Engineered Wood Training Online

APA-The Engineered Wood Association now offers free online training to help keep dealers and distributors current on the characteristics and common applications of engineered wood products.

Completion of the class allows you to:

. Answer common questions about engineered wood products and their applications:

Better communicate the benefits of wood structural panels and other engineered wood products;

. Help customers select the right product for the job; Give customers valuable installation tips, and

. Increase sales effectiveness and help better serve customers.

Presented in an easy-to-navigate Web format, APA's Wood University is housed at www.wooduniversity.org. Its mission is to expand architects' and building professionals' understanding of engineered wood products and applications through engaging curriculum, which is based on APA's extensive resources.

The products covered include I-joists, glulam beams and wood structural panels, such as plywood, OSB and composite panels.

Wood University courses are free, and classes are always in session. Courses are accredited by the American Institute of Architects continuing education system and the American Institute of Building Designers continuing education program.

Course 101: Engineered Wood Basics, serves as Wood University's backbone. Included in this comprehensive course are five units, each taking approximately an hour to complete. The modules are designed to give you an understanding of engineered wood products, including how to specify the right product for the right application.

Unit 1: Understanding Engineered Wood Products, introduces the engineered wood product family: categories, characteristics and quality standards.

Unit 2: Selling Engineered Wood, explains engineered wood product features, as they relate to system applications.

Unit 3: Structural Wood Panel Grades and Applications, explains the information shown in the APA trademark and how it relates to floor, wall and roof construction. It also explains APA Performance Rated Panels, span ratings, exposure durability, grades and specialty panel definitions.

Unit 4: Glulam Basics, is a primer on glulams, one of the oldest engineered wood products. It explains specification and application of APA EWS Trademarked Glulam.

Unit 5: Understanding I-Joists, is a primer on the composition, specification and application of APA Performance Rated l-Joists.

Wood University's learning center also includes a comprehensive engineered wood glossary, current product specifications and design tables, streaming video clips of engineered wood product manufacturers, and nearly 300 APA publications available for download as PDF files.

(Continued from page 34) tal, are piped into one of 20-plus Allen-Bradley Controllogix PLCs within the plant. The PLC is the brain behind the function of the process and responds to input signals from field devices such as limit switches, photo cells, thermocouple, etc. with appropriate output signals to devices such as motor starters and solenoid valves to set the machinery in motion. Each one of the approximately 400 motors is wired into a motor starter or an Allen-Bradley l336Plus variable frequency drive depending on the application. The PLCs have a two-way communication channel with each one of these devices by means of ControlNet and DeviceNet. The motor starter or frequency drive is hardwired to a DeviceNet module mounted along side in the same enclosure. The module is in turn wired to a bridge that is mounted in the MCC. This bridge allows DeviceNet and ControlNet networks to be connected and ultimately communicate with the Controllogix PLC.

An Ethernet network runs parallel to the ControlNet network. The

Ethernet serves a dual purpose by providing redundancy within the machine control system, as well as allowing for communication with the administration department and beyond to the outside world. With the correct software and knowhow, a technician can sit in an office or shop in any remote location and monitor, troubleshoot, or even program one of the PLCs.

INSIDE the state-of-the-art quality assurance lab, a technician pedorms LVL bending strength tests.

The prime purpose for the Ethernet is to allow communication with the SQL database, which stores the production and operating data for later retrieval and use by operators or managers. Wonderware FactorySuite is used to round up the data and then plug it into the SQL database for later use. The managers use the data for production quality tracking, while the operations use the data for control. In the operations systems, 30-plus AllenBradley 1000E touch screen manmachine-interface devices display process information and allow for machine control as well as aid in the troubleshooting of the process machinery.

The dryer department has an annual capacity of 200 million (3/8") ft. Equipment includes two RFP/Coe re(Please turn to page 42)

There are a lot of good reasons for carrying L-P Solid Start' products: wide variety a limited lifetime warranty and the fact that they build great homes.

Full line now available in stockr

. LPI'20 and 32 series l-joists (solid sawn flanged)

. LPI 200, 225 and 300 series l-joists (Gang-Lam" LVLflanged)

. LPI 36 and 56 series l-joists (Gang-Lam LVL flanged)

. Gang-Lam 2650 Fb and 2950 Fb beams in standard and billet thicknesses (1-3/4" to 7" thick)

. Solid Start rim board

For more information, including a copy of our warranty, contact Huff Lumber.

y' Extensive inventories & services for all your treated requirements: CCA Hem Fir & Southern Yellow Pine, Sunwood P/as'Decking, ACZA Douglas Fir, Interior & Exterior Fire Retardant, Kiln Drying, Remanufacturing & T.S.0.

y' Seven locations serving eleven Western states, Alaska and Hawaii Treating Plants: Washougal, WA; White City, OR; loveland, CO; and Fort Collins, C0. Distribution Centers: Ferndale, WA; Woodland, CA; and Mira Loma, CA y' Experienced professionals to help you get the right pressure treated wood product for your customer. y' Prompt 'Just in Time" delivery [.T.[. or T/L quantities. y' Custom packaging for fob site, export or your yard inventory requlrements

Washougal (800) 777-8134 Ferndale (800),637-0992

Medford (800)759-5909

Circle No. 122onp.70

Loveland (800) 621-099r