Old Grorrrth Douglas Fir Green, Rough or Sultaced

Sales - Bob Norton

Phone: (5031874-2236

P.O. Box 7

Riddle, Oregon 97469

More Plastic Materials

Building materials of the future will use more and more engineering thermoplastics, materials already used in industrial and commercial construction, primarily in glazing applications.

"ln the near future the home building market will see a dramatic increase in the use of performance plastics. There will be growth in current home applications such as electrical systems, skylights, heating and air conditioning systems, lighting fixtures and the like," forecasts Charles Crew of General Electric's Plastics Groups.

The performance capabilities of high strength thermoplastic matr:rials and composite structures will enable plastics to replace wood, concrete and other traditional building materials in such applications as walls, floors and structural elements, according to Crew.

GE anticipates a shift away from on-site construction of homes to factory built homes or home sub-assemblies. The importance of factorybuilt homes will increase because they will be able to consistently meet the strict building codes which GE expects in the future. Other future trends noted include preference for single-family, detached homes and smaller overall floorspace with kitchens opening into living areas and bedrooms into bathrooms.

General Electric Plastics plans to construct a model house next year which will function as a living laboratory to demonstrate the use of engineering plastics.

Weyerhaeuser/Fiberglas Pact

Weyerhaeuser Co. has become the only national stocking wholesaler of Owens-Corning Fiberglas insulation.

Nearly all of Weyerhaeuser's 60 Customer Service Centers nationwide will now carry the product. "This is a win for both companies," said Lou Imhof, director of purchasing for Weyerhaeuser's Building Products Group. "We gain the drawing power of Owens-Corning's name. They gain access to a broad customer base nationwide. "

"We're gaining an added-value

The Merchant Magazlne product with tremendous name recognition," adds Herb Winward, vice president/Western Region Sales and Marketing, Building Products Group. "This is the first outsidepurchased product we've carried nationally that has the advantage of instant name recognition by consumers."

Natl. Forest Products Week

President Ronald Reagan hasdeclared Oct. l9-23 as National Forest Products Week 1987, marking the industry's annual opportunity to promote good forest management and illustrate to consumers the link between the products they use each day and our forest resources.

A promotional media kit, also touting the importance of a healthy forestry sector, includes releases, background information, a lumber retailer's contest, and a special edition of the American Forest Council's magazine Green America, and is available by calling John Kaufman at Q02) 463-2467.

New Energy Regs lmpact Sales

A nationwide effort to upgrade energy standards is having a major impact on sales ol'certain building prodUCtS.

New restrictions on the energy-efficiency of windows has boosted sales of quality thermal units. Builders and building owners/managers who might have sought the most inexpensive products in the past now are specifying more thermalll' ef ficient units.

"Traditionally, many builders looked at windows as one good place to cut construction costs," notes Ross l)eMeritt. director of marketing at Vinyl Building Products. Inc. "Now with many of the codes being enacted regionally, they can no longer put in anything they wantmost often low thermal grade metal windows."

The energy conservation programs are often spurred by utility companies that do not want to build new plants to support excess consumption. The Northwest Power Planning Council, which has advisory jurisdiction over most of Oregon, WashingtonState and other parts of the northwest, for example, has also instituted guidelines to stem the growth ol power consumption in their area. One major element is higher window performance standards.

Says DeMeritt, "The energy codes are good news because people end up benefiting from lower utility rates. more comfortable building interiors, and a cleaner environment."

Building ls No. 1 Gopper User

Building construction continued itsdominance of copperend use markets in 1986, increasing its share by 2.501, to 40.60i of all copper metal shipments.

Construction, including building wiring. used 2,57'1 lbs. of copper last year, followed by clectrical and electronic products (23.1t1, share) and industrial machinery and equipment ( I 3 .9(1,)

Displays Increase Profits

(Corttittued from page 12) offered by rack systems. "Racks have a greater capacity," says Bob Ikola, Sammons Storage Systems, Lynwood, Ca. "They give you wider areas to display merchandise. Whereas a conventional gondolatype display willaccommodate 3 to 4 ft. of product, a pallet on a rack can hold 8 to 10 ft., depending on the type of merchandise and its weight."

Whichevermethod dealers choose to present their products, they must remember that how they sell canbe as important as what they sell. Says Joe Korman, Handy Store Fixtures, Newark, N.Y., "lf you don't merchandise your product, you're wasting your space."

Dealers' Contractor Workshop

A workshop to help retailers better serve their remodeling contractor customers and ultimately build business for the store has been developed by Owens-Corning Fiberglas.

Snider Lumber Products Go.

The Merchant Magazlne

"The workshop helps contractors take advantage ofa growing remodeling market," says Thomas Seymour, marketing manager of Owens-Corning's Retail Insulation Division. "While it specifically helps them market energy efliciency, it also sharpens their skills in areas from motivation to marketing."

Video and slide presentations are combined with workbooks and reading materials to teach contractors professionalism in customer relations, installation, and business management.