Lanoga To Buy San Lorenzo Lumber

Lanoga Corp. division Lumbermens of Washington, Inc., Olympia, Wa., has agreed to acquire six-unit San Lorenzo Lumber Co., Santa Cruz, Ca.

The dealer is set to begin operations as part of Lumbermen's March l, but will retain the San Lorenzo Lumber name.

"San Lorenzo Lumber is the premier supplier of building materials along the coast of Central California, south of the San Francisco Bay Area. This is a great company from which to establish our 'beachhead' in the Northern California," said M. David Dittmer, president of Lumbermens.

During the transition, San Lorenzo Lumber's owners, brothers Mike and Bob Butcher, will stay with the company, as will its 330 employees. The business was founded in 1936 and acquired by the Butcher family in 1957.

San Lorenzo has yards in Felton, Soquel, Salinas, Lathrop and two in Santa Cruz, Ca., including a millwork plant. Sales last year exceeded $100 million.

Lumbermens operates 50 contrac- tor yards in Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Arizona, as part of 300-unit parent company Lanoga.

Boise Sells Yakima Mills

After two years of evaluations, Boise Cascade Corp, Boise, Id., sold its Yakima, Wa., plywood plant and sawmill complex.

Frontier Resources, LLC, Eugene, Or., purchased the plant and is now deciding what to do with the property.

Boise will retain ownership and manage the holdings of its 200,000 acres of central Washinston timberlands.

Hoover Adds Western Facility

Hoover Treated Wood Products, Inc., the largest fire retardant treated wood producer in the world, has opened a new treating plant in Winston, Or.

The plant will offer fire retardant treated wood-both Pyro-Guard interior and Exterior Fire-X exterior FRTW plywood and lumber-for immediate shipment via truck or rail.

Steve Rogg is handling sales for the facility, which is strategically located near the I-5 corridor to serve customers in the Western and Mountain states.

Thomson, Ga.-based Hoover also operates treating facilities in Thomson; Milford, Va.; Detroit, Mi., and Pine Bluff. Ar.. and has licensees in the western U.S. and abroad.

Weyco Regroups OSB Lines

Weyerhaeuser has reorganized its OSB product offerings into a "good, better and best" panel strategy.

According to Weyerhaeuser, "the direction simplifies the product line by providing what customers demandstrong performance at a good value.

The products offer a distinct set of features and benefits specifically addressing the needs of targeted builders and homeowners."

Structurwood Edge, a standard PS2-grade OSB panel, will be marketed for starter and single-family homes.

The next step up, Structurwood Edge Gold, is a premium PS2-grade OSB offering refined engineering to include tighter specification and a unique wood-resin combination said to stand up to weather with superior

AHMA Sues Ex-Show Partner

American Hardware Manufacturers Association is suing its former National Hardware Show partner, management company Reed Exhibitions. This spring AHMA and Reed are staging competing shows.

AHMA alleges that Reed received commissions, rebates and kickbacks from vendors including the show's general contractor, Freeman Decorating, and permitted Freeman and others to divert those costs directly to exhibitors in violation of its contract with AHMA. The association contends that overcharging exhibitors and resistance to edge swell. It is designed for all levels of homes, from entrylevel to luxury. concealing revenues and expenses from AHMA ultimately led to the Chicago show's decline.

Specifically targeting luxury homes. TJ Performance Plus Panel (P3) is a component of Trus Joist's new FrameWorks floor system. It comes in full depths with stiffer, improved prerformance to reduce problems with hardwood floor and ceramic tile applications. It also has a clear edge seal to keep out moisture and keep floors flat.

Reed denies the charges, which include breach of contract. fraud. civil conspiracy, tortious interference with prospective economic advantage and contractual relationships, and violation of the Lanham Act and the Illinois Consumer Fraud & Deceptive Business Practices Act.

AHMA is seeking over $10 million in damages and asking Reed to provide a full accounting of its show revenues and exoenses from 1977 to 2003.