Power Beams:

Hardwood Output Stays Strong

The hardwood industry in the U.S. continues to divenify to maintain its share of the global marketplace, according to speakers at the recent International Woodworking Machinery & Furniture Supply Fair.

"Hardwood lumber production is at approximately the same level today as it was 30 years ago, about 14 billion bd. ft. (BBF) of hardwood lumber produced annually by sawmills in the United States," said Mark Barford, executive v.p., Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers. "During those years, nearly half of the mills have gone out of business; the average price for lumber has increased 500Vo, and the average costs of logs has increased l,2OOVo.-

Today's 14 BBF, though, includes various non-traditional markets. Pallets account for 4.5 BBF; dimension, 2.5 BBF; turniture,2.5 BBF; cabinetry I BBF (up 48% since 1992); flooring, 895 million bd. ft. (MMBF) (up 5502o since 1982, but still short of record levels produced in the 1950s); millwork, 860 MMBR and railroad crossties, 800 MMBF.

The U.S. imports 400 MMBF of hardwoods. It exports 100 MMBF of dimension and 1.2 BBF of lumber, less than l0Vo of total production. Although exports are a small portion of the total, they were increasing annually until slowed by recent events in Asia. Hardwood is exported to 104 countries, with the majority to Canada.

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Steve Lawser, executive director, Wood Component Manufacturers Association, forecast U.S. hardwood dimension and component shipments to reach $3.25 billion in 1998. Export shipments should increase by 7.7Vo to top $325 million.

"There continues to be a significant movement toward the production of more value-added wood products produced by traditional sawmill and dimension manufacturers," he explained. "Many sawmillers are now producing cut-to-size dimension products while producers of rough dimension are moving into the production of semi and fully machined component parts."

The largest markets for hardwood dimension and component products are furniture, cabinetry, and building products, including interior trim, moulding, millwork, staircases, flooring, etc. Red oak continues to be the dominant species used in the production of component products. Hard maple is a strong second, followed by poplar, white oak, cherry, soft maple, ash, white pine and yellow pine. There is also a growing use of engineered wood to produce wood component products.

"Rising production costs and increased global competi tion have caused finished wood product manufacturers to re-evaluate the need to produce everything in-house," Lawser added. "Purchasing components from outside sources allows a manufacturer to more accurately determine and control their production costs, thus making it easier to calculate profitable selling prices. This has created a trend among woodworkers to produce more value-added products as a way to diversify and grow, which in turn, increases their competitiveness in today's global marketplace."

International competition is squeezing margins for domestic wood product, furniture, kitchen cabinet and architectural millwork manufacturers, said Al Bibeau, executive director, Wood Products Manufacturers Association.

"Imports are playing a larger role than ever before," he

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Oreqon Mills Working Together

Douglas County, Or., mills have formed the Umpqua Valley iumberAssociation to foster goodwill with their custo."it and promote the area, which reportedly boasts the highest conc-entration of sawmills on the West Coast'

-According to Karen Larson, acting president of the Winchester, br.-based group, "In recent years, a chasm has developed between buyers and sellers. UVLA wants to take a step ioward dissolving the issues that built these walls"'

Sit for May 12'14, the group's first annual Mill Week invites customlrs to learn about the mills and enjoy the area'

In addition to a guided fishing trip, golf at the Myrtle Creek championship course and dining, the event includes a full day of tire sponlors opening their doors for mill tours'

Sponsoring tie event are mills Roseburg Forest Products' Oouglas County Forest Products, D.R. Johnson Lumber Co.,-Riddle Laminators and Umpqua Lumbel and remanufacturers Billboard Lumber and West Wind.

Located 65 miles south of Eugene and 100 miles north of

Medford, the valley also is home to Herbert Lumber, Keller Lumber, C&D Lumber, P&M Cedar Products, Sun Studs, Murphy Plywood, and Glide Lumber Co. The mills produce a *iie tang" of products, such as cuttings, studs, dimension' clears, -oitAingt, panels and specialty items, from coastal Douglas fir, weJtern hemlock, white fir, eslp, spf and cedar'

A-n "outdoorsman's paradise"' the scenic area is surrounded by mountains, framed by the famous Umpqua River, and home to elk, deer and countless types of fish'

Hardwood OutPut

( Continued from Page 26) said. "Nearly 25Vo of all furniture sold in the U'S is manufactured oudide of North America. Canada has long been the major exporter of furniture to the U.S. market, but will soon be overtaken bY China"'

Fueled by a needfor jobs, China has increased its furniture producion capacity with modern plllF that enabled "*pors to the U.S. to jump from $310 million in 1993 to nearly $1.3 billion in 1997. Imports 9!y-ood.-{u*iture rose i+qoit o $252 million in 1996 to $337 million in 1997' while furniture part impors increased 24% to $l'08 billion'

'"Ibchnology has advanced beyond all expectations' to the point whlie robotics, lasers, computer and numerical controlled equipment are an absolute must to remain competitiue," Sibeau noted' "Most machinery purchased in the i-1.s. *iit not be used to its optimum ability because there is a lack of skilled labor and shorter manufacturing cycles"'

He recommends concentrating on the education of present and future employees, since "offshore competition. is here to stay, with clieap tabor and some of the finest equip ment and tire best mod-ern technology at their disposal"'

Patrick Hunter, Blue Ox Timber, Orangevale, Ca., will celebrate his 40th birthday April 7 on a Windjammer Cruise in the Caribbean.

Mitch Boone, ex-Sagebrush Sales, is now with Cheshire Sales Co., Albuquerque, N.M.

Jack Davidson has resigned as president/mgr. of the Cedar Shake and Shingle Bureau and the British Columbia Shake and Shingle Association.

Jerry Hahn, ex-Stone Forest Industries, is the new white woods product mgr. at Diablo Timber, Napa, Ca.

Wes Piatt and Bryar McKlveen are new to Intermountain-Orient, Inc., Boise, Id.

Joe Jameson is new to sales at D.R. Johnson Lumber Co., Riddle, Or.

Paul W. Ifansen has joined the board of directors for Louisiana-Pacifi c Corp., Portland, Or., succeeding former Delaware Governor Pete du Pont, who has retired after l0 years.

Steven R. Rogel, president and c.e.o., Weyerhaeuser Co., Federal Way, Wa., will also become chairman April 20, succeeding George Weyerhaeuser, who will remain on the board.

Brian Murray, ex-Newell, has joined Contact International, Portland, Or., as marketing mgr. Terry Grifnth has left the company.

Winslow II. Buxton has joined the board of directors of Willamette Industries, Portland, Or., succeeding C.W. Knodell, who is retiring.

Chris Waehrer. ex-TreeSource, is new to sales at Michael Jones Lumber Sales. Inc., Wilsonville, Or.

Eric Rue, son of Dan Rue, has joined Mid-Pacific Trading, Rancho Cordova, Ca., after playing professional soccer in Sens, France.

Rick Saunders, previously with Warm Springs Forest Products, has been named lumber manufacturing mgr. for Roseburg Forest Products, Redding, Ca.

Pamm Silver is the new product promotion coordinator for McFarland Cascade, Tacoma, Wa.

Robert W. Cox has been elected to the board of directors of HomeBase Inc., Irvine, Ca.

Ilarry Andreason, mgr., Boise Cascade, Denver, Co., has retired after 28 yean. Marty Weaver, inside sales, retired after 30 yean.

Dave Heine has been promoted to v.p., purchasing, pro and commercial products at Do it Best Corp. Dave Cole is v.p. of purchasing, succeeding Ray Treen, who will retire July l. Brian Kimball, mgr., store development and rcal estate, will also be responsible for store design and merchandising. Tim Miller is now mgr. of retail logistics services.

Jeff Williams, ex-General Products Co., Inc., is the new communications mgr. for domestic and intemational marketing at Weather Shield Windows and Doors.

Jim Wooley has retired as vice president of Barnett Co., Denver, Co., after 53 years with the company. His wife, Alice, has retired as comptroller and secretary after 25 years.

Craig Trull is now in charge of international sales for Greenwood Forest Products, Portland, Or.

James Sharp has joined Kelleher Corp.'s special products division, working out of their Sacramento, Ca., warehouse.

Tim Johnson, v.p., Hirt & Wood Lumber Co., Eugene, Or., and his wife, Kerrie, are vacationing in France.

Dennis Dykstra has been appointed president of the World Forestry Center, Portland, Or., succeeding John Blackwell, who is resigning after 25 years at the post.

Dick King is the new mgr. of architectural ceilings, strategic national accounts at Celotex Corp.

Steve and Jeff Allred, Allred's Ace Hardware, Pleasant Grove, Ut., received a Golden Ace award from Ace Hardware. Other winners: Sherwood and Bobbi Stauder, Gallup Lumber, Gallup, N.M.; Matt Riley, Piedmont Lumber, Pinsburg, Ca., and Shane and Debra Bignell, Homesteaders Lumber, Big Lake, Ak.

Jenny Keehan has been promoted to senior v.p., marketing & special projects at the International Mass Retail Association.

Ulysses Garcla has been named store mgr. of the new Home Depot in Albany, Or.

Rick llagel, Burns, Morris & Stewart, L.P., Nacogdoches, Tx., was elected president of the Wood Moulding & Millwork Producers Association, replacing Jim Snodgrass, Contact Lumber Co., Portland, Or. Guy Boulanger, Roland Boulanger & Co. Ltd., Warwick, Quebec, Canada, is v.p.; Charles Shawver, Rocky Mountain Forest Products, Laramie, Wy., 2nd v.p.; Michael C. Massa, Corning Moulding Corp., Corning, Ca., treasurer, and Bob Weiglein, executive v.p. and secretary. New directors: John Myers, American Pine Products, Prineville, Or.; John Wall, Yuba River Moulding & Millwork, Marysville, Ca., and Brian Greber, Weyerhaeuser Co., Hot Springs, Ar.

Byron Potter, Dallas Wholesale Builders Supply Inc., Dallas, Tx., has been elected chairman-elect of the National Association Of Wholesale Distributors. Mike McClelland, Do it Best Corp., is the new treasurer.

Robert Harris has been promoted to v.p., sales at DW Distribution.

Michael J. Giglio has joined AEC Info as a U.S.-based mktg. director.

Peter Pallatta was appointed marketing mgr. for Truecraft Tools.

Gordy Martin, Cooling Tower Resources, Healdsburg, Ca., is back from a Louisiana business trip.

Sam Keator, Agwood Inc., Tualatin, Or., was in Bangkok and rural Thailand as part of a 5fth birthday celebration for his brother.

Greg Wisner has been appointed marketing mgr. at Fluidmaster, Inc.

Claudia and John Lima. Redwood Forcst Products, Arcata, Ca., are back from an Australia vacation.

Ophelia llart is in charge of first aid at Mungus-Fungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., according to owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.

Sitters Ordered Out Of Tree

Pacific Lumber Co. has ordered environmental activist Julia "Britlerfly" Hill and two other tree-sitters to climb down from their perches or face ,uTest.

Hill,24, has been living for over a year in a 600-year-old redwood tree that she has dubbed "Luna" (see October, p.6).

Palco has become concerned abut the activists safety, after one of them recently fell from a tree and suffered a broken pelvis.