TECO'S Dual Function

i' . Although the name TECO is widely I known in the wood products and construci tion industries, few know how and why the firm was established and what its m; obiectives are.

fl* The results and continuing benefits of ,. the 30 years of operation oi this unique firm are apparent. TECO sponsored ie- search and engineering has been the springboard for major developments and continues to provide the firm base for improved and increased use of wood products in major fields of interest to the lumber in_dustry particlularly home building. Within this objecrive present day activitiJs of TECO are in two major areas (l) ttrc d,eoelopment g.nd marketing ol new products a.nd, systems; and (2) perlormanie ol independent quality control and, grade cirtification seruices in the manultrcture ol wood products.

Products Division

In the early 1930's lumber industry leaders recognized the need for devising more efficient methods of joining wood structural members. Earlier research had established that specialized mechanical fasteners called oosplit rings" would permit the use of smaller structural members through the development of full working stress of the wood. fimber Engineering Company was established as an afrliate of National Lumber Manufacturers Association to develop and introduce the system to the United States. Regarded by many as one of the most efficient mechanical fasteners ever developed, the split ring has been the forerunner of a wide variety of structural timber connectors introduced bv TECO. Among these are such standard and well known products as shear plates, spike grids, toothed rings, clamping plates and various types of special framing anchors. All are designed to make more efficient use of wood as a structural material. Within the past five years there has been an intensification of TECO product development activities with the result that many new types of structural wood fas- is working on a concealed fastener for the attachment of beveled wood sidine that has been pre-finished in the mill. Th[ product still is in the development stage. teners have appeared on the market under the TECO name. Included is a bridging called "Fas-Lok" which eliminates any need for nails. In addition there is a more efficiently designed joist hanger which costs approximately 50% less than old style stirrup or strap hangers. It is called the TECOU-Grip joist and beam hanger. Other new products added to the TECO line include utility angles, plywood supports, post caps and metal gusset plates for single plane roof truss assembly. At present the firm

Because of its special interest in serving the lumber industry" quite frequently TECO finds itsell considering and investigating products and systems which depart from conventional concepts of construction. A good example of this is the Line-A-Joist connector. Designed for use in cantilevered floor framing, the product can save up to $30 or more per house through utilization of negative and positive be"ding as opposed to positive bending alone as found in conventional framing methods.

The same kind of foiward thinkine that went into the design of the Line-A-Joist system was behind the development of trussed rafters when, in 1946, TECO sug_ gested the idea of using roof trusses fo-r residential and other light construction. At that time less than l/o of the homes used roof trusses. Today over S0/o oI the single dwelling units use trusses and close to thirty firms are making truss connectors of various types.

TECO offers the lumber dealer ,euo roof truss connector systems and is the only firm to do so. One is the widely known and used split ring connector system and the other is the more recently introduced metal plate system lor single plane assem. bly. Both systems require very little in the way of plant investment. In most cases Iess than $300 will take care of equipment and incidental costs.

Another recent TECO development that should be of interest to lumber dealers is a new jig the firm has designed for use in assembling wall panels built in accordance with NLMA's Unicom system of construction. Accommodating panel heights of up to 8l-7" and lengths ranging from 16'' to 12', the jig is extremely flexible in making any combination of wall, door and window panels. Through the use of specially designed tostud locators" and "pressure bars," the pieces literally snap into position so that no measuring or marking is required when setting the jig up for panel production. The jig is scheduled for a marketing date of June oI this year.

Quatity Controt Division

Research, which has played such a prom' inent role in TECO activities, led directly to the firm's entry into independent quality control and grade certification of wood products. In 1958 following extensive re' search in behalf of several plywood producers. TECO was asked to establish and operate a quality control program for four plywood mills. The program as then conceived, and operating now in eighteen Douglas fir and Western softwood plants is based on daily, in-the-mill inspection and testing through all phases of production and the final product.

An experienced plywood technician is on duty at each plant checking and testing to assure a level of quality which meets or exceeds requirements of the Commercial Standard. Professionally trained TECO supervisors visit the plants regularly to monitor the work of the technicians and consult with management on materials and production techniques to maintain the con' sistent high quality of TECO TESTED plywoood.

The steady increase in the number of plywood manufacturers serviced by TECO with the corresponding increase in volume of TECO stamped plywood, coupled with the recognition and acceptance of TECO TESTED plywood in the market, furnish ample evidence of the soundness of the TECO program.

Activity and growth of TECO's quality control is not limited to plywood. Shortly after the merits of the program were evi' denced, TECO extended quality control and grade certification services to wood par' ticle board. Six leading manufacturers are serviced by TECO. To merit certification and bear the TECO grade stamp, produc' tion must meet or exceed the requirements of the recognized standard governing the quality requirements for the specific prod' ucts. The acceptance of TECO TESTED particle board is ample evidence of tle (Contiru,ed, on Page 98)

Chalk up another first for Don Weber of Weber Plywood, Inc. of Santa Ana, Calif.

He was sponsor of a unique two-day t'airlift" which saw some 3I top Southern Califor4ia building contractors and cabinet makers take a conducted tour of the Southern Oregon Plywood mill and the brand new Sierra Wood Products pre-finishing plant. Both are at Grants Pass, Oregon.

Weber chartered a sleek DC-3 for the trip. He flew his customers into Grants Pass Tuesday morning May 14 and had them home again Wednesday afternoon, but only after they had been given a comprehensive short course in the manufacturing of fir and hardwood plywood, priming of exterior siding and the pre-finishing of hardwood paneling.

Their whirlwind schedule included brief talks and then field trips through the mill. 'olecturers" for the course included Robert Kellsq So-Ply plant superintendent, and Jack Seymour, Production supervisor at Sierra W'ood Products.

Immediately after their arrival in Oregon the group met for a luncheon at which they were briefed on all activities scheduled for the day by Robert G. Davis, general manager So-Ply.

Then they heard a brief talk by Don Jaenicke, advertising and sales promotion director o{ the Douglas Fir Plywood Assn.

Next in line were Kellso and Seyrnore who took the visitors on a verbal step-bystep trip through the plywood mill and the pre-finishing plant.

Immediately thereafter the group went through the two plants

At So-Ply they traveled from the log pond through the entire manufacturing process. During all stages Kellso explained