ardwood plywood industry

members of the prefinish division. Door skins, curved plywood and furniture parts are manufactured by those in the cut-to-size division. The veneer and affiliate division includes all those who provide materials used in the manufacture of hardwood plywood.

This category is necessary because although hardwood plywood is primarily a natural wood product, it requires adhesives, veneer, core stock, finishes and special machinery to become a finished product. In simple terms, hardwood plywood is an assembly of an odd number of layers of wood joined together by an adhesive. In most cases, the grain direction of each layer or ply is at right angles to the grain of the adjacent ply or plies. Hardwood plywood differs from softwood plywood in that the facd ply, which is ornamental, uses wood species such as oak, walnut, lauan, elm, cherry, pecan, maple, birch, gum, teak and rosewood.

Since a great deal of hardwood plywood is utilized in the furniture industry, the association is active in overseeing the needs of the furniture and cabinet manufacturers with the cutto-size division.

HPMA is a mingling of several regional associations including the Plywood Manufacturing Association founded in l92l and the Plywood Manufacturing Institute originating in 1938. The Hardwood Plywood Institute and the Southern Plywood Manufacturers Association joined in 1953 with the name being changed to Hardwood Plywood Manufactwers Association in 1964.

R.L. Crutchfield is chairman of the board this year with Clifton R. Jones serYing as vice chairman. Clark E. MacDonald presides at headquarters as president. William J. Groah is technical director with a laboratory staff including Robert F. Robins, consulting engineer; Russell Chapman, director of field services; Gary Gramp, director of analytical services; Michael Trant and Steve Kayser, wood scientists/inspectors. Benjamin Rose and James Trussell are field staff members.

In addition to arranging committee meetings, semi-annual conventions and regional meetings for members to exchange information and solve common problems, the association represents the industry in all legislative issues affecting it. An active liaison with the regulatory agencies in federal, state and local governments also is maintained.

To help every segment of the industry, the association publishes management aids and sales aids in the form of bulletins, reports, surveys and technical papers. It also actively promotes the sale and use of hardwood plywood with films and slide presentations, literature, plans for do-it-yourself projects and articles in both trade and consumer magazines. Almost 50 pieces of literature are available through HPMA includingthe "Were To Buy Hardwood Plywood &Veneer Directory" a listing of sources and information for specifiers, purchasers and users of hardwood plywood.

To maintain its position as spokesman of the hardwood plywood industry, the association participates in a number of industry affiliated organizations including the National Forest Products Association, where they have nine consultants working on building codes, insurance rates and wood construction standards as they apply to hardwood plywood, the International Conference of Building Officials, Southern Building Code Congress, National Fire Protection Association and Building Officials and Code Administrators International.

Wherever and however hardwood plywood is involved, HPMA is there as a professional partner, aiding and contributing to the growth of its members and the industrv.

Special lssue: Hardwood