TH E VOIC E O F THE HARDWOOD IN DUSTRY
H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S January/February 2019
Hardwood
Cross-Laminated Timber The Next Generation of Affordable Housing
plus HARDWOOD FEDERATION VICTORIES IN 2018 CAUSES AND SOLUTIONS TO "BRUISING"
T H E O F F I C I A L P U B L I C AT I O N O F T H E N AT I O N A L H A R D W O O D L U M B E R A S S O C I AT I O N S T R O N G R O O T S . G L O B A L R E A C H . | W W W. N H L A . C O M
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CONTENTS January/February 2019 • Issue 197
WHAT'S INSIDE 8
ONLINE
feature
instant
8 Hardwood Cross-Laminated Timber: The Next Generation of Affordable Housing
TOP POST OF THE MONTH at facebook.com/NHLAOfficial Go get 'em, kid!
departments 6 In The News 6 Memorial 7 Legislative Log 14 Member Spotlight 16 Rules Corner
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reader services 4 18 20
President’s Message Educational Calendar Job Board
Follow us
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H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S T H E VO I C E O F T H E H A R DWO O D I N D U ST RY National Hardwood Lumber Association PO Box 34518 • Memphis, TN 38184-0518 901-377-1818 • 901-382-6419 (fax) info@nhla.com • www.nhla.com
THE MISSION OF NH LA To serve NHLA Members engaged in the commerce of North American hardwood lumber by: maintaining order, structure and ethics in the changing global hardwood marketplace; providing unique member services; promoting North American hardwood lumber and advocating the interest of the hardwood community in public/private policy issues; and providing a platform for networking opportunities.
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Forestry Systems, Inc.
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King City/Northway Forwarding
Darwin Murray McClain Forest Products President
Bucky Pescaglia Missouri-Pacific Lumber Co., Inc. Unique Services
Jeff Wirkkala Hardwood Industries, Inc. Vice President
Kevin Gillette Tioga Hardwoods, Inc. Rules
Brent Stief Huron Forest Products, Inc. Past President 2016-2018
Darrell Keeling Northwest Hardwoods Structure
NHLA STAFF
Mike Powers Maley & Wertz, Inc. Industry Advocacy & Promotion
Lorna D. Christie CEO l.christie@nhla.com
Melissa Ellis Smith Graphic Designer m.ellis@nhla.com
Rob Cabral Upper Canada Forest Products, Ltd. Promotion & Advocacy
Trisha Clariana Office Manager
Julia Ganey Member Relations Manager
TMX Shipping Co.
For advertising inquiries: Contact John Hester, Director of Membership at j.hester@nhla.com or 901-399-7558.
Correction:
COMMITTEE CHAIRS Stephanie VanDystadt DV Hardwoods, Inc. Membership
Desirée Freeman Controller
5 RossiGroup
Jon Syre Cascade Hardwood, LLC Membership & Networking
Renee Hornsby Director of Communications/Editor r.hornsby@nhla.com
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IBC Pike Lumber Company, Inc.
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MISSION LEADERS
Amanda Boutwell Marketing and Communications Manager a.boutwell@nhla.com
ADVERTISER INDEX
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EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Garner Robinson Robinson Lumber Company Convention David Mayfield Mayfield Lumber Co. Inspection Services
Rich Hascher Inspector Training School Instructor
Bruce Horner Abenaki Timber Corp. ITS/Continuing Education
John Hester Director of Membership and Business Development
John Griffin Frank Paxton Lumber Communications & Marketing
Debbie Horn Executive Assistant/Project Management
Joe Snyder Fitzpatrick & Weller, Inc. Rules
From December Hardwood Matters on page 14 we incorrectly identified Rick.
Carol McElya Accounting Assistant & Publications
From left to right: Brent Stief, Rick Ekstein and Jim Howard
Vicky Quiñones Simms Membership Development Manager
Becky Miller Inspector Training School Administrator
Dana Spessert Chief Inspector Rachel Spiers Marketing Associate r.spiers@nhla.com
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Contact us today for competitive rates and unparalleled service for 40+ years! http://kingcitynorthamerica.com/ USA 1-855-682-1637 CDN 1-800-335-5394
Michael Hilburn - President mhilburn@kingcityusa.com
Lloyd Lovett - CEO l.lovett@kingcitynorthway.com
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
THANK YOU FOR MAKING 2018 A SUCCESS
I
am fortunate to work with a very capable and competent Board of Managers who are committed to NHLA’s success. But as we all kick-off the New Year, I would also like to recognize another group of people who make NHLA successful and that starts with Lorna Christie, NHLA Chief Executive Officer.
It has been my pleasure to work with Lorna and get to know her over the past few years. Working with her can be a learning experience. Her knowledge of association management, marketing, and leadership has provided much success for NHLA. Building a strong team at NHLA was one of Lorna’s first goals. I learned from Lorna as she developed her team and I learned from her style of empowering people. Under Lorna’s direction, the NHLA Team has become more accountable and responsible for their plans and actions. Each Team member now carries a high level of ownership of their plans. While she works hard to be a results-oriented leader, she also has a big heart for our dedicated employees. This is demonstrated by Lorna and her husband Dave opening their home to all NHLA employees and their families for what has become the annual Christmas dinner and party. We are very fortunate to have her at the helm of our ship. Lorna has shared with me many times how fortunate she feels to work with the NHLA staff at the home office in Memphis and our National Inspectors in the field. Newcomer Debbie Horn assists Lorna in juggling the tasks required to keep NHLA running. Debbie also works with the Inspection Services department in project management. Desiree Freeman, NHLA Controller, manages our finances with an expertise that would rival any Fortune 500 company. She is a fierce protector of our members’ money, and provides the NHLA staff with financial guidance that ensures all of our products and services provide a solid return on investment. Desiree’s team includes Accounting Specialist, Carol McElya and Data Administration Specialist, Jens Lodholm. John Hester is a cornerstone of NHLA’s “member-centric” culture, always ready to offer our members’ perspective in Management Team conversations. As Director of Business Development, John acts more as a business adviser rather than salesman, consulting with members on the sponsorships or advertising packages that best fit their year-round needs. John’s team includes Vicky Simms, our Membership Development Manager and Julia Ganey whose focus is on member relations. Renee Hornsby is Director of Marketing and Communications, although her title doesn’t come close to describing the full extent of her responsibilities. In addition to finding new ways to engage our
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members through strategic marketing, she is also responsible for NHLA’s publications, nhla.com, creating and implementing social media strategies, and last but not least our annual convention. Despite the mind-boggling scope of her position, Renee always exceeds expectations. Her team includes Amanda Boutwell who does an outstanding job in overseeing marketing campaigns that promote NHLA’s value and Melissa Ellis Smith, whose graphic design skills can been seen in all of our printed and online collateral. Like the rest of the NHLA team, Chief Inspector Dana Spessert is a busy man. Dana has traveled to over 35 countries as an educator and advocate of North American hardwoods and the NHLA Rules. In addition to his role as Chief, he manages our National Inspectors in the U.S. and overseas. As Dean of the Inspector Training School, he works alongside ITS Instructor Rich Hascher and School Administrator Becky Miller to provide students with the knowledge and experience needed to excel as NHLA trained lumber inspectors. Finally, I want to acknowledge two NHLA staff members who have served our industry for 35 years. Trisha Clariana is one of those rare employees who offers a sense of stability in a hectic work environment. She is the “go to” person when nobody else has the answer. She is retiring from full time employment at the end of the 2018, but thankfully she will still be with us as a part-time employee. National Inspector Jack English is another 35-year veteran. He is a teacher and an adviser, who has played an important role in the success of NHLA members in the North Eastern United States. Employees like Jack and Trisha are rare these days. Thanks to both for your outstanding service. As I write this, 2018 is coming to a close. I wish everyone a happy New Year filled with success, happiness and good health. Thank you for the opportunity to serve as NHLA President.
Darwin Murray, NHLA President McClain Forest Products dmurray@mcclainforestproducts.com W W W. N H L A .C O M
A new beginning for the Gold Standard for Cherry from Emporium, PA The Rossi Group announces the launch of its new State of the Art high-tech sawmill at Emporium in Pennsylvania to serve domestic and export markets from the sustainable Allegheny Forest resources with the highest quality Cherry and many other hardwood species.
Rossi Group LLC, www.rossilumber.com Tel: 1(860) 6323505 W W W. N H L A .C O M
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IN THE NEWS
FURNITURE TODAY Hardwood resources set strategies for 2019 Thomas Russell, January 7, 2019
HIGH POINT — The China factor has been having an impact on more than just the companies importing product from there. Hardwood producers interviewed in both the Appalachian region and the Pacific Northwest reported a strong first half in 2018, but that quickly changed by summer when the trade war started heating up. As with the furniture industry, lumber producers say they have been able to shift some product to wood manufacturers in Vietnam as well as Mexico and even the U.S. during this period of uncertainty. The balance of their supply has remained in limbo, illustrating how much the hardwood industry has relied on China for export sales in the past 15 to 20 years, particularly as the furniture industry has shifted production there from the U.S. during that same period. Greensboro, N.C.-based Beard Hardwoods Inc. exports about 80% of its volume, and of that, 40% goes to China, noted John Beard, president and CEO. China remains its biggest market in terms of revenue as it uses more upper-grade lumber, but Vietnam ranks first in terms of the actual amount shipped. Read the full article at: http://www.furnituretoday.com/article/560751-hardwood-resources-set-strategies-2019/
MEMORIAL
IN MEMORIUM: PHIL AVERITT Phil Averitt, age 71 of Erin, TN, passed away Thursday, December 27, 2018 at his home while surrounded by his loving family. Phil entered this life on December 1, 1947 in Erin, TN, son to the late J.V. and Myrtle Averitt. Phil was a lifelong resident of Houston County where he proudly owned and operated J.V. Averitt Lumber Company Inc. Phil was a former Houston County Commissioner, was a member of Masonic Wisdom Lodge #300, and currently was serving as Vice Chairman on the board of Traditions First Bank. Phil joined the Erin Rotary Club in 1971 where he faithfully served as Sergeant In Arms. Phil served as the club's President in 1973, and received his Rotary Paul Harris Fellow in 1985. Phil was a member of the Erin Church of Christ and enjoyed being active in his local community where he truly put service above self. In addition to his parents, Phil was preceded in death by his brother, Kim Ashley Averitt. Survivors include his loving wife of forty years, Becky Lynn Averitt; children, Leeza Averitt (Dewayne) Osborne, and Brad (Lesleigh) Averitt. Phil also leaves behind his loving grandson, Brody Osborne. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to McIntosh Cemetery, C/O Becky Averitt, 185 Briarwood Drive, Erin, TN, 37061, or to the Memorial Foundation Hope Lodge, 2008 Charlotte Avenue, Nashville, TN, 37203.
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2018 Success and What Lies Ahead
LEGISLATIVE LOG
by DANA COLE, Executive Director Hardwood Federation
T
he books have closed on 2018, and despite countless reports (some true, some exaggerated) of gridlock and partisan bickering, the Hardwood Federation realized some important victories on the federal level last year.
FEDERAL FOREST MANAGEMENT REFORM: After years of working the issue, we made significant progress on federal forest management reform in 2018. In March, the President signed a spending bill that included a number of measures that provide the U.S. Forest Service (USFS) with additional management tools they so desperately need. The most important piece was the creation of a $2 billion fund that the USFS can access if allocated fire suppression funds are depleted due to high fire activity levels. This is important as it provides stability to funding for other important programs, including timber harvesting, forest restoration, maintenance of recreation facilities and wildlife support. Funds were all too often diverted from these programs to fight the severe fires that have consumed the western lands over the last few years; recently fire-fighting efforts have consumed over 50% of the total USFS budget, leaving other programs underfunded and unable to meet established goals and objectives. Additional measures were approved to streamline and improve management of the forest lands including the establishment of a new categorical exclusion from the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) for hazardous fuels reduction on areas up to 3,000 acres, significantly increasing the amount of land the Forest Service can treat at one time. The deal also opens the way to more 20year stewardship contracts, in which the USFS collaborates with states on forest management projects. These new contracts will give preference to contractors that promote innovative use of wood W W W. N H L A .C O M
products, including cross laminated timber. Simplified and expanded processes for forest road maintenance, reconstruction, repair and restoration were also part of the final package. These improvements build on various reform measures that have been implemented over the past several years, some big, some small. And the USFS is taking advantage of them. In 2018, the Service sold 3.2 billion board feet of lumber off federal lands, the highest output since 1997 and the first time selling over 3 BBF in 21 years. Although still short of the 3.4 BBF goal for the year, it is 10% above the previous year and shows continued improvements. And we plan to be there to encourage, support and if needed, demand that the current trend continues. THE 2018 FARM BILL: The Hardwood Federation had another reason to cheer on December 21 when the President signed the reauthorization of the Farm Bill, a massive piece of legislation that is primarily focused on food and nutrition programs, but also includes important support for the hardwood industry. One of our top issues of the year was advocating for full funding of export promotion programs in the Farm Bill, including the Market Access Program (MAP) and the Foreign Markets Development Program (FMD), both administered by USDA. These programs provide essential resources to support the development of foreign markets for U.S. hardwood and hardwood products. The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) receives funding from both programs allowing them to provide vital services to the hardwood industry in the form of hardwood export promotion activities (Continued on page 20)
Middle Photo courtesy of SHoP Architects PC.
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Hardwood Cross-Laminated Timber: The Next Generation of Affordable Housing
OPPOSITE PAGE: Exterior view of MultiPly from the Sackler Courtyard. An AHEC project. Photo credit: Ed Reeve
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n 1908 the construction world was rocked by a new concept: home-kits that allowed people to assemble a new home by themselves. Sears, Roebuck, and Company changed the way houses were built by offering affordable housing to the masses through the creation of the Sears Modern Home. These kit-houses were sold via mail-order catalog and included 25 tons of materials needed to build a house, 30,000 parts, as well as pre-cut and fitted lumber, which reduced construction time by 40 percent. Once delivered, the new homeowner assembled the house with the aid of relatives and friends.
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The Modern Home kits were a major success for Sears, selling more than 70,000 do-it-yourself homes over 32 years. They offered the latest technology available in the early part of the twentieth century: indoor plumbing, electricity, and central heating. Even better, they were affordable, starting at just $360 (about $10,000 in 2019 dollars). As sales grew, Sears expanded its production. They purchased a lumber mill in Cairo, Illinois and another mill in Port Newark, New Jersey, which gave them the ability to mass-produce the materials and reduce manufacturing costs, resulting in lower prices for customers. The Great Depression ended the Sears Modern Home era, with the last home built in 1942. Today, the National Register of Historic Places includes several Sears catalog houses. Over a century later, a new generation of modular, affordable housing could be emerging thanks to hardwood cross-laminated timber (HCLT). Cross-laminated timber is created when timber planks are laid perpendicular to one another and glued together to form strong, stiff and stable panels. Hardwood CLT is stronger than steel and concrete, which makes it ideal for prefabrication and rapid assembly, reducing construction times by around 30 percent. Hardwood CLT was the star of the 2018 London Design Festival. MultiPly: a carbon-neutral, modular wooden pavilion made entirely of American tulipwood CLT, took center stage. MultiPly is a collaboration between New London Architecture, Waugh Thistleton Architects, the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), and the engineering and design firm, ARUP. It is meant to demonstrate how modular cross-laminated construction in hardwood is a feasible solution to the current housing crisis and to encourage visitors to re-think the way homes and cities are built.
Today, the National Register of Historic Places includes several Sears catalog houses. 10
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The pavilion is made with the first UK-manufactured hardwood CLT panels and arrives as a flatkit comprised of parts that are silently and quickly assembled. It is also carbon negative, storing 30 tons of CO2 within its panels. MultiPly confronts two of the current generation’s primary challenges – the insistent need for housing and the urgency to fight climate change. Andrew Waugh, the co-founder of Waugh Thistleton Architects, who spoke at the 2018 NHLA convention about the future of CLT, states, “We W W W. N H L A .C O M
Andrew Waugh, co-founder of Waugh Thistleton Architects, discusses market opportunities for hardwood CLT at the 2018 NHLA Convention & Exhibit Showcase in Toronto, Canada.
MultiPly confronts two of the current generation’s primary challenges – the insistent need for housing and the urgency to fight climate change.
are at a crisis point in terms of both housing and CO2 emissions and we believe that building in a versatile, sustainable material, such as tulipwood, is an important way of addressing these issues.” Tulipwood is sourced from the Eastern United States, where the hardwood forest area is expanding rapidly and already exceeds 11 billion acres, equivalent to the combined area of France and Spain. This makes the material both sustainable and environmentally friendly, especially as it is one of the most abundant American hardwoods. Poplar is another hardwood being considered for hardwood CLT. Hardwood CLT came to America when IKD, a Boston-based architectural design firm led by Yugon Kim, was awarded a $250,000 two-year grant to finance the development of hardwood CLT and the construction of the first hardwood CLT project in the United States. ‘The Indiana Hardwood CLT Project,’ upcycled low-value hardwood logs (secured by NHLA member companies) from forests in Indiana. ‘The Indiana Hardwood CLT Project’ was on display for 3-months last year in Columbus, Indiana. Along with NHLA, the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association supported the project. It also secured partnerships with SMARTLAM, the first CLT manufacturer in the United States. ‘The Indiana Hardwood CLT Project’ marked a crucial moment in hardwood history. Popularizing hardwood CLT in the United States can increase the value of forest land, diversify hardwood lumber markets, boost job growth, and improve forest management practices. Recent research has even confirmed that hardwood CLT can provide superior structural performance compared to softwood CLT. Plus, building with hardwood CLT has added health benefits that no other building material can claim. Wood has been proven to conW W W. N H L A .C O M
Yugon Kim, cofounder of IKD discussed the benefits of building with cross-laminated hardwood timber at the 2017 NHLA Convention & Exhibit Showcase in Nashville, Tennessee. Mr. Kim’s firm was the winner of 2018’s Architizer A+ Award for temporary/popup architectural projects. siderably reduce blood pressure, improve heart rates, and accelerate recovery times (according to the Wood Housing Humanity Report). Despite all of these benefits, softwood CLT continues to receive a majority of interest and demand. According to NHLA’s Chief Inspector, Dana Spessert, for hardwood CLT to capture market share, some challenges must be overcome. J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S |
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In 2017, Architect Magazine called hardwood cross-laminated timber one of the “Material Trends to Watch.” “First, building codes across the country need to include hardwood CLT. For this to happen, the hardwood industry must formulate CLT standards and corresponding building codes to ensure that hardwoods are allowed as a viable raw material for CLT manufacturing. Qualifications like lumber structural quality, procurement, processing, moisture content allowances, and cost must be explored and determined. Fortunately, NHLA and other associations are collaborating with wood science professors to address these issues.”
Hardwoods would offer the home or business owner more choices for a finished product on the inside.” Robbins claims, “Hardwood CLT is the solution for the next generation of affordable housing. Although traditional lumber is still less expensive than steel and concrete, what CLT provides is faster onsite construction, which leads to lower prices for the owner. Some economists believe that future housing will not be built on-site as it is today. Instead, it will be pre-fabricated off-site to lower construction costs—not only for the sake of affordability but as a solution for the lack of a labor force to physically construct housing.” Hardwood CLT has attracted substantial interest from developers and construction professionals alike thanks to its aesthetic advantages, as well as its economic and environmental benefits.
Much like the Sears Model Homes, hardwood CLT panels can be sent across the globe in kits that are quick and easy to assemble. Not only could hardwood CLT provide permanent housing for millions, but it could also provide temporary, movable housing to areas devastated by hurricanes, tornados, or fires.
Robbins also emphasized that “USNR is very excited for the hardwood industry when it comes to CLT panels. We believe that in 5 years there will be hardwood CLT options available that softwoods can’t provide. The same characteristics that give hardwoods the advantage over softwoods in flooring, cabinets, and furniture, will give hardwoods the edge in CLT products (beauty, warmth, and value).
In the meantime, the mechanical presses needed to create hardwood CLT in North America are available through NHLA member, USNR. Alan Robbins with USNR states, “Hardwood CLT would give the industry a shot in the arm with another avenue for its products.
In 2017, Architect Magazine called hardwood cross-laminated timber one of the “Material Trends to Watch.” Considering the excitement surrounding hardwood CLT, it is well on its way to becoming the most significant building material of the 21st century.
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT TROPICAL FOREST PRODUCTS
The Story of a Man, a Kitchen Table, and a Dream
T
he kitchen table serves as more than just a place for family meals. It is the hub of the home — a place where important family conversations happen, where visiting friends gravitate to socialize, where projects, budgeting, and homework take place. And for Jordan Dery, the founder of Tropical Forest Products, the kitchen table is where his idea to start a lumber company came to fruition. A native of Quebec, Canada, Jordan began his career in the hardwood lumber industry when he was just 20 years old. He graduated from the NHLA Inspector Training School in 2013, where he gained life-long friends and developed skills that would one day propel him to starting his own hardwood lumber business.
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The team at Tropical Forest Products.
The journey to the creation of his business began in 2016 when Jordan took a three-month holiday to explore Asia. While visiting Indonesia, he toured a local sawmill and was inspired. Jordan recalls his moment of clarity, “I’d always loved the hardwood industry and the people in it. This is my passion! I should start my own lumber company.” W W W. N H L A .C O M
He immediately called his twin brother, Justin Dery, who was already in the hardwood lumber industry. As Jordan excitedly told Justin he was going to start his own lumber company, Justin was wary, exclaiming, “you’re crazy!” Justin knew that starting a lumber company from scratch would be a massive undertaking and wanted to protect Jordan from making a costly mistake, but his skepticism didn’t last long.
“I’D ALWAYS LOVED THE HARDWOOD INDUSTRY AND THE PEOPLE IN IT. THIS IS MY PASSION! I SHOULD START MY OWN LUMBER COMPANY.”
Jordan returned home just before Christmas, and by New Year’s Day 2017, his brand-new business was taking shape. Soon, — Jordan Dery his brother joined the company as its vice president and their longtime friend, Jassi Jaskaran, signed-on to handle sales & purchasing. The newly-created business was named “Tropical Forest Products,” and the center of operations was the kitchen table at their family home.
The first order of business was to join NHLA, which was instrumental in building strong relationships within the hardwood lumber industry. When Tropical Forest Products began, they didn’t have any credit, so they turned to their friends in the hardwood industry for help. These friends trusted his vision and allowed him to use their lumber yards and warehouses to build loads. The first loads sold by Tropical Forest Products weren’t backed by contracts. Instead, the deals consisted of a handshake and Jordan’s word. By June of 2017, Tropical Forest Products moved into its first warehouse, which was previously used to store old car-parts. “The warehouse was completely disgusting,” said Jordan, “the entire building had to be gutted and completely remodeled before it could be used to house lumber. The first load at the new warehouse looked tiny, sitting all alone in the 30,000 square foot goliath. It just looked like a ghost town.” 2017 was challenging, and Tropical Forest Products had many obstacles to overcome, including some of their customers declaring bankruptcy. Jordan laments, “It was devastating, but we all came together with the understanding that it would take a lot of hard work to make up for the money we’d lost. We had to put in long hours, hitting the phones all day every day, trying to get new customers. It was tough, W W W. N H L A .C O M
but we managed to double our goals in our first year.” It didn’t take long for their ghost town of a warehouse to become filled with lumber. In fact, Tropical Forest Products has grown so much that they will be moving into a bigger warehouse in November of 2019. Jordan’s approach to managing the business revolves around two things: happy employees and satisfied customers. Jordan’s mantra is, “work at a job you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.” He extolls the importance of employees spending time with their families, saying, “I let my team know their health and family should always come first. I really believe that. I want my employees to know their company supports them, that we trust them.” The growth continues at Tropical Forest Products, as they are proud to announce their recent merger with the Lumber Decking Company out of Miami. Jordan points out, “This merger provides a great opportunity for growth. The CEO of the Lumber Decking Company, Kris Kanagenthran, has been one of my greatest mentors since I began in the hardwood lumber industry. I know we need strong leadership to take us to the next level. I trust his leadership and share his vision.” From its humble beginning of three men working at a kitchen table, Tropical Forest Products has matured into a business that employees a full staff with clients across the world. Instead of borrowing lumber yards and warehouses from friends, they now have their own. Jordan is proud to be a member of NHLA, acknowledging, “None of our success would have been possible if it weren’t for relationships we built through NHLA, our customers, and our suppliers. The friendships we built became the support we needed to get our feet off the ground. They wanted us to succeed. They set us up to triumph.” J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S |
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RULES CORNER
Causes and Solutions to “Bruising” by DANA SPESSERT, NHLA Chief Inspector
O
ver the years, there have been numerous studies on soft maple and other species that show signs of impact staining, often times referred to as “bruising”. This impact staining is a form of oxidative stain, which in many cases is not easily identifiable when the board is rough and only reveals itself upon surfacing. Studies show, that in the case of soft maple, bruising can be caused by impacts from a hammer. If this is true, then one can assume that any extra force that is exerted onto the log or sawn boards would cause the wood to become discolored in the areas of impact.
There are two studies on this subject, that may be of interest.
Soft maple boards (surface, end, edge) showing patches of oxidative stain
EXPLORING METHODS FOR PREVENTION OF OXIDATIVE STAIN IN SOFT MAPLE https://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplrp/fpl_rp654.pdf FACTORS AFFECTING OXIDATIVE STAIN IN SOFT MAPLE (Acer rubrum L.) https://www.fpl.fs.fed.us/documnts/fplrn/fpl_rn311.pdf It has been my experience that for certain species like soft maple and birch, the use of knurled or screw rolls with excessive hydraulic or air pressure can cause this same type of bruising on the boards after drying. One could also assume that the use of modern-day hydraulic log loaders can also exert extreme pressure on the logs and create the same type of damage to the wood. I would suggest that when sawing soft maple or birch, you reduce the pressure of the press rolls on the edger, gang saw, re-saw and any other area of the sawmill with press rolls, to reduce the bruising effect that is downgrading the lumber through the process. I realize that there may be safety concerns with the decrease of pressure, but I believe that with some simple studies, there is a pressure that will fill both requirements. I would also like to address the effects on grading lumber that has been “bruised” by a process such as described above. When grading hardwoods, the Inspector shall grade the lumber as he/she finds it as described on page 4, paragraph 4 of the NHLA Rules Book: “Lumber shall be inspected and measured as the inspector finds it, of full length, width and thickness. No allowance shall be made for the purpose of raising the grade, except that in rough stock, wane, and other defects which can be removed by surfacing to standard
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Surface of ochoó board hit with hammer, then cut open to expose extent of discoloration.
rough thickness shall not be considered. Nothing herein shall be construed as prohibiting the shipper from improving the grade or appearance of the lumber at time of or prior to shipment.” With the Rule as listed above, the shipper is not allowed to overlook stain. But if it does not show on the surface and only appears after surfacing, then the Inspector would have no other option than to inadvertently cut over it in a clear face cutting. I would caution Lumber Inspectors who have had samples of bruising returned to them, to closely watch the rough lumber. I believe, in many cases, there were signs of the bruised areas that can and should be identified on the surface during the grading process. Contact Chief Inspector Dana Spessert at d.spessert@nhla.com or 901-399-7551. W W W. N H L A .C O M
THIS IS THE WAY HARDWOOD LUMBER GRADING WAS MEANT TO BE.
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EDUCATION & TRAINING For hardwood business owners and their employees Register for classes at www.nhla.com/calendar
MARCH
MARCH
APRIL
APRIL
11-29
25-June 7
8-19
29-May 1
Inspector Training School Progressive Program BLOCK 3
Inspector Training School 189th Class
Inspector Training School Progressive Program BLOCK 1
Intro to Hardwood Lumber Grading
Three weeks hands-on training and final testing for the certificate of completion in Hardwood Lumber Inspection.
Traditional 10-week hands-on training to achieve the certificate of completion in Hardwood Lumber Inspection. Venue: Haliburton Forest & Wild Life Reserve Haliburton ON Canada
Two weeks of hands-on training.
Venue: NHLA Headquarters Memphis, TN
Intro class to gain a basic understanding of the NHLA hardwood lumber grading rules and how the rules affect the value of lumber.
Instructor: Rich Hascher, NHLA ITS Instructor
Venue: NHLA Headquarters Memphis, TN
Instructor: Tom Byers, NHLA National Inspector
Block 2: Online study Block 3: Three weeks handson training and final testing at NHLA headquarters
Instructor: Rich Hascher, NHLA ITS Instructor
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
JULY
29-May 11
20-July 26
3-14
5-18
Inspector Training School Progressive Program BLOCK 1
Inspector Training School 190th Class
Inspector Training School Progressive Program BLOCK 1
Inspector Training School Progressive Program BLOCK 1
Venue: Dabney S. Lancaster College Clifton Forge, Virginia
Venue: Ron Jones Hardwoods Franklin, PA
Instructor: Barry Kibbey NHLA National Inspector
Instructor: Tom Byers NHLA National Inspector
Block 2: Online study Block 3: Three weeks handson training and final testing at NHLA headquarters.
Block 2: Online study Block 3: Three weeks handson training and final testing at NHLA headquarters.
Venue: NHLA Headquarters Memphis, TN Instructor: Rich Hascher, NHLA ITS Instructor
Two weeks of hands-on training.
Venue: Allard Lumber Brattleboro, Vermont Instructor: Jack English NHLA National Inspector Block 2: Online study Block 3: Three weeks handson training and final testing at NHLA headquarters.
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Traditional 10-week hands-on training to achieve the certificate of completion in Hardwood Lumber Inspection. Venue: NTC Wood Technology Center of Excellence Antigo, WI Instructor: Rich Hascher, NHLA ITS Instructor
J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S
Two weeks of hands-on training.
Two weeks of hands-on training.
W W W. N H L A .C O M
EDUCATION IS KEY TO YOUR COMPANY’S SUCCESS “Very nice people and Rich, the instructor, is the best. He makes everything so simple and easy to understand. I am very thankful that Pike Lumber Company is sending me through this class. Best class that I have ever took!” — Elliot Woolums
For Inspector Training School info visit www.nhla.com/education/inspector-training-school
AUGUST
SEPTEMBER
SEPTEMBER
OCTOBER
12-23
2-13
4-Nov. 22
28-Nov. 8
Inspector Training School Progressive Program BLOCK 1
Inspector Training School Progressive Program BLOCK 1
Inspector Training School 191st Class
Inspector Training School Progressive Program BLOCK 1
Two weeks of hands-on training.
Venue: NHLA Headquarters Memphis, TN Instructor: Rich Hascher, NHLA ITS Instructor Block 2: Online study Block 3: Three weeks handson training and final testing at NHLA headquarters.
NOVEMBER
4-22 Inspector Training School Progressive Program BLOCK 3 Three weeks hands-on training and final testing for the certificate of completion in Hardwood Lumber Inspection.
Venue: NHLA Headquarters Memphis, TN Instructor: Rich Hascher, NHLA ITS Instructor
W W W. N H L A .C O M
Two weeks of hands-on training.
Venue: Northwest Hardwoods North Carolina Instructor: Mark Bear NHLA National Inspector Block 2: Online study Block 3: Three weeks handson training and final testing at NHLA headquarters.
Traditional 12-week hands-on training to achieve the certificate of completion in Hardwood Lumber Inspection. Venue: NHLA Headquarters Memphis, TN Instructor: Rich Hascher, NHLA ITS Instructor
Two weeks of hands-on training.
Venue: Purdue West Lafayette, Indiana Instructor: Kevin Evilsizer and Barry Kibbey NHLA National Inspectors Block 2: Online study Block 3: Three weeks handson training and final testing at NHLA headquarters.
DECEMBER
2-13 Inspector Training School Progressive Program BLOCK 1 Two weeks of hands-on training.
Venue: NHLA Headquarters Memphis, TN Instructor: Rich Hascher, NHLA ITS Instructor Block 2: Online study Block 3: Three weeks handson training and final testing at NHLA headquarters. J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S |
19
(Continued from page 7)
around the globe. Both programs are fully funded in the Farm Bill; MAP at $200 million and FMD at $34.5 level million. The Farm Bill also included funding for the Timber Innovation Act (TIA), a program that promotes use of wood and cross laminated timber (CLT) in buildings higher than 6 stories. The provisions in the measure include both the research and development components of TIA as well as innovation grants. Although this is primarily a softwood product at the moment, we are hopeful that additional research will develop ways for hardwoods to be appropriately incorporated into CLT. Funding for the Community Wood Energy and Wood Innovation Program (CWEIP) grants for projects that install high efficiency wood heating systems in hospitals, schools, community centers and entire towns made the final Farm Bill cut as well. The 2018 bill authorizes $125 million over the next 5 years to facilitate installations of heat and power systems that operate on sawmill residual-derived fuels. The scope of the program has been broadened as well . . . capital improvements to sawmills are now eligible for funding under CWEIP. Last, but not least, the final legislation includes a few forest management provisions, including expanded Good Neighbor Authority to allow Indian tribes and counties to participate in the program and some landscape scale forest restoration provisions, including the establishment of a competitive grant program for financial and technical assistance to encourage collaborative, science-based restoration of priority forest landscapes. WATERS OF THE U.S: One last bit of good news from 2018 was the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s unveiling of proposed rules regarding the Waters of the U.S. (WOTUS) at end of December. The revised rules are intended to replace the Obama Administration’s WOTUS regulation which expanded the definition of waters covered by the Clean Water Act to include navigable waters
The Hardwood Federation team is ready for action and looking forward to taking on the challenges of the new year as well as those with direct and indirect connections, including potentially temporary flows, to navigable water bodies. The original rule was of concern to the regulated community as almost any body of water, including temporary ones, could trigger Clean Water Act permitting obligations. This was a particularly big concern for the Agriculture community in general including forest landowners. Although there is some concern in the regulated community that the new WOTUS rule still leaves too much room for interpretation and overreach, the proposed rule does narrow the definition and excludes ephemeral streams which were of primary concern to forest land owners. We expect the rule to be finalized in 2019. It is important to remember that although this is good forward momentum, it did not happen overnight. These are all issues we have been working on for several years, chipping away at Congress and two different Administrations. And we are still not done. We must continue to advocate for change AND we must continue to defend the progress we have made. And of course, there are significant challenges that face us in 2019, trade and how the industry navigates the current world economic instability being of primary importance. The Hardwood Federation team is ready for action and looking forward to taking on the challenges of the new year . . . the successful conclusion of the previous year has provided us with the energy and the confidence to do so!
JOB BOARD NHLA CERTIFIED LUMBER GRADER
HARDWOOD LUMBER INSPECTOR
Trout River Dry Kilns (Crewe, Virginia) is looking for an NHLA Certified Lumber Grader. This position requires grading kiln dried hardwood lumber including Hickory, Poplar, Red Oak and White Oak. Experience is required and you must be a graduate of the NHLA Inspector Training School. Competitive salary based on experience.
Shomaker Lumber (McKenzie, Tennessee) is seeking an experienced lumber inspector for KD lumber for export. Excellent working environment and competitive salary. Experience is required and salary is dependent upon experience.
To apply, please email Lindsey Hailey at lhailey@troutriverreclaimed.com
To apply, please contact Randal Wilson at 731-225-9095 or shomakersales@gmail.com or Ronnie Shomaker at 731-352-5777 or shomakerlumber@bellsouth.net
* To view current job postings or to post a job, visit www.nhla.com/industry-services/job-board. 20
| J A N U A R Y/ F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S
W W W. N H L A .C O M
Quality lumber doesn’t just happen. It starts with quality logs and precision sawing. Checking lumber thickness along with inspectors at every machine center guarantees consistent manufacture and grade.
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