Industry group develops long range plan

By Richard F. Catchpole Director of Product Acceptance Society of American Wood Preservers, Inc. Arlington, Va.

1f, SPECIAL task group to review Isgrrsnt market possibilities and look at known impediments to the acceptance and specification of pressure treated wood products has been appointed by the product acceptance committee of the Society of American Wood Preservers, Inc.

This group, chaired by Jim Gauntt, Osmose Wood Preserving Co. of America, includes Robert Eckert, Weyerhaeuser Co., Fred Omundson, Mineral Research and Development Corp., Barry Holden, Hoover Tieated Wood Products, Rick Donaldson, Weekley Lumber Co., and myself. In addition to reviewing current market possibilities, it will identify impediments which can result from use problems and prejudice and recommend solutions to them. A national long range plan will be developed to coordinate the planning of objectives and subsequent actions with other wood products trade associations.

To date, the group has completed their review of major marketing goals and ingredients that can affect pressure treated wood markets. It is anticipated that the overall plan will be completed by August and be revieWed by the industry and allied organizations soon thereafter.

The task group will invite allied wood products trade associations to a seminar where the National Long Range Plan for Pressure Tieated Wood will be examined. Success of the plan is dependent upon coordinated acceptance and action by the entire wood products industry. Since product promotion will be on a generic basis, the entire industry will benefit equally from the plan. A major decision, in addition to approving the plan concept, will be to determine administrative responsibilities under the overall umbrella objectives of substantially increasing existing pressure treated wood markets and developing new market opportunities.

Another area to be considered is quality control and quality treated wood products. There seems to be a direct relationship between impediments to markets and the need for a system to produce a quality product. The treating industry has an excellent quality control program at the present time that is working well and is widely accepted by regulatory agencies. Still problems persist, particularly with fire retardants, that demand to be resolved.

In summary, this activity will approach (1) development of a nationwide marketing plan; (2) enlistment of support by the entire wood products industry; (3) determining administrative responsibilities, and (4) concentration on quality products and quality control. Other factors necessary to assure the ultimate success of the nationwide program include a thorough review of research needs. educational seminars, building code amendments, promotional activities, plan of acceptance of pressure treated wood products at all consumer levels, and guidelines for nationwide coordination of marketing objectives.

Understandably, such a plan, even reduced to a smaller scale, is an ambitious one. And, the projected success of the plan is entirely dependent upon the cooperation of

Story at a Glance

Market study group sets goals for pressure treated wood. considers quality control. seeks support of entire wood products industry.

treated wood interests throughout the United States.

Statistics reveal that, over the past few years, there has developed a new consumer and specifier awareness of the benefits of the use of pressure treated wood. Some of this emanates from publicity surrounding use of the innovative All Weather Wood Foundation System, and corollary residential applications such as walks, patios, porches, stairs, decks and planters.

The committee has developed three and ten year goals for the industry. The major market goals for waterborne preservatives are to move from a current production level of approximately three billion board feet per year to four billion board feet per year by 1987 and six billion board feet per year by 1994. The major goals for fire retardant treated wood are to move from current production of 200 million board feet to 600 million board feet by 1987 and 1700-2000 million board feet bv 1994.

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