Lowe's Breaking Ground ln West

Lowe's Cos. plans to break ground this month on three stores in Southern Califcnia, the first of at least 50 plann€d for the West over the next tlree years.

The North Wilkesboro, N.C.-based chain will spend more than $500 million over the next Orce to four years building 30 stor€s in the Los Angeles area.

The initial locations, in Long Beach, Rancho Cucamonga and Temecula, are expected to open by

Lumbermen's Adds Big Dealer

Lumbermen's of Washington, Olympia Wa-, has acquired McGuire Lumber Co., Yakima, Wa, the largest independent lumberyard in Central Washington and one of the biggest in the state.

Due to the newly acquired dealer's significant local market share, Lumbennen's will maintain the McGuire Lumber name and incorporate it into their overall marketing scheme.

Christrnas. In the meantime, existing Eagle Hardware & Garden stores in Southern California, including Chino Hills, La Quinta, Norwalk and Westminster, will be converted to Lowe's stores after a merger between the two companies is complete.

To supply its planned locations in Southern California. Arizona and Nevada, Lowe's will build a regional distribution center in the Southland, specifically-according to the Los Angeles Times-in Moreno Valley.

In addition to serving the professional builder, McGuire also operates a custom finish department and residential insulation installer PRO Insulation.

Guidelines Cut Pallet Costs

The National Wooden Pallet & Container Association has developed national guidelines to help pallet and container owners reduce the loss of proprietary palles and containers.

The guidelines include: notification (communicating their ownership claim to customers and handlers), distinctive markings (clearly identi$ing their property), tracking (keeping track of each pallet or container to identify shortages), and retrieval (gathering up stray pallets and containen).

NWPCA is finalizing a national database where pallet and container owners will be able to register their proprietary pallet and container claims, procedures and contact information, so owners can arrange identification and recovery of their property and compensation to recyclers for recovering and handling it.

Insulation Continues Growth

Worldwide demand for thermal insulation materials is forecast to rise 5% annually through 2002 to $16.1 billion, according to the Freedonia Group.

Foamed plastic insulation will experience the fastest growth, rising 5.8Vo to $6.8 billion. Mineral wool insulation will increase 4.7Vo, slightly faster than fiberglass.