International Products Show

(Continued Jiom page 33) openings included for doors and windows.

As in the U.S., wood preserving is a growing market. Announced at Batibois (pronounced batty-bwah) were the four official classifications for treated wood by the Association Francaise pour la Preservation du Bois or the French wood preservation association.

The AFPB allows four classes: one and two involve brushed or painted on chemical preservatives for non-ground contact applications, while classes three and four are for wood pressure treated with water borne chemicals for use as sill stock and other ground contact applications. The AFPB is a rules writing and control organization only, similar to such groups in this country.

The computer revolution and the French enthusiam for it were much in evidence. Virtually scores of new software applications have been developed for applications ranging from land planning use through construction to product design. Videotext, a computer method of bringing up information on practically any subject, was featured as well. Videotext has been a big success in France as the government has spent millions to force the development and use of this communication and information retrieval method. Experiments with it in the U.S. have not been commercially successful.

There were 291 exhibitors with 72 ofthem from l9 other countries. truly an international exposition. Like the attendance figures of more than 10,000 professional visitors, these numbers represent a slight increase from the first Batibois. held in 1984. The show willnext be held October 4-9, 1988.

The expo was again in Bordeaux, France. While perhaps better known for its outstanding red wines, Bordeaux is also adjacent to the largest single pine forest in Europe. The city will also be the site for the 1988 version. In addition to a large local wood industry, the Port of Bordeaux is active in shipping wood products. The Star Shipping Co., for example, has regular container line runs to Long Beach and Oakland, Ca.

Despite the talk here of our