Upload
others
View
1
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
No. 549 December 2014 WHA Board of Directors
Lee Jimerson President
Kurt Landwehr Vice President
Nils Dickmann Treasurer
Mike Lipke Immediate Past President
Doug Martin
Jamie Price
John Smith
Lindy Stallard
Sam Stenerson
Jeff Stoddard David Sweitzer Secretary/Manager P.O. Box 1095 Camas, WA 98607 Ph: (360) 835-1600 Fax: (360) 835-1910 Web: www.westernhardwood.org Email: [email protected]
Wood, the New Building Material
For all of you in the forest products industry this may shock you as much as it
did me while attending the annual meeting of the Washington Forest Protection
Association (WFPA) in Olympia November 6th. Dr. Thomas Maness, Dean of
the College of Forestry at Oregon State University made this observation during
his opening comments that emphasized building our future with wood: the most
natural resource.
He said wood is being featured throughout the world, and the Northwest
wood basket is well positioned to compete in global markets for “green
buildings” made from engineered wood products. Wood sequesters carbon,
perhaps for hundreds of years, and does not add to the possible deleterious effects
on the atmosphere as does concrete and steel.
The Northwest is the best place in the world to grow high value trees. The
worst thing that could happen is to not grow trees in the Northwest. As people
are part of the landscape, we are challenged as to how to live on the landscape
and not destroy it.
Michael Green, one of the strongest architectural advocates of using wood,
was featured in a video that showed multiple uses of wood. A Canadian
architect, he is designing multiple story structures employing the strength of
Cross Laminated Timber (CLT). Architects need to be educated on the multiple
uses of wood.
Washington Governor Jay Inslee, keynote speaker, said the forest products
industry is pivotal to answering the problem of increasing carbon pollution while
increasing the use of wood in construction. He is solidly behind the use of wood
building construction and urges all kinds of incentives be put on the table, such as
building codes, loan programs for housing, and economic development
opportunity.
Kevin Godbout, Weyerhaeuser Company, was introduced as the incoming
WFPA president replacing Norm Schaaf, Merrill & Ring. –Dave Sweitzer, Secretary /
Manager Western Hardwood Association
3
Vanport International, Inc.
Contact: David Stallcop
PO Box 97
Boring, OR 97009
Phone: (503)663-4466
Fax: (503)663-2610
Web: www.vanport-intl.com
Email: [email protected]
Sponsor: Lee Jimerson, Colllins
West Coast hardwood lumber activity
is steady according to key players in the
industry there. Construction has picked up
just about everywhere and business
compared to a year ago is very good noted
a California supplier.
One Washington supplier says his current inventory
is at a reasonable level and prices are
up. Domestic hardwoods have been
climbing all year and because some
prices are very high, he expects a
crash to correct it, although not all the
way back to where they were before.
Competition was a main concern for an Oregon
contact who talked about the high cost of transportation.
While gas prices are high, transportation costs are going
to be high and since other industries also need
transportation, the competition for it is
high and it boils down to logistics. They
are working to manage product so that
trucks don’t go out empty or half full and
maximize route planning as part of the
logistics on their end.
Manufacturers, wholesalers, and
endusers are focusing their attention to
year-end and to the winter season and
early spring. It’s the time of year for
restocking inventories of whitewoods, so
most in Quebec feel that sawmill
production will likely increase through fall and winter.
Wet weather conditions delayed logging
recently in most parts of Ontario and
there did not seem to be any major
effects as supply was reported as being
steady. The threat of stain was a
possibility, however, causing some
concern for drying schedules.
Heading into 2015, the demand for Nor th
American hardwood species looks good, but not great.
In the U.S., official data show
improved economic growth and
employment levels, but most
Americans aren’t feeling this and are being cautious.
New home construction is flat and existing home sales
continue to lag behind 2013. Growth in remodeling and
commercial construction activity helped sustain
domestic hardwood demand during much of 2014, but
both markets appear to be slowing. Secondary wood
products manufacturers are stocked up with lumber and
have slowed purchases, and with their markets showing
signs of weakening, many expect to keep purchases low
through year-end.
Despite economic stagnation in Europe and slower
growth in China, U.S. hardwood lumber exports
continue to pace well ahead of last year’s record level,
including the strongest September shipments ever. Even
* Welcome New Member
* Outlook
* Industry News
* News News
* Member News
* Upcoming Events
* Legislative News
* Motivate
In This Issue:
if export growth slows during the next few months,
exports will remain a bright spot for North American
hardwood producers.
Alder – Steadily increasing demand from Western
distribution yards, cabinet manufacturers, and
Chinese endusers have kept Alder sales booming
during the last two years. Demand from Western
distributors will keep growing, as their business is
improving and Alder is a staple. However,
shipments to the cabinet sector will likely plateau
due to sluggish home construction and minimal
growth in remodeling.
Ash – Ash demand has held strong so far, despite
declining Red Oak prices.
Beech – Large price increases for most species from
2013 through mid-2014 drew more component and
institutional furniture manufacturers to Beech. With
Beech lumber prices remaining low, however,
sawmills continue to push most of their Beech into
ties and other industrial products offering higher
returns.
Cottonwood – Cottonwood exports have been slow
to Asia and Europe in the last two months, and that
probably won’t change in the near term, but with
Cottonwood production down this year, domestic
markets haven’t had to absorb any extra.
Poplar – Poplar sales have been strong for some
time, and while they might not expand much in the
months to come, neither will they contract..
Excerpted from –Johnson, Andy. "North American Hardwood
Species Forecast" Hardwood Review Express 14 (7 Nov. 2014):
n. pag. Print.
The USFS claims it exceeded its 2014 restoration,
timber goals. The Forest Service issued a press release
Thursday touting their restoration efforts in Fiscal Year
2014. "The Forest Service has made strategic
investments across all agency programs to advance our
efforts to create resilient forests and sustainable
communities," said U.S. Forest Service Chief Tom
Tidwell. "This work reduces the
wildland fire threat to communities
and firefighters and minimizes the risk
of forest pests and climate change,
while supporting American jobs and
rural economies." The numbers look
great - on the surface.
The Forest Service says they "reduced hazardous
fuels" on 1.7 million acres. According to the National
Interagency Fire Center, the Forest Service conducted
prescribed burns on 1.1 million acres this year, or about
64% of the acres that had "fuels reduction."
Interestingly, 81% of these acres were in the Southern
Region. It's hard to see how maintenance burns in pine
flatwoods address the pressing need to thin overstocked
stands in the Western U.S., where the bulk of the
agency's firefighting and NEPA budgets get consumed.
The U.S. Green Building Council is extending
the 2009 LEED rating system through October 31,
2016. This is a fast response to the survey conducted a
few weeks ago at the October Greenbuild conference,
which showed that the industry needs more time to
prepare. Nearly two-thirds of respondents reported that
they were "not ready" or "unsure" if they were ready to
pursue the elevated requirements of LEED v4.
International users, who account for about 50% of all
new LEED registrations, also requested more time.
According to Rick Fedrizzi, USGBC's CEO and
founding chair: “LEED v4 wasn’t designed to be easy.
It is the next generation of green building, and we are
confident the market will meet us there as they have in
years past.” - Source: Woodworking Network, October 29, 2014.
Chatham House Released New Reports On
Illegal Logging. Progress in the fight against illegal
logging has been slow in key wood-producing countries,
experts at Chatham House report. Recently-released
studies show that momentum has declined in Brazil.
While the country has invested in law enforcement,
flaws in the timber tracking system are undermining
efforts. Reports conclude that Ghana and Indonesia have
made at least some progress in reducing illegal logging
and improving forest governance. Recently, Laos began
to prioritize tackling illegal timber. - Source: Chatham
House, October 29, 2014.
4
The Oregon Board of Forestry voted
unanimously Nov. 5 to proceed with a new plan to
create specific timber harvest and conservation zones on
600,000 acres of state-owned forests west of Portland
and along the north coast.
The Oregon Department of Forestry currently uses a
single management strategy to pursue both timber
revenue and conservation goals, but officials concluded
in 2012 that approach was not generating enough
money. The new concept is known as land allocation. It
grew out of recommendations from a stakeholder group
that included representatives from the timber industry,
environmental organizations, anglers and county
governments.
The U.S. EPA released the long awaited carbon
accounting framework for biomass. On cursory review
by the Hardwood Federation, the
documents released acknowledge
that biomass residuals, like
sawdust produced in our
hardwood mills, will be
considered a carbon neutral fuel source. This is a very
positive step.
5
Jo in WHA First time membership is $150 the first year and for a limited time, $150 for the second year also.
The WHA is the only organization dedicated exclusively to the availability and promotion of Western Hardwoods. Membership benefits include:
online membership directory listing one free newsletter ad company profile in newsletter our monthly email newsletter important industry updates by email a free banner ad on WHA’s website cost effective newsletter advertising networking at the Annual Meeting discounts on Association meeting registration
Joining is quick and easy. Use the online membership application and simply pay by credit card, www.westernhardwood.org.
Video can be used for course credit.
The benefits of beech from Europe are detailed in
European Beech: Durable, Sustainable and Versatile,
a video and online learning course presented by
Pollmeier Inc. The video discusses the benefits of
using more wood, not less, to lower carbon emissions. It identifies which hardwood species are the most abundant
and where some of the best managed certified hardwood forests are located.
In addition, the physical and performance properties of European beech are compared to eight other temperate
hardwoods, such as hard maple, white oak, red oak, cherry, yellow birch, alder, soft maple and black walnut.
The course is approved by the American Institute of Architects and other groups.
The video also covers life cycle assessment of wood, and how it is the only carbon-negative sustainable
building material. Characteristics of the world’s forests and the beech forests of Europe are also discussed,
along with the growth of European beech as the most available and accessible temperate hardwood. The video
describes such beech characteristics as redheart.
The Forest Stewardship Council (www.fsc.org) and the Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification
(www.pefc.org) are the most widely used certification programs in Europe and are described here.
Applications described for European beech include flooring, cabinets, doors and millwork, ceiling panels and trim,
and furniture. Surface treatments for European beech are also covered. For more information, contact Pollmeier
Inc., 503-452-5800, www.pollmeier-usa.com.
Fighting a wildfire requires a lot of manpower
and a lot of equipment, including helicopters and
airplanes for aerial support. The
problem with the humans in those
aircraft, however, is not only that
do they put their lives at risk—
and sometimes lose them—
they’re not actually very efficient.
Pilots need to do things like eat,
use the bathroom, and sleep. That
means spotter planes and water
bombing helicopters spend more
time on the tarmac than they do
actually fighting fires.
That’s why Lockheed Martin decided to take the
self-flying helicopter it developed for the battlefields of
Afghanistan and send it to the combustible forests of
the United States. The K-MAX, produced by Kaman
Aerospace and outfitted for autonomous flying by
Lockheed, flew thousands of missions in Afghanistan
between 2011 and 2014, carried more than 4.5 million
pounds of cargo, sometimes through areas that would
be considered unacceptably risky for human pilots. It
can carry up to 6,000 pounds of cargo at sea level and
4,300 pounds at 15,000 feet. Swap out a pallet of
military supplies for an enormous bucket of water, and
you’ve got a self-flying, fire-fighting chopper. - excepted
from Golson, Jordan. "Military's Self-Flying Helicopter Gets Modded
to Fight Wildfires | WIRED." Wired.com. Conde Nast Digital, 16 Nov.
0014. Web. 25 Nov. 2014.
The global economy has seen its share of
challenges this year. These include deflationary worries
in Europe, decelerating growth in China and declining
activity in South America. The U.S. economy grew 3.5
percent in the third quarter, and manufacturers are
largely upbeat about demand and production for the
coming months. October saw signs of progress for
manufacturers worldwide. –excepted from Nat’l Assoc. of
Manufacturers Global Manufacturing Economic Update, November 14,
2014
In a job openings and labor turnover survey, the
Bureau of Labor Statistics reported that manufacturers
hired 280,000 workers in September, a sharp uptick
after the soft 236,000 hires observed in August. The
September figure was the fastest pace in hiring since
November 2010.
6
Upcoming Meetings
December 4, 2014 WHA Board Meeting Wilsonville, OR Email: [email protected]
December 4 -5, 2014 Measuring and Improving Timber Harvesting Productivity Portland, OR Email: [email protected]
December 8, 2014 Washington Hardwoods Commission Meeting Olympia, WA Email: [email protected]
December 12,2014 Workshop-Interntional Marketing for Forest Products Companies Memphis, TN Email: [email protected]
January 16-20, 2015 Western Pallet Association Annual Meeting Rancho Mirage, CA Email: [email protected]
Have upcoming event or company news? Let us know and we’ll help you get the word out, both here and on our website. Drop us a line and let us know!
Like us on Facebook!
Advertise in Hardwood Stand
Affordable pricing for members.
$75 business card ad
$150 half page ad
Courtesy Lockheed
Martin
At the same time, the number of manufacturing separations—including layoffs, firings and retirements—also increased, rising from 237,000 to 268,000. Therefore, there were 12,000 net new hires (or hires minus separations) in September, an improvement from the net loss of 1,000 manufacturing employees in August. In addition, net hiring has averaged 15,600 per month over the past five months (May to September), which is progress from the 5,000 average over the five
months prior to that (December to April). –excepted from
Nat’l Assoc. of Manufacturers Monday Economic Report, November17, 2014
Senator Ron Wyden’s (D-OR) S.1784,
Representative Doc Hastings’ (R-WA) H.R. 1526, and
Senator John Barrasso’s (R-WY) S. 1966 all seek to
create logging and milling jobs, raise new revenues for
rural counties and mitigate wildfire risks. All three
have seen fierce opposition from conservation groups,
some sportsmen, and Democrats.
The 2015 Annual Convention will celebrate 60 years for
the Western Hardwood Association. It will be held in
Portland, Oregon. Input from the membership to the
Board of Directors is important in planning this exciting
convention. An email was sent to the membership with a
request for date preference and topics of interest. The date
has been selected but if you haven’t had a chance to
respond yet, please take a few minutes and email the
WHA office with any suggestions for topics of interest.
Date: August 17-20, 2015
Brief Agenda:
Monday – Welcome reception, Modera Hotel in
downtown Portland
Tuesday – Salmon derby on Columbia River and mill
tour followed by reception
Wednesday – Speakers on topical subjects and
exhibits at World Forestry Center, reception, dinner,
and auction
Thursday – Golf tournament and tour
7
-
- -
BUCK the Status Quo Sometimes You Have to Kiss
“Tradition” Good-Bye
By Rob Wilson
When we attend the movies, we frequently engage
in a willing suspension of disbelief, which enables us
to accept implausible scenarios, and enjoy the show. It
keeps us from yelling, “No way!” at the screen when
revolvers fire more than six shots, when car thieves
find the keys under the sun visor, and when a paperclip
can pick any lock.
Some people, however, don’t leave that ability at
the theater door.
Innovators willingly suspend disbelief - all the
time. It enables them to imagine airplanes and
telephones or Game Boys and Super Soakers. It frees
them from the boundaries that contain most of us, so
they can pursue ideas that others think are
preposterous. As M. C. Escher, the artist famous for
his drawings of impossible structures, put it, “Only
those who attempt the absurd will achieve the
impossible.”
One of the cardinal characteristics of creative
thinkers is their willingness to abandon the traditional
ways of viewing things. They question authority, and
challenge the status quo. They ask questions, like:
Why does it have to be this way? Why can’t it be that
way?
Some who have gone against the prevailing
beliefs, have done so at their own demise. Galileo
famously went against the Catholic Church by
defending the theory that the earth revolves around the
sun instead of vice versa. He was tortured and
sentenced to life in prison for his differing views.
Sometimes it’s necessary to go against the status
quo. Henry Ford said, "If I had asked my customers
what they wanted, they would have said a faster
horse."
However, innovators cannot always ignore the
status quo. Culturally speaking. If you travel the road
of adversity in a culture that is not aligned with your
way of thinking... bottom line culture always wins.”
Unfortunately, some companies protect the status
quo to their own detriment. Paul Paetz, CEO of
Innovative Disruption, Inc., offers this example:
“Kodak invented the digital camera in 1975, but
decided it wasn't good enough to commercialize and
that it would undermine their film, paper and
chemistry businesses. So, they did nothing with it,
allowing Sony to be first to market with a digital
camera in 1981.” Today Kodak is facing bankruptcy.
Challenging the status quo isn’t all about science
and business; it even works in fields as rigid as
religion. My friend, Lisa Leeper, told me, “John
Eldredge, of Ransomed Heart, recast completely for
me what it means to be a Christian by putting it all in
terms of a relationship with a loving God who's
romancing me, rather than me trying to appease a
forbidding, disappointed judge.”
I love the story of Billy Beane, General Manager
of the Oakland Athletics, who went against the grain in
sports. It is told in detail in the book and movie titled,
Moneyball. Beane did not have the budget to recruit
top players for his team. So, he used player statistics to
acquire team members rather than the traditional
method of subjective scouting. It enabled him to get
talented, yet undervalued players, and build a winning
team.
The good news is that new products are introduced
to the market every year by small business owners
who are not content with the way things are. Jake
Rothschild, of Ohmgbrands, was told that it was
impossible to create a non-dairy ice cream with the
pleasing texture of the real thing. Unwilling to accept
that, he experimented for five years. Using a
combination of almond milk, coconut milk, avocado
and plantain, he came up with a formula that he calls
Joyscream. It’s a success. I tasted Joyscream; and it
really does have the taste and texture of ice cream.
Just because things are going well, doesn’t mean
you shouldn’t question authority or challenge the
status quo. There’s always room for improvement -
whether it is in business or your personal life - asking
questions may enlighten you to problems before they
occur. Speaker bureau owner, Andrea Gold says,
"Status quo living does not allow for challenging one's
beliefs and habits." - excerpt—Robert Evans Wilson, Jr. is an
author, humorist and innovation consultant. He works with companies
that want to be more competitive and with people who want to think
like innovators. For more information on Robert, please visit http://
www.jumpstartyourmeeting.com
8