IJnique Combination Panel Offers Big Sales Possibilities

A unique nevr,' panel material named plyron that com_ bines a backbone of plyrvood il,ith the smooth, tough surface of hardboard l.ras been announced by west coast plvn'ood manufacturers. Plyron has already proved successful in such diverse applications as concrete forms, table tops, cabinet doors and flooring, and it offers many ne\l, possibilities for dealer sales. According to the initial announcement by Douglas Fir Plywood Association at Tacoma, Wash., the new building material is being produced commercially in 4 x 8-foot sheets by ten plyrvood plants and experimentally by others.

Smooth, Hard Surfaces

In Plyron, the far-.rvest manufacturers who turn out tu.o thirds of the nation's plyrvood are capitalizing on the ad_ vantages of tlt'o major forest products. Hardboard, made b1' compressing rvood fibers into a thin hard sheet of uniform density and smoothness, gives the procluct it.; tough, n'ear-resistant easily paintable surface.

Plyrvood inner construction is the muscle of the panel_ making it puncture-proof, strong, rigid, dimensionally stablc. The combination panel is split-proof, and relatively light rveight. It is permanently bonded n,ith highly moisturtr resistant adhesives.

Big Savings

Indicative of the sales opportrrnities afforded by the nerv material is the testimony of Dudley Wilhelmi, owner rif the Tacoma Fixture Co. He says:

"Plyron saves me 30 per cent in the cost of cabinet door construction. It makes a staltle, perfect fitting door and the hardboard surfaces u,ill take a gleaming, long_lasting enamel finish with a minimum of trouble. Because of the plywood center, Plyron holds fittings tightly and ,works' and handles easily lvith regular tools."

Raw Material Savings

O. Harry Schrader, Jr., managing director of the promotional organization representing the 7O-factory fir plyrvood industry, describes the new material as a significant accomplishment through continued research by plywood makers tc supply customer-pleasing materials. Plasticsurfaced plyl'ood, developed during World War II, is another example of plywood progress, he commented.

The ne'iv product also signals another forward stride in utilization of forest resources, according to the industry

(Continued on Page 80)

(Continued from Page 78) spokesman. He explained that modern precision manufacturing techniques today make possible production of utility plywood from logs previously unusable. The hardboard surfaces provide smoothness and appearance properties, and these sheets are manufactured from poor logs or lr,oo<l \vaste.

Although Ply:-on is a new departure for the piyu'o.-rtl makers, it can be made witl-r present manufacturing cc1u,p-

Unique Combinalion. Wesf Goasl plywood indusfry's new building panel called Plyron combines hardboard surface with backbone of plywood. Smooth, hard surface is ercsllent foundclion for paint, plywood lends stifiness, rigidity, nailholding power. New panel is used for iobs ranging from cabinel for the combination material, Schrader stated. similar to those which assure plywood performance. This means, hc said, first a strong, durable bond of all plys in the panel. Similarly, only hardboards of tested quality are applied as surfaces, and at present the Masonite Corp. of Chicago is the primary supplier of these sheets. panels have plenty rif re-uses.', ment by using the hardboard rather than veneer (thin wood) for outer olys of plywood.

High Quality

Rigid standards of manufacture have been establisl-rccl

The plywood ccmpanies now in commercial production of Plyron are : Abe:deen Plywood Corp., Aberdeen, \\rash.; Associated Plywood llIills, Inc., Eugene, Ore. ; Crescent Plywood Co., Crescent City, Cal.; Hardell Plyn'ood Co., Olympia, Wash.; Industrial Plyr,r'ood Corp., San Francisco, Cal; Kalpine Plywood Co., Klamath Falls, Ore.; Multnomalr Plywood Corp., Portland, Ore.; St. Paul & Tacoma Lumber Co., Tacoma, Wash.; Simpson Logging Co., Seattle, Wash., and Western Veneer Co., Eugene, Ore.

SAF Will Hold Annual Meetins Hoo-Hoo Club No. 39 Will Hold

In Biloxi, Mississippi

The Society of American Foresters rvill holcl its fift1--first annual meeting in Biloxi, Mississippi, December 12-15, u,ith headquarters at the Buena Vista Hotel.

SAF President, Charles F. Evans of Atlanta, Ger.,:-gi:r. will open the general sessions of December 13 and 15 tcr which all foresters and friends, whether members of the Society or not, are invited.

Subject Divisions of the Society will meet on Friday. December 14. Members r,r'ith specialized interests can select from technical sessions devoted to forest management, silviculture, forest products, private forestry, forest economics, watershed management, forest recreation, forestwildlife management, range management, public relations. and forestry education.

Field trips u'ill be conducted on December ll and 12 ir1 older to acquaint foresters from other sections of the country rvith forestry problems and progress in the South.

Attendance at the meeting is expected to hit the 1,000 mark. The Society lvas organized in 1900 for professional foresters of Upited States and Canada and has as its primarv object the promotion of the science, practice, and standa:ds of forestr'i in America.

Christmas Party December 17

The annual Christmas Party of Hoo-Hoo Club No. 39 will be held at the Claremont Hotel, Berkeley, on Mondav evening. Decernber 17.

Twenty-five underprivileged children furnished by the Oakland Boys' Club will be entertained. There will be a Christmas tree, and presents for each child will be distributed b.v a Santa Claus. In acldition there u,ill be musical and other suitable entertainment for the kids.

Bill McCubbin, vice president of the Club, is chairnran oI the committee that is making all the arrangements.

Back From Ecstern Trip

John Freeman, veteran field representative of the California Redwood Association, returned November 10 from a trip to Iluffalo, N. Y. on the business of the Association.