41 't plywood convention

While the plywood industry is having its best production year in history, industry leaders meeting in Portland, Or., recently were warned of serious threats posed by the energy crisis and a potential timber shortage.

Addressing the 41st annual meeting of the American Plywood Association, APA exec. v.p. Bronson J. Lewis summed up plywood's marketing opportunities with enthusiasm.

"APA is predicting industry production of about l9 billion sq. ft. this year, three percent above last year's record 18.4. Our estimate for next year's production is in the region of 18.8 billion feet."

He acknowledged that anticipated record production is due in part to the strong surge in home building, the major outlet for plywood.

"Any (future) housing decline could be offset in large part bY multi-family construction, do-it-yourself and remodeling, industrial applications, and international markets."

Dangerous outside factors affecting the wood products industry were discussed by outgoing APA president Ward K. Hoseid, Great Southern PIYwood Co., who urged national leaders to "reject extremism of any kind" on issues that pit environmental considerations against energy goals, or the utilization of renewable resources