New Generation of Redwood OPens New Vistas of OpportunitY

ATELY WE have been asked. l- "What is happening to the redwood resource? Is it going to continue to be as available commercially as it has been in the past? What producs and volumes are going to be available now and in the future?"

These are questions of concern for customers and the general public. Many of the concerns were magnified bv conservationists and environnientalists who decried the harvesting of the redwood forests but who had little real understanding of the role that the forest industry plays in promoting responsible forest management. It has been this management that has researched new ways to grow trees straight and tall and healthy, that has found ways to clone redwoods for faster growth, that replants, and protects and harvests with concern. This same in-depth research has given us an expanded, versatile redwood product line that compliments present lines and increases the potential sales volume.

Since we cannot harvest the same tre€s over and over, a change in product and production was bound to come at some time. Because of the several national park acquisitions and environmental rionstraiirts. the switch from old generation trees to the new generation came a bit sooner than originally planned. We have made the decision to begin a slow, orderly, contolled changeover from the old generation tees to the new generation, permitting the distribution chain time to plan and adjust to an expanded product line.

We recently expended over $20 million for harvestable resources and additional land upon which to grow more tees for the future. This is in addition to the annual expenditure of over $5 million that we invest to replant and protect the forest lands.

Throughout the 1980s, we will be harvesting and processing a diminishing volume of old generation frees and replacing with new generation logs in an increasing ratio. This is not as drastic a change as it seems at fint glance. Contrary to popular belief,

By Greg Lamberl Sales Manager, Redwood Simpson Timber Company

it does not take thousands of years to grow a redwood tree. The Coast Redwood, which produces all the commercial redwood products, is actually one of the fastest growing forms of plant life known to man. In managed forests, redwoods can attain a height of some 150 ft. in 60 to 80 years. Even at this somewhat tender age, the Coast Redwood is larger than most species, and produces a greater volume of usable lumber.

Simpson has inaugurated a massive program to modernize and improve manufacturing capabilities. By the time this is completed in 1981, $33 million will have been invested in redesigning and remodeling entire mill complexes, setting up new production techniques and installing the most modern of computerized equipment. There will be two distinct changes in the redwood lumber product of the future. For one, there will be a greater proportion of cream-colored sapwood in funrre supplies with a decreasing amount of cinnamon-colored heart-

Story at a Glance

Modernization and imProvement of manutacturing caPabilities underway . . distinct changes in product of the futurg. whole new dimension in appearance . . imProved volume.

wood. The second major change will be in the greater percentage of knouy grades. The new generation of redwood products will have all the natural beauty and physical properties that have made redwood such a long-time favorite but with a whole new dimension in appearance.

The knotty grades will offer more flexibility in the marketplace. Because of kiln-drying. they will be liehter to ship and easier to handle; bEtter to yard, and superior in Performance characteristics. New generation redwood dries faster than old generation stock resulting in faster market response. Because the trees harvested will be younger, the knots will be smaller, tighter and sounder. Select knotty will be a significant addition to the interior paneling and exterior siding product line. Rustic knotty offers a choice of finish lumber for outdoor strucnrres such as decks, fences, sun screens, as well as a rustic effect for exterior siding when it is desired.

Looking at the projected grade mix, siding and paneling availability will be aSout the same for the future as it was for the past. The difference being that we will now have a portion of the mix comparable to what Pine and cedar have long offered.

Another plus is the increase in construction grades and merchantable made possible by the fact that total redwood output will not decline as a result of the changeover from the old to new generation harvest. With our policy of harvesting and processing what we grow, we anticiPate an improved redwood product volume of approximately 207o.

To recap, we see a dramatic increase in garden grades which have been increasingly in demand in recent years. Availability of shop grade will remain about the same, and rustic finishes will combine with architecnrral finish to provide an overall increase in what we traditionally call "uppers. " moke sure your customers . .

Y-es, Simpson is in the redwood business to stay.

A 0 + IIIIIIII know how to bring short wood mouldings together for creotive Christmos tree ornoments

Also be reody with plenty of miter boxes, glue, stoins ond Christmos colors for your creoiive do-it-you rself customers,