0599 (502) 36e4578

Kenlucky Cedar Producls, Inc........................(502) 875-2748

Weyerhaeuser C0................(800) 752-6032 (502) 368-3331

LOUISIANA

Brown Moulding C0.................(800) 75&049931 8) 865-1441

Dyke Induslnes..

East Coast Mrllwork Dlstnbutors

Groovee Hardwoods.....

Huber Corp., J.1,1.

Omamental Mou d.ngs

BesinArt East. Inc........

Tarhe€l Wood Treatrng

Trus Jorst MacMillan....

Cc. \?T rHarrngenl

Wm. \Lrrobockr

& Cl. \'/n. \oCessa)

Caneron & Co VJn (Ty'erl..

C SD-Conoute' Systen Dynanics

Darlas Wloresa,e Dean LJnb€f Co

Drxre Pryrood Co. ,oallasl..

D xre Plywood Co. Houslon)

Louisiana.PaciiicCorp

LucasCedar&Redwirod.

Lumber Tag Specialtles Co. (800) n0.0981 Mouldins & M Llwork Inc.

Dyke Industnes.............

Lalayette Wood-Works. .(s04) 733-8s00 .(31 8) 233-52s0

Martrn LumberCo., Boy 0...(8m) 299-5174 (318) 445-1973

BEAL Sollware Systems................................(800) 377-0391

Southern Foresl Producls Association...........(5M) 443-4464

Weyertraeuser C0................(800) 783-6806 (504) 733-6800

Wllamelte lndustries .....{318) 255-6258

MISSISSIPPI