Growing strong

At Hampton Affitiates, growth is something we take very seriously. We're extendin! our reach geographically, expanding operations and diversifoing into new products. t Our latest offeringi is a line of Ponderosa pine hand-finished millwork products, available through the new Hampton manufacturingl and distribution facility in San Diego, California. This broadens our range of quality remanufactured products, which now includes molding, stepping, clears, flooring and radius-edged decking. And, of course, we conf/ tinu. ti offer all grad"es and siz"es of dimension lumber, including pressure-treated products. t fu one of the country's largest independent forest products companies, we grow, harvest, process and sell over a billion board feet of lumber a year, serving markets in the United States, Japan, Korea, Europe and Australia. 0 Our primary focus hasn't changed in over 50 years of successful growth - to meet customer needs in a fast changing forest products market. With six mills in Oregon, Texas and Alabama, two remanufacturing plants and four distribution centers, Hampton has the resources to ensure quality, service and on{ime delivery nationwide. Try us.

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'"' one-at-a-time basis. This year looks like western mills will have to overcome many obstacles at once," Robert H. Hunt, pres. of the Western Wood Products Association, told members at the annual spring meeting. down.

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Despite a projected slight improvement in lumber demand, Hunt said producers are faced with lower prices, tighter timber supplies and more foreign competition.

The general mood of the convention reflected the official position as both registered and unregistered attendees struck somber notes for 1996 in casual conversation. About 500 were registered, down about l5%o from when San Francisco is the convention site, indicating some degree of unhappiness with the La Quinta (Palm Springs), Ca., site due to its high cost and the scattered layout of the hotel

Story at a Glance

Producers and wholesalers may face another tough year if 1996 is a replay of last year ... attendance down 15% ... 1.36 million starts forecast.

buildings (read: no lobby). Critics say the layout drastically lowers the chances for making business contacts. Next spring's meeting will return to the St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco, March l1-14. This fall's gathering is in Coeur d'Alene, Id., Sept. 8-I 1

Hunt said slower economic growth and a stable housing market will increase lumber demand this year by O.8Vo, to 48 billion bd. ft., with new housing starts rising 0.lVo to 1.36 million. He noted housing construction could pick up in the latter part of the year as the supply of unsold new homes, now at 6.7 months, is worked

The substantial decline in lumber production, orders and shipments in the first quarter of 1995,