Great Western TransPortation Inc.

1950 S. Sunwest Lane, Suite #108, San Bemardino, Ca-92408 (909) 38r-2829 FAX 909-885-5778 (800) 347-ss61 angthing we can't finish. ln the ,l; post gear, we doubled our I'i.!, resource base and planted a I l'f''tli record three million trees. And iU,'l: to make sure we can handle it X//i all, we expanded ana upgraded \,i. our mill operations in the ' ! Northwest. . We stay ahead of fat-changing markets with a product mix that meets our customers'needsq uality remanufac tur e d products like molding, stWing, clems and flning, pltts all gradw and sizes of dimension lumber. t While our raourca and prorluct lirws grou, wv're extanding our marketing reach both at home and abroad. We opened a new sales office in Tuscoloosa, Alabama, and expanded our fleet of 73-ft. center-beam rail cars. Internationolly, we continue to deuelop keg export markets. t With six mills, two remanufacturing plants and four distribution centers, Hampton is one of the largwt indepqrdent forest products companies in the US, selling ouer a billion board feet of lumber annuallg. t We abo haue staying powu - more than half a centurg of quality, senice and onlime deliuerg. From start to finish, our customers come first.

It lN oFFlcE Portland OR 5031297-7691' FAX 503/297-3188

DTSTRIBUTTON CEITIER

After 110 Years, Suverkrup Out Of Retail

After 110 years and four genera- competition from the warehouse tions of family ownership, John Suverkrup Lumber Co., San Bernardino, Ca., is closing its retail store to concentrate solely on wholesaling building materials.

David Suverkrup, v.p., pointed to chains. "Over the years it's become real hard to compete with the big box retailers like HomeBase and Home Depot," he said. "They just keep opening stores and we're left without much of a customer base."

Liquidating the retail store will allow the company to increase wholesale sales volume and cut prices for contractors and government agencies, long their biggest customers.

They will still serve retail customers who order and pay for merchandise in advance, and have it delivered.

Although about half of Suverkrup's 2l jobs will be eliminated, the company expects to quickly increase annual sales for the wholesale lumber vard to the $3 million revenue now generated by the combined operations.

The business, founded in 1887 by the great-grandfather of brothers David and president Steve Suverkrup, will remain at the 7-acre site.

Top Treater Addresses AWPI

William G. Currie, president and c.e.o. of Universal Forest Products, will keynote the American Wood Preservers Institute's 42nd annual meeting.

"The Millennium: What Does the Future Hold for Your Industry?" is the theme for the Sept. 28-30 meeting in New Orleans. La.

Owens Corning Buys Fibreboard

Owens Corning has acquired vinyl siding manufacturer Fibreboard Corp., Dallas, Tx., for approximately $600 million.

"When Owens Corning entered the vinyl siding business two years ago, we found that we had excellent brand recognition, but needed to expand manufacturing and distribution resources." said William K. Hamilton. The acquisition, its sixteenth and largest by far, provides Owens Coming with a more complete product line and multiple brands of siding.

Now a wholly-owned subsidiary of Owens Corning, Fibreboard emPloYs 3,400, operates 2l manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Canada, and had 1996 sales of $469 million.

Owens Corning, which sold its own calcium silicate insulation business in 1993, plans to sell Fibreboard's Pabco business, a producer of molded calcium silicate insulation, fireproofing boards and metal jacketing.

With five U.S. manufacturing facilities and 1996 sales of $58 million, Pabco is the nation's largest producer of calcium silicate insulation.

IHPA Lauds Mahogany Pact

IHPA-The International Wood Products Association applauded an agreement on mahogany reached at the recent meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), and called on environmental groups to make positive contributions to a newly created Mahogany Working Group.

"This action makes sense and is good for the future of the species," said IHPA president Carl Gade' "Although (big-leaf mahogany) doesn't belong on the 'international endangered species list,'the Parties to CITES do recognize that there is work to be done. and have made the commitment to get it done,"

Despite the agreement, some extremist groups renewed their call for a boycott after the convention voted not to add the species to the endangered list.

Depot Appeals JurY Award

Home Depot is aPPealing a jury award of $1.7 million to a former female employee who accused company managers of sexual discrimination.

Denise Adams' award from the U.S. District Court in Oakland, Ca'' included $1.2 million in punitive damages.

Open And Close Case

A self-closing gate hinge with a unique tension-adjustment has been introduced by D&D Technologies.