Distributor Buitds Up

(Continued from previous page) ing materials compliments our existing product line," said Noteboom. Since the yard opened, 15 to 20 trucks have been going out daily to meet the demand in the Southern California region, which stretches north to Bakersfield and east to Las Vegas.

"We're excited and ready to deliver panel products and other building materials to the Southern California pro-dealer market," he added.

Current commodity offerings in Southern California include OSB, plywood, radiant barrier panels, MDO, dimension lumber, green and KD studs, boards, SPF fascia, roofing and Hoover fire-retardant treated panels. Industrial products such as MDF, particleboard, hardboard, and domestic and imported hardwood plywood as well as custom laminate products round out the mix. "We are working with a number of top-rate suppliers to bring in a wide range of building materials." commented Noteboom. "EWP products will be brought in by

Q4 this year, which will complere our pro-dealer package offering."

Miguel Hernandez, a 3l-year commodity sales veteran in Southern California, heads the commodity sales team. "We have a strong team with many years of experience to service our customers, especially with Miguel in charge." says Noteboom. "We already offer next-day delivery rvithin our service area as well as mixed trucks. and rve're ready to take on other customized programs to help service our dealers."

North Pacific also operates a Central California distribution center in Madera. All three locations are more functional and large enough to accommodate the company's longterm needs. Gregg Wilkinson. senior v.p. of building materials-West. is pleased with the progress. "These moves provide the leverage needed to put a strong California strategy in place." he says. "We are continuously expanding our product offerings and services to meet the demands of the pro-dealer market in California. With the leadership of our Northern Califomian engineering staff, all three locations will offer EWP products and services by the end of the year. Our goal is to provide pro dealers with full service distribution packages throughout the state of california."

The day is long, but on the iobsite your customers can't afford to waste any of it. SilvaStaro primed fascia and trim costs less than higher-priced cedar and composites. But the way it saves time is even more compe[[ing. Sitvastar atready comes factory coated with premium Olympico latex primer* - face, back, edges and ends. Ptus, our highest grade KD SPF fibre is rooo/o usable with virtuatly no defects. Finalty, SilvaStar is tightweight, easily cut, nailed and installed; another definite time saver. So your customers can use their day more constructivety, and they witt thank you for that.

After extensive remodels. Home Depot rvill reopen five smaller Yardbirds stores early next year under the same name.

Upgraded units in Concord. San Rafael, Alamo, Petaluma and San Pablo rvill feature a nerv format offering "merchandise that brings exclusive and innovative home improvement selections to the community. including enhancements to the instore environment."

Changes include expansion of the floorcovering departments, new

Determined to grow its hardrvood business in the Southwest. Bluelinx Holdings Inc., Atlanta. Ga.. has acquired privately held distributor Austin Hardrvoods, Austin. Tx.. for an undisclosed amount.

Bluelinx expects to retain Austin Hardwoods' name. management and employees. With the addition of Austin Hardrvoods' facilities in Austin. Dallas. El Paso and NE San Antonio. Bluelinx norv has l0 locations in Texas. The deal did not include any of Austin Hardrvoods' franchise locations.

shorvrooms for major appliances. and interior project design and installation services for kitchens. countertops and bathroom remodels.

Depot acquired the Northern California chain late last )ear and previously announced it rrould convert Yardbirds supercenters in Santa Rosa and Martinez into Hclme Depots br November. turn the Rohnert Park store into a Contractor's Warehouse in 2007. and permanentll shutter stores in Vallejo and Vacaville. Ca.. along rvith Yardbirds' headquarters and rvarehouse in Petaluma.

Founded in 1912. Austin Hardrvoods distributes harduood boards. veneers and plyrvood to industrial accounts. In 2005. sales surpassed S22 million.

The acquisition. accordin-s to c.e.o. Stephen Macadam. "underscores our commitment to gro\\' the Bluelinr specialty products business. in part b1 acquirin-e service-oriented companies in high-opportunitv areas."

Bluelinx president and chief operating officer Geor-ge Judd noted the purchase "deepens our line of qualitt building products. s'hile offerin-c Austin Hardrvoods the opportunit\ to expand offerings to current customers. The experienced team at Austin Hard*oods currentlv distribules to customers rr ho require a customized. solutions-based approach. and rre are comnritted to proriding Austin Hardrvoods s ith the resources necessar\ to gro\\' its platform and gain market share in the region."

PCS VacDrl USA. LLC. Jerser Shore. Pa.. has been formed as the parent entit\ fbr VacDrl Kilns. $hich manufactures. sells and installs rrqrd dry in-e kilns internationallr.

The original VacDrr vacuum dr1in,s technolos\ \\as patented in Ne*' Zealand last September.

John J. Stephens. fbrmer c.e.o. of Roseburg Forest Products and group executi\e $ith International Paper. has joined PCS VacDry USA as c.e.o.

R. Lr nn Forsber,s. ex-Marubeni America-FFGC. is no* manaser of operations. handling international sales and overseeing equipment tabrication from his office in Rid-eefield. Wa.

John Cornebl . ex-Whitesr ille Wood Products. is eastern area sales englneer.