New wood treating plant

Reflecting the increased demand for pressure treated wood products, a new treating company has opened in the Southernmost city in California's Great Central Valley.

Pacific Wood Preserving of Bakersfield, situated on l0 acres, with an 8 car rail spur, has a CCA salt treating cylinder which can handle more than 30,000 board feet Per charge, making it one of the largest in the West.

A Koppers'licensee, PWPB uses the Wolman method to treat posts, poles, pilings, grape stakes, dimension lumber, timbers and cross arms as well as doing customer treating. According to general manager Steve Ryan, PWPB has weekend loading and unloading, compu- terized inventory control, and can provide limited storage for customers at the plant, which is 1% miles off Hwy 99. The firm has two 18,000 lb. forklifts to speed material handling.

An IBM System 32 handles computerized inventory control for the firm and customer as well as payroll, accounts receivable an! accounts payable. Bi-weekly printouts including numerical unit designation of dimension, species, grade, total pieces and lengths is available to customers.

An electric eye sorting and stacking machine with the capability of 1 50,000 feet per day enables the pulling of random length products. a service offered free to customers.

The company marketing area is the entire Pacific southwest.

TREATII{G CYtlllDER at Pacif ic Wood Preserving of Bakersfield facility is capable ol handling more than 30,000 board feet per cnarge.

New Firm Stresses Cedar

Mission Forest Products recentlv opened in Hollister, Ca., to service wholesale and distribution vards.

Under the management-of Jack F. Smith. the company will speciali_ze in all species of cedar products. Cedar feqcing will be a principal product. They are exclusive sales representatives for California 9tlp9 Stake and California Split Rail Fence products.

Treated and untreated poles for the farm and ranch supply dealers also will be stocked.

Construction to Decline 7olo

Construction contracting this year is now expected to total $155 billion, a decline of $15 billion fronr a forecast issued six months aso and Tolt below the actual amou"nt spent in 1979. reports McGraw-Hill Information Systems Co. The brightest spot in the revised forecast is commercial and industrial construction, which sustained its 1979 boom intothe early months of 1980.

The report reveals that contracting for housing will come to $62.9 billion. a ,16"1, drop lrom lasl year's value of $74.7 billion: nonreiidential construction, at $49.8 billion, will be virtually unchanged from the 1979 level: and nonbuildine construction is expected to end thE year al $42.3 billion, iust l%, above last year's level.

Tax Payment Settles Suit

In an unprecedented settlement, four major United States gypsum board manufacturers have agreed to pay in taxes a portion of the estimated $35 million they would have been liable for if they had been convicted in an antitrust suit pending since 1978.

The exact amount of payment due under the agreement wilh the Justice Department will not be known until an IRS audit is com- pleted, but individual estimates given by the firms add up to at least $5.5 million.

_ Four companies. U.S. Gypsum Co., Chicago. Il.l National Gypsum Co., Dallas, Tx.: Georsia-Pacific Corp., Portland. Or.. and Celotex Corp., Tampa, Fl.. were convicted in 1975 of price fixing on $4.8 billion worth of gypsum board.

The Supreme Court overturned the conviction and ordered a retrial in 1978.

Nine Time Savers

The time you save is your own; try these nine tips to get more out ot your day.

( I ) List priority jobs for the next day before leaving for the day.

(2) Log all activities to identify and define work palterns.

(3) Set an announced time limit for each meeting.

(4) Cut telephone calls by having them screened with only listed people put through.

(5) Work at an even pace: rushing can waste tinte and result in mistakes.

(6) Place your desk so thar your back is to the door.

(7) Say no when someone asks if you have a minute.

(8) Eliminate extra chairs in your office; people who stand leave sooner.

(9) Be positive about spending time.instead of worrying about savrng tlme.

All Coast brings hard woods andsoft woods from Canada, Washington, Oregon, ldaho and Northern California - Viawater,rail, truck and trailer lor distribution to you. Our new complete remanufacturing andmilling facility, distribution center and fleet of trucks enable us to provide dependable delivery service anywhere in the South West U.S. Service is not our motto, it's our Business."

Home "Fix Up" Increase

The home improvement industry will continue to grow three to four times faster than the GNP. and faster than most other retail nrarkets, E.L. McNeely. chairnran and c.e.o., The Wickes Corp.. San Diego, Ca., told the National Home Center/Home Inrprovenrent Congress & Exposition in Dallas. Tx.

Citing "unique and changing social and economic forces over the next decade," he pointed out that demographics are highly favorable. "The total number of households in the U.S. will increase by 20t\, over the next ten years, but the number of households in the 25-44 year age group, the prine nrarket flor home purchase and improvn1ent, will increae by a robust 35%,. "

"The astounding run-up in the price ofan average honre has led to remodeling activity. People who might normally buy a new honre are now remodeling or adding a room instead. First-time buyers are forced by economic reality to purchase older honres and fix them up."

Growth in the home center industry comes. McNeely pointed out, because "People are much less willing to pay a tradesman $20 or more an hour to do a job which, with a little study and effort, they can do themselves."

"Gasoline consumption is down. people are taking fewer trips and spending more tinte at home." As a result, "people are willing to invest more tinre, nroney, and effort to improve the contfort and appearance of their living environnlents.

"ln a tinre of tight money and recession. the home center industry is helping to prolong the life of existing housing. We provide jobs and economic growth in our own industry and supplier industries. Providing useful products and services that benefit people is a fundanrental purpose of our business," he concluded.

New Mfg./Wholesaler Opens

M. Roach Forest Products, a manufacturing and wholesale company, has been opened in Eureka, Ca., by Mike Roach.

The firm will handle redwood, Douglas fir, Ponderosa and sugar pine. They will be able to provide select, commonss finger-joint, cut stock, lath, timbers, split products, fencing, and decking.

According to Roach, who previously was associated with CalPacific Mfg. Co., Arcata, Ca., they will also be industrial specialists.

RE0W00D PIAIITER f illed with dirt f rom the Western Pacilic Industrial Park, Tracy, Ca., is used for symbolic groundbreaking ceremonies launching construction ol the 150,000 sq. ft. Celotex Building Product Div. manufacturing facility there. [[eft lo rightlA.H. Philipp, Celotex mlg. v.p.; Fred S. Incardi, Tracy mayor, Roger Birdsall, pres., chamber ol commerce; Frank S. Burgen, Celotex pres.; and Adrian Fondse, San Joaquin County Supervisor, Scheduled to be in operation in August, the plant will produce Thermax sheathing and insulation board.

The Wood Moulding and Millwork Producers. a trade association representing 80(1, of the country's softwood nroulding and nrillwork nranulaclurers, is initiating a program to increase wood nroulding use by consunters,renrodelers and builders.

According to Bernard J. Tonrasko, exec. v.p., Portland, Or.. the new program will support the sales efforts of dealers and distributors and create sales opportunities for them by reaching key audiences.

Homeowners, especially those planning d-i-y projects, represent an inrportant ntarket. Educating homeowners is one objective of the progrant.

WMMP plans to provide infor-

New Oak lmport Regs

New regulations on the inrport of oak lunrber went into effect on April l, for all member countries of the European Community.

However. these will not be as restrictive as anticipated. Lumber which is bark and wane free or which is bark free and kiln dried to nration on wood moulding through the pages of local newspapers. As part of the progrant, they will use the Home Planning news service to supply editors of newspapers across the country with photographs and feature articles on wood nrouldine. The articles will include an off,er fdr WMMP literature as well as refer the reader to his local dealer for materials and further assistance.

In addition. the association plans to work with editors of shelrei and "how-to" publicarions to highlight wood nroulding in feature articles.

WMMP plans 1o speak ro the nation's builders through the trade nredia and the publication of a Buildcrs'Raport, utilizing a case history format.

20%r moisture content will be able to enter with no other restrictions.

Regarding oak logs, the big users, the Benelux countries (Belgiunr, Netherlands and Luxemburg) and Germany, which import 950h of the logs, have agreed to accept logs with bark, although these will be subject to a new poten- tially restrictive certification system.

At present it appears that France, the United Kingdom, ltaly, lreland and Denmark will apply the new provisions for lumber imports to logs as well. This would effectively preclude U.S. oak log exports to these countries.

Stress Creates Problems

Employee problems such as poor performance, low morale. tardiness, absenteeisnr. and high turnover are often the result of high stress on the job, according to man\ personnel adnr n istrators.

Stress can result fronr excessive responsibility, too nruch routine, too rigid job duties, too nruch work and poor nratching of employee's personality to work.

The opposite of these situations also can bring stress. too liitle work. anrbiguous job definition, too little routine, and lack of responsibility.

Reconrnrended procedure is nroderation in setting up workloads. If management policies are enforced to an extrenle, they can result in a high stress factor that is harmful to employees and unproductive to the enrployer.

RAY TEAK[E Chairman of the Board California Builders Supply

FRED DUCHI Owner Siskiyou Forest Products

The Starboard System was designed to solve the problems facing the lumber industry. We give you the tools to control inventory and sales costs. Stock status and credit information is immediately available and accurate.

Solve Warehouse Thefts

Warehouse pilferage is a problem with solutions; here are eight ways to control it.

(l) Avoid storing outside ladders, pallets, anything that can be climbed on to gain access to the building.

(2) Keep tools such as hammers and crowbars which can be used in a break-in stored securely.

(3) Check copies of all papers and orders for changes in figures, missing copies and discrepencies to avoid inside theft.

(4) Do not allow drivers to enter warehouses or move goods to trucks.

(5) Keep warehouse personnel and drivers apart to avoid collusion.

(6) Keep an eye on employees who never take a day off.

(7) Make one person responsible for all package shipments.

(8) Allow only authorized people in a warehouse: no customers.

Watch Your Language

Be careful that calls about overdue accounts do not violate the state and federal laws concerning abusive, harassing, or threatening calls.

Check your telephone directory for guidelines. Always identify yourself and the reason for your call in a courteous, but firm and businesslike manner.

Don't talk about anything but the overdue account, stay calm, and speak in a normal tone. Be polite.

Make the call between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. unless the debtor has given permission to call at other times. An early or late call can be considered harassing.

GBAPEUII{ES and olive trees make for a scenic view f rom G&R Lumber's new office at their Cloverdale, Ca., facility. Part of a year and one-half upgrading, the 2,700 sq. ft. offices have a shake r00f and redwood plywood siding. Sales oflice, which had carried the parent company's name of Redwood Empire was changed last Fall to G&R. A new green chain has been added at the mill and an additional green chain with a single band resaw as well as a twin band resaw are in the process ol being added. Nine of their 1 8 acres have been blacktopped with the balance left in the grapes you see here. Who knows. mavbe we'll see a G&R Cabernet Sauvionon in the future?

Order a Simpson Stok-Lam Beam and see what makes them different from ordinary glueJaminated beams. They're cut toorder,right out of inventory. The Stok-Lam Beam you want today isn'twaiting tobe cut and milled out in some yard. It's in Simpson Building Supply inventory righf notL When we get your size requirement, we cut to your specifications - any length you want, up to 72 feet. And then we deliver, as fast as humanly possible.

If

you're saving time, you're saving interest.

Nobody has to tellyou how expensive it is to borrow from the bank. And every day jobs are delayed waiting for beams, it's costing plenty.

At the high rate of today's interest, specifuing Simpson Stok-Lam Beams can be a good hedge against inflation - especially when you consider that they're longer and straighter than sawn timber. Less expensive than steel. With allthe advantages of laminated wood: beauty, high strength-to-weight ratio, easy workability, dimensional stability and good insulation and fire resistance.

Simpson Stok-Lam Beams are rated as architecturalgrade beams. And they're made of lumber specially selected for good laminating qualities. A superstrength waterproof adhesive keeps them permanently bonded together.

For more information about Stok-Lam Beams, contact Simpson Building Supply.

Super-fast delivery saves days on the job.

Naturally, the faster you get yourStok-Lam Beams,the faster jobs get done. You and your customers won't have to worry about expensive sub-contracting delays or paying for labor that's idle because of the hold-up. And you can go on to other profitable jobs a lot faster.