Hardwood meeting draws international crowd

RIBB0N CUTTING (1) opening the Third Inrernali0nal F0rest Products Exhibition was accomplished by IHPA director Harry Buckley (lourth from left) and Jack W. Millikan, tHpA president. (third from righl) and representatives 0f the exhibiting countries (2) Buckley. Millikan and IHPA exec, v.p. Keister Evans. (3) Peter Hewitt, Sang Kak Kim, Kwang Kon Yi. (4) Dawn & Jim Summerlin. (b) peter

Carleton, Dick 0smundson, Greg Frumkin, (6) Agnes Bateman, Roy Benton, Howard Bateman. (7) D. S. Kim, Muchtar Byna, Russ Haan, Tom Welsh, Joe Stolzoff. (8) Achbad Achmad, Karsudjono S. (9) Claus Burwik, Bill Suiter, Bruce Schuck. (10) Bill MacBeath, Gerry Millikan. (11) Pat S. Kramadibrata, Vernon Markham, Roman Wydra, Pat Bennelt. (12) Chuck Malitz, Robert & Margret Lai. Wil- son Brookes. (13) Eeth & Robert Renfro, 0liver Wong. (14) Ambrin Buang, Judy Evans. (15) Bill Davidson, Jack Davidson, John Porter. (16) Neil Rehkop, Henry Chow, Peter Mantione. ('17) Hans Holst, Dr. Philip Ling, Pat 0ppler. (18) Sally Yeong, Ken Roach, Claudia & John Lynn. (19) Ted Connelly, Bobby Abeleda.

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gathered at The Newporter, Newport Beach. Ca.. for the 28th annual convention of the International Hardwood Products Association and third annual International Forest Products Exhibition, March 6-10.

More than 250 people, a record crowd, were on hand for the up beat programs and business sessions which included the election of Peter Hewitt as president, succeeding Jack Millikan. C. W. Robinson was named as senior vice president and Harry Buckley, treasurer. Joe Stolzoff, Claus Peter Wolff and Ken Roach were added to the board of directors.

Outstanding was the word most heard in connection with the forest products exhibition arranged under the direction of Harry Buckley. Official exhibitors included the Indonesian Wood Panel Association, Indonesian Timber Society, Thiwan Plywood Manufacturers & Exporters Association, Korea Plywood Industries Association, West African Hardwood Imports, Ltd., Malaysian Timber Industry Board and Sabah Marketing Corporation Adn. Bhd. The attractive exhibits which included products, literature, and, in some cases, decorative items were the hub of activity during the convention.

Recognition of exhibiting delegates occupied most of the opening session with presentations highlighting each country represented. Following the official exhibit ribbon cutting, the group convened for lunch. Exhibiting country delegations were introduced by Jim Summerlin, director of region 2. Luncheon speaker was Dr. Art Lange, who gave a lively presentation on "Stress Management."

Story at a Glance

Record attendance at IHPA annual...outstanding forest products exhibit. . .industry sectors updated. .Peter Hewitt takes over as president.

The second day of the convention was devoted to meetings of the industry sectors with President Millikan moderating. Harry Buckley covered trading in the plywood session while

Wilson Brookes handled prefinishing with the assistance of Clark McDonald, Hardwood Plywood Manufacturers Association, clarifying formaldehyde emission regulations and HUD standards.

C. W. Robinson chaired the lumber panel with participants reporting availability of hardwood in various countries. David Bell-Salter and C. Neil Rehkop reviewed Africa including Liberia, both of which are exporting limited amounts to the U.S. Dan Moore updated the members on South America, stressing the effect of economic conditions in Brazil. Jim Summerlin in reporting on the Philippines, Indonesia, Thiwan, Korea and Malaysia asked representatives of each country for their input.

In the export session, Mike O'Shea presented John Poole, a customs broker fron Philadelphia, Pa., who described his role in the shipping paperwork shuffle at the port. Charles M. McSwain from the Port of Charleston, N.C., introduced their new document processing system, Orion, showing a film which clarified details of the computer network link-

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Builders Look at Housing

I)clc Hcrcicr . I.rcridcnt irl tltt' \a r!t)llili \.\()\lilTlrrlr')1 lirrtr;L l-ltttlilCr.

! n L,tl.l. :lr.'1'r' :clt:otutllr atlltt.tcd .uitiLltl Iitt( ()l i1i lnost 2.2 million rn Februarr anothcr "exccllcnt rnonth" for both construetion and honrc sales" "We rvon't bc ablc to sustain this pacc," he said. "Brrl ar ltlng Ir intererl tiile\ remain in their currenl l3 percent range, \\'e are confidcnt about starting 1.8 million units this year, up lfi),000 from last yearancl up 700,0fi) unitsfromthc l.l million started annually in 198 I and 1982."

According to a rcccntly completed surve) of more than 400 builders around thc countr!', 97fo o1' those polled saicl that this )'ear they rvould equal or exceed thcir production total: rceorded in 1983.

Beyoncl 1984, honever, builders werc nrucl.r less optimistic. The federal deficit will push up interest ratcs next year, according lo 62Vo of those polled. Such an increa\e in intcrcst rates would I'orce them to cut their produclion 20 - 300/o in 1985, 4390 of the respondcnts said. Another 33f/o of the builders polled said thev u'ould cut thcir procltrclion 30 -50u,'o tn l9E5 l.cealrsc of risrng tnlcrcsl ralcs

Ii, .r' , ri.l ilt. r.rpr.lli .rnl)r \)(1!llnr .1r'1i.jl,ll't.. llttrl!'l ..tll(\J r)ti iii! \\1 rnilltslralr()il alt.i tire ( ongre\. lrr reach an accord on a package of spendin_u cuts and tax increascs that riould crrt the detrcit bl' $150 billion over thrcc years.

Herder noted that the housing recovery in 1984 would be more balanced and more evenly distributed around the countrl'than last year. "ln 1983, Texas, Florida and Calilbrnia accounted for 390/o of all new housing units started, u'hile the top six states accounted for 500'o of the neu' housing market," he said. "Some of the hotter markets in Texas and elsewhere are nearing or have alrcady reached thcir peak, n'hile markets in California, the Northeast and the Midrvest are just now picking up momentum."

Alder Increases Continue

The current increasc in shipnrents ol Pacific Coast alder is directly relat- r Better than plastic falm because it lets water pass through to thirsty plant roots. r Manimizes wash away of mulch and stone. r lmpedes weed growlh. t Passes herbicides, tertilazers, insecticidesit's chemically inert.

The Merchant Magazine ed to tlte rcsurgence ol housir)g stitrts ancl horne remoclcling irr latc l98J ancl clrr-lV l9X-l it(({)r(lillg to tlrc \\eslern I I lrl.lti')r)(l \'.\r)! ltil l()tt lrrrrrqqlIrlt. i,)l l.r\+ itl\it!.lir ,t !r,li irtrtrcrl ,rrtr)\\tlt l()t ilti wootl *lttult i. use cl prirnarill lirr cabinets, lLrrnilure ancl grocerl pallets. 1985 should provc lo bc a verv strong y'ear l'or harcluoods ol' thc Northwest.

According to the WHA office, intcresl in startins neu nrills and inquirics regarding thc use of alder in manufacturing is brisk.

To go along with this new activity, the WHA has adoptcd the theme of "Grou' *'ith the Good Times" for its spring nrccting at thc l)ortland, Or., Red Lion - Lloyd Center, May 2, 3, and 4. Co-chairrnen Paul Mcyers, United Forest Products, and Ken McCoun, North Pacific Lumbcr Co., both ol Portland, sclccted the theme to cxprcss the grorvlh in the industry as rvell as erpected gron'th in thc association.

Kcynote spcakcr will be Oregon Governor Victor Atiyeh. Othcr informational spcakers u'ill be selected frorn busincss and government.

! Easy to cul and shape with scissors or knife,