Top 25 PreSsure Treaters

Companies are ranked by production of lumber, timbers and specialty products. Firms exclusively treating poles, pilings, raikoad ties, etc., are not included. Abbreviations include NIP (Not for Publication), NA (Not Available), FRT (Fire Relardant Treatment), and WR (Water Bepellent).

All inlormation was provided by the companies themselves. While every effort was made to ensure full accuracy and completeness, several larger treaters elected not lo parlicipate in this survey.

-The Editors same way," explains the ALSC's Seades.

Todd Greer, vice president of treated wood for Timber Products Inspection, Inc., an AlSC-accredited wood products inspection agency based in Conyers, Ga., concurs. "Third-party inspection levels the playing field for all wood treaters by ensuring that everyone is playing by the same rules."

Treaters have a vested interest in selling products that meet industry standards-and in documenting this fact via independent certification. After all, in the event of a product failure, the treater or manufacturer is ultimately liable.

According to John Stauber, president of Innovative Pine Technology, a division of Lakes States Lumber, a leading Midwestern supplier of treated lumber, "Even though only approximately 5OVo of our customers are aware of and request third-party inspection, l\OVo of all our applicable treated lumber is third-party certified. It's expensive for us to do this, but it's money well spent. For us, third-party inspection is a selling advantage and a very important part of our sales presentations to the big box stores as well as the independent lumber yards."

Rank Company '04 '03

Annual Production (mi[ions bd. tr.)

2004 2003 Chanoe

1 Universal Forest Prodscts

Grand Rapids, Mi.

Third-party inspection also helps to minimize price undercutting, an issue with trickle-down impact on the retail community.

1146 1271

24 plants: Windsor, Co,; Aubumdale, Fl.; Moultrie, Union City, Ga.; Granger, Westville, In.; Belchertown, Ma.; Lansing, Mi.; White Bear Lake, Mn.; Hanisonville, Mo.; Elizabeth City, Salisbury, N.C.; Blanchester, Hamilton, Lodi, Oh.; Gordon, Stockertown, Pa.; New Waverly, Saginaw, ScherE, Silsbee, Tx.; Ranson, W.V,; Janesville (2), Wi.

Trealments: CCA, ACQ, Borates, FRT, WR, Colorant

Products: Lumber, Plywood, Timbers, Speciatties, Posts

2 Great Southern lTood Preserving Nfp Nfp

+1o/o Abbeville, Al.

7 olants: Abbeville, Mobile, Muscle Shoals, Al.; Sumter County, Fl.; Conyers, Statesboro, Ga.; Columbus, Tx.

Treatments: CCA, ACQ, Borates, FRT, WR

Products: Lumber, Plywood, Timbers, Specialties, Pilings, Posts

3 GeorgiaPacific Corp. Nfp 953

Nfp Atlanta, Ga.

9 plants: Louisville (2), Nauvoo, Athens, Al.; Middleburg, N.C.; Mineola, Tx.; Rock Hill, S.C.; Rockledge, Fl.; Brunswick, Ga.

Treatments: ACQ, WR

Producls: Lumber, Plywood, Timbers, Specialties

Stauber adds, "If we didn't inspect our lumber at Innovative Pine Technology, we could enjoy increased margins. By offering third-party inspection though, we're showing our customers that we don't cut corners."

llealem ln the llrtvet's Seat

Building products dealers are in a unique position to drive the industry toward more widespread adoption of third-party inspection-with positive benefits for all involved. However, awareness of this issue among the retail community appears to be somewhat inconsistent.

As an inspector, Greer has observed that: "The upper level management at the big box stores require third-parfy inspection. They understand that it is a selling point and that it levels the playing field. At the store level, however, managers may not understand the importance of the quality mark and may not be checking each incoming shipment for proper verification."

By checking incoming shipments for quality certification, managers protect their purchasing power by ensuring