Steady growth slots OSB as top structural panel

Since it was introduced more than l5 years ago, oriented strand board has gained increasing acceptance and usage by builders and buyers, to the point that it is supplanting other structural panel products in key industry categones.

I"OSB now has become the board of choice in roof, wall and floor applications," said Mark Angelini, president of the Structural Board Association. "lts use in new residential construction has outstripped that of other panel products."

OSB production in North America is expected to exceed plywood this year-dramatic progress considering OSB shipments have risen from scratch (zero market share from the early 1980s).

According to APAThe Engineered Wood Association, North

American OSB output last year reached nearly 19 billion sq. ft., up 12.27o from 1991.

Plywood panel production, however, slipped l.4%o to 19.7 billion sq. ft., the lowest North American plywood total since 1982. Despite plywood's fall, OSB's increase helped propel total North American structural panel production 4.8Vo to 38.7 billion sq. ft.

0SB production in

North America is expected to exceed plywood this year.

APA forecasts that North American OSB production will increase from 19.2 billion sq. ft. in 1999 to 20.4 billion sq. ft. in 2002. Plywood production is expected to dip from 18.5 billion sq. ft. in 1999 to 18.3 billion sq. ft. in 2002.

Although economists are predicting that the galloping pace of housing starts in the United States will eventually slow this year, key factors point to OSB increasing its market share for

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Company

LouisianaPacific

Portland, Or.

12dants: Hanevi*e, Al.; Dawson CreeK B.C.; Montrose, Co.; Atwrs, Ga.; Hcxrlton, Me.; Sagola, Mi.; Hayward, Wi.; Swan River, Man@a; Rofuro, N.0.; Jasper, Silsbee, Cartrage, Tx.

Weyerhaeuser Co.

Federal Way, Wa.

6 olants: Drayton Valley, Edson, Slave Lake, Alberta; Grayling, Mi.; Elkin, N.C.; Sutton, W.V.

GeorgiaPacific Cory.

Atlanta, Ga"

6 dants: Broo{seal, Skippers, Va.; Dudley, N.C. ; Grenda, bb.; tult. Hope, W.V.;Woodland, [rle.

Norbord Industries

Toronto, Ontario

4 olants: La Sane, Val-d'Or, Quebec; Bemidji, Mn.; Guntown, Ms.

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Huber Engineered Woods

Charlotte, N.C.

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