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Roof Deck Seminqr

Plywood roof deck contractors from several western states recently participated with the plywood assn. in a one-day plywood roof deck seminar in Burlingame, Ca. Representatives of eight panelized plywood roof deck firms attended.

It has been estimated that plywood roof deck firms in the West will put down around I00 million sq. ft. of plywood decks this year.

Areas of mutual concern to the plywood industry and panelized plywood roof deck contractors were discussed. These included the use of grades other than Structural I for panelized roof decks, 2.4.L fior heavy timber construction, insurance and code restrictions, and methods of increasing the market for plywood roof decks.

New Wesfern PVC Plqnts

By early 1974, Johns-Manville will double its production of polyvinyl chloride plastic (pvc) pipe to over 200 million pounds. The capital expansion program calls for the addition of six new pvc pipe extrusion plants, scheduled to be opened within the next six months.

The new ecologically-sound manufacturing facilities are part of a $30 million expenditure that Denver-based Johns-Manville launched to meet the increased need for pvc pipe. \

Three of the new plants will be located in the West: McNary, Ore.; Pueblo, Colo., and Tuscon, Ariz. In addition, included in the program is a major expansion of existing pvc facilities at Long Beach and Stockton, Ca.

Record Loqd of Africon Logs

A load of African hardwood logs and lumber recently landed at the Port of Los Angeles, Ca., is believed to be a record for any West Coast port. There were some 950 logs, ranging in weight from B to 23 tons a piece. The 6,000 ton vessel carried more than 5,000 tons of logs and lumber.

Importer of the shipment was the Summit Lumber Co. of Long Beach. Company president Leo Seidner said there were obeche, naga, and ekki Iogs plus various other exotic hardwoods. In all, more than 2 million feet to be made into lumber. The Bie Bear Timber Co., Redlands, Ca., ii doing the manufacturing.

Distribufors Are Hocking lt

Despite economic controls, product shortages and lower gross margins, members of the National Buildins Material Distributors Assn. manaeeJ to hold their own profitwise in 1972, according to S. M. Van Kirk, exec. vp. of the international organization of warehousing distributors.

Their Annual Cost of Doing Business Survey shows operating profits for those reporting moved up an average of only three-tenths of one percent in 1972 over 1971. During the same period, gross profit dropped.

New Building Products Plont

Leslie-Locke Building Products Co., a division of Questor Corp., recently opened their eighth manufacturing plant, in Madera, Ca.

It manufactures ornamental iron railings and columns, static ventilation products, power vents and rotary turbines. ABS plastic shutters and ceiling grid will also be available for combined shipments to West Coast customers.

Building Material Distributors, Inc. pulled their first tandem trailer-load of "Versa"(R) ornamental iron railing and powervents, during the plant opening. They also had the distinction of pulling the first rail car from Leslie-Locke's Mt. Carroll, Ill., plant which was opened in 1968. BMD is headquartered in Stockton, Ca., with branches in Fresno, Sacramento and Santa Clara.