hardwood matters - National Hardwood Lumber Association
Transcription
hardwood matters - National Hardwood Lumber Association
DEC E M B E R 2 01 0 H A R DWO O D M AT T E R S T H E VO I C E O F T H E H A R DWOO D I N D U ST RY 2010 NHLA CONVENTION RECAP 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 DEPARTME NTS 14 15 16 18 19 Legislative Log Tally Sheet Making It Work HT News Rules Corner READER SERVICES 10 4 6 7 8 20 22 President's Message Executive Director's Message Memorials Inside NHLA Calendar Job Board IN THIS ISSUE... 10 HE 2010 NHLA ANNUAL T CONVENTION & EXHIBIT SHOWCASE IN REVIEW CONTENTS W W W. N H L A .C O M D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S 1 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 THE MISSION OF NH LA To serve NHLA Members in the North American hardwood lumber industry by: maintaining order, structure, rules, and ethics in the changing hardwood marketplace; providing member services unique to the hardwood lumber industry; driving collaboration across the hardwood industry to promote demand for North American hardwood lumber and advocate the interest of the hardwood community in public/private policy issues; and building positive relationships within the global hardwood community. December 2010 ▪ Issue 108 National Hardwood Lumber Association PO Box 34518 ▪ Memphis, TN 38184-0518 901-377-1818 ▪ 901-382-6419 (fax) [email protected] ▪ www.nhla.com EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MISSION LEADERS Dave B. Redmond Highland Hardwood Sales, Inc. President Nancy Arend Weyerhaeuser Hardwoods Industry Advocacy & Promotion Joe Long J.E. Higgins Lumber Company First Vice President Chuck Bice Sweeney Hardwoods Unique Services Ted Rossi Rossi Group Past President 2008–2010 Chip Dickinson Anderson-Tully Lumber Co. Structure Mark A. Barford, CAE Executive Director Scott Heidler Heidler Hardwood Lumber Co. Membership & Marketing NHLA STAFF Pem Jenkins Turn Bull Lumber Company Rules Mark A. Barford, CAE Executive Director [email protected] Renee Hornsby Director of Communications/Editor [email protected] Holly Weir Graphic Designer [email protected] The views of contributions do not necessarily reflect the positions of NHLA. All advertisements for Hardwood Matters are accepted and published with the understanding that the advertiser and/or advertising agency are authorized to publish the entire contents and subject matter thereof. The advertiser and/or advertising agency will defend, indemnify and hold any claims or lawsuits for libel violations or right of privacy or publicity, plagiarisms, copyright or trademark infringement and any other claims or lawsuits that may arise out of publication of such advertisement. NHLA neither endorses nor makes any representation or guarantee as to the quality of goods and services advertised in Hardwood Matters. Copyright 2010. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without written permission is prohibited. Forestry Systems, Inc. Hardwood Federation The Lilly Company Lumbermen's Underwriting Alliance Denise Stewart Director of Finance Thomas Walthousen Director of Industry Relations Lisa Browne Convention Director Rich Hascher Inspector Training School Instructor ADVERTISER INDEX 17 7 3 ibc ■■■ Chris Churchill Interim Director of Education bcNHLA Leadership, Management and Development Program ifc Pike Lumber Co. 5 Quality Hardwoods Ltd. 21 Voice Directed Tally Systems, Inc. Dana Spessert Chief Inspector Wayne Tomas Technical Services Director COMMITTEE CHAIRS Larry Evans Industrial Timber & Lumber Inspector Training School Orn Gudmundsson, Jr. Northland Corporation Finance Skip Holmes Thomas & Proetz Lumber Co. Continuing Education Sally Johnson Batey, Ltd. Inspection Services John Owsiany Hartzell Hardwoods Convention Greg Patenaude Péladeau Lumber, Inc. Marketing Jack Shannon J.T. Shannon Lumber Company, Inc. Hardwood Promotion Joe Snyder Fitzpatrick & Weller, Inc. Rules Gary Swaner Swaner Hardwood Company Membership For advertising inquiries: Contact Leah Covington, Marketing Director at [email protected] or 901-399-7551. 2 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S W W W. N H L A .C O M CONT RI BUTORS As Executive Director of the Hardwood Federation, Deb Hawkinson oversees the day-to-day operations and the overall public policy goals of the Hardwood Federation – the largest Washington, D.C.-based trade association focusing exclusively on the hardwood industry. She also guides the Hardwood Federation’s Political Action Committee, HFPAC, and is organizing the most ambitious and aggressive expansion in the PAC’s history for the 2010 election cycle. Previously she spent 15 years in the Weyerhaeuser Company’s Federal and International Affairs office and served as Director of Operations and Director of Issues Management for the American Forest and Paper Association. Her experience has been in the alignment of business and public policy goals, and political involvement efforts including grassroots and PAC objectives. Russell Barratt is the Market Manager for Simonds International in Big Rapids, Michigan. He has been involved with the cutting tools manufacturing industry since 1975 and employed by Simonds International since 1981. He works closely with Walter Oppliger of Switzerland on the development and introduction of innovative filing room machinery. Barratt is a frequent speaker and participant in trade association meetings and wood conferences. W W W. N H L A .C O M D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S 3 PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE NEW PRESIDENT ADVOCATES STRENGTH IN NUMBERS It is my esteemed honor to begin my term as your NHLA president. After serving on the board in many different capacities for sixteen years, I feel my experiences with the Association and industry will serve our membership well. Our industry and nation has been in “uncharted waters” for far too long. Through all the changes, NHLA has adapted as needed to better serve each of us. We are fortunate to have an experienced, professional and dedicated staff. The Board of Managers gives generously of their time and varied talents at their own expense to serve each of us. The main engine of our Board function and structure is the various committees driving excellence and with a vision for the future. We have just completed one of our best attended conventions in Vancouver, BC, Canada. Over 750 members and guests were in attendance. A record number of sponsorships and a full exhibit hall made the experience full of value and an enjoyment for all. There really is no better forum to network and grow your business. If you were in attendance and have not done so, please complete and return your convention survey. This will assist our convention committee and staff as they strive to make Nashville, Tennessee the best convention yet! I would be remiss if I did not give my congratulations to Ted Rossi for a job well done! Ted has assured me that he will continue to work on behalf of the Association as immediate past president and Jim Howard will also remain active as a past president. I feel fortunate to have these competent gentlemen at my side and yours. My hope is that the National Hardwood Lumber Association will be successful in reaching out to more of our fellow industry companies. There is always strength in numbers, and we have so many hardwood businesses that could benefit from membership in NHLA. But I will save discussion on that topic for a later date…until then. Through all the changes, NHLA has adapted as needed to better serve each of us. Sincerely, Dave B. Redmond Highland Hardwood Sales, Inc. 4 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S W W W. N H L A .C O M W W W. N H L A .C O M D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S 5 EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S MESSAGE NHLA CHANGES STRATEGIC PLANNING INTO STRATEGIC THINKING The big management buzzword several years ago was “strategic planning.” The theory was that without a detailed, organized, specific and thoroughly reviewed plan, you could not succeed. In fact, if something failed to get into the plan, it sometimes just couldn’t be done. I personally still have several of those plans on my book shelf, and they often were not opened again until the “annual review” took place. With the speed that change takes place today, many businesses have decided that rather than having more strategic planning sessions they should change their practice to one of “strategic thinking.” Over the past four years, I have participated in three strategic planning meetings with the National Hardwood Lumber Association and each one has progressively become less about ideas and more about action. The first meeting included ideas like expanded education programs; increased international membership and rules training; understanding our role in the world and developing a new brand and logo to match. NHLA leadership developed a wish list of 12 separate items that provided staff direction for our efforts. The meeting the following year was far more specific and the leadership identified five major or “mega” issues that needed to be addressed on behalf of the industry: ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ Use of NHLA lumber grades internationally Forest certification programs Hardwood promotion Building a more responsive NHLA structure Changes to NHLA lumber grading rules and sales code. In addition, this group recommended changes to the mission statement to address these same five issues. The third meeting held January 2010, laid out specific goals with timetables, definitions of success, measurable outcomes, and names of leaders and staff to be held accountable. The leadership group stayed away from the planning aspect, instead focusing on specified strategic action. As an example, one goal was to “put in place the required people, resources and systems to increase the revenue of NHLA by marketing the full line of products and services that the Association offers by April, 2010” and then specified the development of metrics and training to achieve it. Modern businesses are being told to remain flexible to meet the stream of changes we are seeing today. By using strategic thinking, companies have the flexibility to make faster changes while staying on track for an agreed upon level of success. Now that’s 6 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S By using strategic thinking, companies have the flexibility to make faster changes while staying on track for an agreed upon level of success. something we all, including the staff of NHLA, are planning for! Sincerely, Mark Barford, CAE, Executive Director National Hardwood Lumber Association www.nhla.com W W W. N H L A .C O M ME MORIALS IN MEMORIAM: PAUL JEROME MILLER Paul Jerome Miller passed away November 15, 2010 at the age of 88. Paul was born in St. Louis, Missouri on February 1, 1922. In 1927, the family moved to Memphis, Tennessee where Paul’s father launched National Hardwood Magazine a publication focusing on the hardwood industry. Paul graduated from Central High School and served in the Navy during World War II. In 1943, he married Ernestine Herbers, and the couple lived in Portland until the end of the war. Upon returning to Memphis, Paul rejoined the family’s publishing firm and the business eventually grew to include nine additional publications. Four of Paul’s sons, and his daughter, joined him in the family’s publishing business and the family still operates the firm today. Mr. Miller was an avid outdoorsman and hunter and was a key member in several organizations including The Lumbermen’s Club of Memphis. He was preceded in death by his wife of sixty-four years, Ernestine Miller and is survived by his six children; Wayne, Gary, Paul, Chris, Terry, and Michelle Miller, all of the Memphis area. There are 13 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be made to the Church Health Center and the Make a Wish Foundation. IN MEMORIAM: PETER KING Peter King passed away Saturday, October 16 at his home, surrounded by his family. He succumbed to the cancer he had been fighting since January of this year. Joining the American hardwood community in the early 1980’s, Peter began his career with North Atlantic Timber & Shipping Company in his hometown of Hardwick, Massachusetts. In 1994, he went to work for Northland Forest Products of Kingston, New Hampshire as Far East Sales Manager. During his tenure at NFP, Peter became increasingly involved with the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC). After many years of service on the board of directors, he served as Chairman of AHEC from 2006–2008. In 2007, he went to work at Cersosimo Lumber Co., Inc., and set up the CLC export division, which met with much success under his oversight. He leaves his wife Dedie; his children, Simon and Sophie; grandchildren, Carmelo and Zeke, and Mila and Stella; daughter-in-law Alison and son-in-law Claudio; and his five siblings, Pam, Steve, Beth, John and Tory; and many nieces and nephews. A memorial service was held at the Universalist Church in Hardwick Center, Saturday, October 23 at 3:00 p.m. Donations may be made to World Education, Peter King Memorial Fund, C/O Mini Singh, World Ed, 44 Farnsworth Street, Boston, MA 02210. W W W. N H L A .C O M D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S 7 I NSIDE NHLA NHLA ATTENDS NAWLA TRADERS MARKET HOLIDAY CLOSI NGS Leah Covington, Marketing Director and Tom Walthousen, Director of Industry Relations, recently attended the North American Wholesale Lumber Association’s annual meeting in Chicago, Illinois November 3–5. So that all NHLA staff has the opportunity to spend time with family and friends during the holiday season, NHLA Headquarters will be closed December 24–31, 2010. The office will reopen on Monday, January 3, 2011. We wish everyone a wonderful holiday season. The 15th Annual Trader’s Market proved to be a great venue for more than 220 exhibitors to showcase their products to the 1200 attendees. Thirty NHLA members exhibited with numerous more in attendance. NHLA staff answered various questions about membership, advertising in Hardwood Matters, and the 2011 Convention in Nashville, Tennessee. The most commonly asked questions pertained to the NHLA Inspector Training School and potential opportunities to get their company in front of NHLA members by exhibiting at the upcoming 2011 NHLA Annual Convention. NHLA NATIONAL INSPECTORS VISIT MEMPHIS New Chief Inspector, Dana Spessert recently held a meeting of the National Inspectors at NHLA headquarters to discuss the future plans of the NHLA Inspection Services Department. Discussions centered on issues facing the hardwood industry and ways that the Inspectors can overcome some of the obstacles they face on a daily basis to make sure the Inspection Services Department of NHLA is running smoothly. Pictured Back Row L to R: Dana Spessert, NHLA Chief Inspector, Tom Byers, Jack English and Barry Kibbey Front Row L to R: Benji Richards and Simon Laroque Not Pictured: Kenny Taylor, Patrick Thériault and Simon LeCours “After meeting with the inspectors, I feel sure that we will be able to continue the long standing honor that has been granted to us as we continue to serve our members and the industry,” reported Chief Inspector Dana Spessert. “I must say that I have never seen a more dedicated, hardworking, honorable and friendly group of guys.” NHLA CO-SPONSORED LUMBER DRYING SHORT COURSE Chris Churchill, Interim Director of Education for NHLA, recently attended a Basic Hardwood Lumber Drying Short Course in Blacksburg, Virginia. The program was co-sponsored by NHLA and Virginia Tech. With nearly 20 students in attendance, Dr. Brian Bond led the class through the basic principles of drying hardwood lumber. The material covered issues from transportation to measuring moisture content in samples of the charge of 4/4 Yellow Poplar that was dried during the class. Participants were from several states and represented many segments of the industry. NHLA plans to offer another Drying Course in the spring of 2011. 8 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S W W W. N H L A .C O M I NSIDE NHLA NHLA INTRODUCES CODE OF CONDUCT On Sunday, November 14, 2010 the NHLA Board of Managers passed a motion to support a NHLA Membership Code of Conduct. The Code of Conduct reads as follows: 2011 NHLA RULES BOOK HERE Preamble The National Hardwood Lumber Association hereby sets forth the basic fair and ethical principles and practices to which member companies of the association will continue to adhere in the conduct of their business. A. Code of Conduct 1. Deceptive or Unlawful Consumer or Recruiting Practices o member company of the Association shall engage in any deceptive, false, a. N unethical or unlawful business or consumer practice. Member companies shall ensure that no statements, promises or testimonials are made that are likely to mislead customers. b.Member companies shall conduct their activities toward other members in compliance with this Code and all pertinent laws. c. I nformation provided by member companies to prospective or current customers shall be accurate and complete. Member companies shall not make any factual representation to customers that cannot be verified or make any promises that cannot be fulfilled. Member companies shall not present any selling opportunity in a false, deceptive or misleading manner. d.Member Companies shall respect any lack of business experience of customers. Member Companies shall not abuse the trust of customers, or exploit a customer’s age, illness, handicap, lack of understanding or unfamiliarity with the grading rules. 2. Products, Services and Promotional Materials a. Th e offer of products or services for sale by member companies of the Association shall be accurate and truthful as to price, grade, quality, quantity, and availability. A customer's order for products and services shall be fulfilled in a timely manner. b.Member companies shall not make misleading comparisons of another company’s products or services. Any comparison must be based on facts that can be objectively substantiated. Member companies shall not degrade any other member company, business, product or service in a false or misleading manner and shall not take unfair advantage of the goodwill attached to the trade name and symbol of any company, business, product or service. c. Promotional literature, advertisements and mailings shall not contain product descriptions, claims, photos or illustrations that are false, deceptive or misleading. d. Member Companies shall offer customers accurate information regarding: price, grade, terms of payment, and delivery dates. The 2011 NHLA Rules Book, English version is now available and will be mailed to all members during the month of December. The 2011 Rules Book will be available in additional languages in the coming months. Rules Book inquiries should be directed to Paula Walls at 901-399-7563 or [email protected] ANNOUNCING THE 2011 BUYERS GUIDE NHLA will produce a 2011 Buyers Guide. All NHLA members will be asked to update their company information for inclusion in the book. The membership listing information will be mailed during the month of December and should be returned to NHLA by February 1, 2011. The deadline to reserve advertising space in the 2011 Buyers Guide is April 4, 2011. Companies interested in advertising should contact Leah Covington at 901-399-7551 or [email protected] today! 3. Terms of Sale ember Companies are encouraged to incorporate NHLA sales code in all a. M business transactions. (NHLA sales code can be found in the NHLA Rules Book.) W W W. N H L A .C O M D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S 9 THE 2010 NHLA ANNUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBIT SHOWCASE IN REVIEW THE 2010 NHLA ANNUAL CONVENTION & EXHIBIT SHOWCASE IN REVIEW 10 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S W W W. N H L A .C O M The 2010 National Hardwood Lumber Association Annual Convention & Exhibit Showcase, presented by Lumbermen's Underwriting Alliance, was held October 13-16 in Vancouver, BC, Canada. With 743 registered attendees, an approximate 15 percent increase in attendance over the 2009 conference in Boston; and a sold out Exhibit Showcase & Trader’s Alley featuring 65 exhibiting companies, this year's Annual Convention exceeded all expectations and proved once again to be the premier networking and educational conference of the hardwood industry. The Association elected a new set of leaders and board members during the 2010 convention. Elected as NHLA President is Mr. Dave Redmond of Highland Hardwood Sales in Augusta, Georgia and First Vice President is Mr. Joe Long of J.E. Higgins Lumber Co. in Livermore, California. Thursday’s Opening Session was standing room only, as convention attendees crowded into the ballroom of the Hyatt Regency Hotel Vancouver to hear remarks from Keynote Speaker Sarah Palin. In addition to a crowd pleasing keynote speaker, the convention featured a long list of educational seminars, press conferences, special events and networking opportunities. W W W. N H L A .C O M D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S 11 A highlight of this year’s educational seminars was the International Buyer’s Panel, sponsored by the American Hardwood Export Council and the Hardwood Market Report. The panel provided a unique opportunity for American hardwood producers to hear directly from major importers in three of the largest markets for U.S. hardwood exports: Europe, Southeast Asia and Greater China. The panel session was chaired by AHEC Executive Director Michael Snow and featured Andy Craig, North American Procurement Director for Latham’s in the U.K., Michael Hermens, Managing Director of APP Timber of Malaysia and Patrick Leung of Sundart Timber in Hong Kong, as well as AHEC Chairman Orn Gudmundsson Jr. of Northland Corporation. Current market trends around the globe was the first topic covered, and cautious optimism was the prevailing view. It was noted that there was strong export growth for U.S. hardwoods in virtually all major markets in the first half of the year, although most panelists expected a slowdown in the second half of the year as much of the early buying was to replenish depleted inventories, especially in Europe, and not necessarily reflective of increased demand. On the positive side, however, Patrick Leung of Sundart did note that domestic Chinese consumption of hardwood products was the principal driver of growth to that country, a trend that does indeed derive from new demand. Another encouraging sign was the prevailing view from all three importers that temperate hardwoods in general, and American hardwood in particular were taking market share from tropical species in several major markets, particularly in Europe where U.S. exports accounted for around 15 percent of EU imports in 2008 and well over 21 percent so far in 2010. The increasing importance of Tulipwood in the export mix was also noted, as imports of that species so far in 2010 increased 40 percent in Europe, 96 percent in Vietnam, and nearly 200 percent in China on a volume basis. 12 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S Concern with environmental issues was another major topic of discussion at the panel, as confusion over the Lacey Act, Green Building schemes and Green Procurement requirements amongst importers and manufacturers around the globe was growing. The recently approved new EU “illegal logging” legislation also added to the confusion, as there are still unanswered questions over how “due diligence” would be interpreted by EU member states. Finally, growing concerns over phytosanitary issues, particularly as related to the Emerald Ash Borer (EAB), was discussed. It was noted that enforcement of Ash import restrictions was uneven across the EU, and that there was confusion amongst both shippers and importers regarding wane and “square edging”, and it was noted that the biggest single step shippers needed to take was to ensure there was absolutely NO BARK present in shipments to the EU, particularly to the UK. W W W. N H L A .C O M The cash door prize drawings take place all 3 days of the Exhibit Showcasae and are an extremely popular event. Gerri VanAmelsfoort from Quality Hardwoods LLC (shown on the right) is one of this year’s lucky winners. During the Saturday evening Grand Finale Dinner attendees were able to support the Hardwood Forest Foundation by bidding on silent auction items and buying tickets for the 50/50 drawing. Guy Genest, Primewood Lumber, was this year’s 50/50 Drawing winner, taking home $8,000. The 2011 NHLA Annual Convention & Exhibit Showcase will be held at the Gaylord Opryland Resort and Convention Center in Nashville, Tennessee, September 21–24. Given the easy access location of Nashville to a large majority of the hardwood industry, attendance numbers are expected to be even larger next year. Early bird registration will begin mid-March. More information about the 2011 NHLA Convention and photos of the 2010 NHLA Convention can be found at www.nhlaconvention.com. Companies interested in sponsoring or exhibiting at the 2011 NHLA Convention should contact Leah Covington, Marketing Director at 901-399-7551 or [email protected]. W W W. N H L A .C O M D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S 13 LEGIS LATIVE LOG CONGRESS IN TRANSITION By Deb Hawkinson, Executive Director, Hardwood Federation Where our new divided government will head is unclear. Certainly, House Republicans came to power promising smaller government and deficit reduction, which puts them at loggerheads with Senate Democrats and President Obama. We’ll be watching this month’s lame duck session closely because after the rhetoric dies down, we may get a better sense of how we’ll be moving forward in 2011. Will Congress extend, temporarily or permanently, the Bush tax rates? We guess temporarily. Will Congress pass another Continuing Resolution to keep the government open? And if so, will HomeStar legislation and the important Wyden Amendment be a part of it? We hope so, and urge you to contact your Senators and ask them to support Senator Wyden’s efforts to have wood products properly recognized for their energy efficiency. Senate Energy Committee Chairman Jeff Bingaman (D-NM) has said, both before and since the elections, that he would very much like to see HomeStar legislation pass during the lame duck session. The legislation offers tax credits to home owners who make energy efficient upgrades to their homes, and the Wyden amendment ensures wood products are seen as part of the solution. The dust is settling from the mid-term elections of 2010, and we’re starting to see more clearly what will likely lie ahead for our industry. The news is mixed. We saw several strong allies swept out of office, such as Congressmen Brad Ellsworth (D-IN) and Charlie Melancon (D-LA) who both lost Senate bids, and Senator Blanche Lincoln (D-AR) who was not reelected. These three lawmakers had worked tirelessly on behalf of our industry, and their leadership and friendship will be missed. However, the Senate Agriculture Committee, formerly chaired by Senator Lincoln, will likely be chaired by Senator Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), a strong supporter of the hardwood community. And in the House of Representatives, the Hardwood Federation enjoys solid working relationships with several incoming chairmen and leaders, such as Rep. Dave Camp (R-MI) at Ways & Means, Rep. Fred Upton (R-MI) at Energy & Commerce, Rep. Doc Hastings at Natural Resources, Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) at Small Business, and Rep. Eric Cantor (R-VA) the presumed Majority Leader. 14 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S Other legislative priorities for the Hardwood Federation and our industry, such as immigration reform, biomass definitions, and Lacey Act funding will surely have to wait until the new Congress is sworn in this January. But with almost one-quarter of Congress being totally new to Washington, we won’t wait to begin reaching out to Members, introducing ourselves and our industry, and making sure Members of Congress know where they can find us if they are looking for accurate information on America’s hardwood industry. To that end, we urge you to let us know if you have any experience or existing relationships with any of these new Members of Congress. And please, make sure you let them know about us and our industry – it’s through a unified, supportive voice that our industry will flourish. www.hardwoodfederation.net W W W. N H L A .C O M TALLY SHEET AHEC COMMISSIONS LIFE CYCLE ASSESSMENT STUDY OF AMERICAN HARDWOODS The American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) has commissioned what will probably be the largest Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) study ever undertaken in the international hardwood sector. Photo Courtesy of AHEC UNIFIED HARDWOOD PROMOTION WINS FLOORING INDUSTRY SUPPORT More than 100 flooring companies have joined hardwood lumber leaders in adding their voices to an “Open Declaration” letter calling for the industry to come together to aggressively promote American hardwood products. The Declaration letter and its continued stream of supporters has been a drumbeat keeping the Unified Hardwood Promotion Project energized and on target to meet an ambitious timetable of consumer/ buyer research, on-line focus groups, and ultimately a “Got Milk” style brand and tag line. According to Terry Brennan (Baillie Lumber), chairman of the Unified Hardwood Promotion Project, “the broad support from so many companies and individuals in the industry has served as a constant reminder that the work we have undertaken is right on point. This process has required countless hours of many industry leaders and we are now in sight of accomplishing our goal.” That goal is to avoid past tendencies to “talk only to each other”, and instead to reach out first through professional research and study to the consuming public and professional customers. By year’s end the Unified Hardwood Promotion Project hopes to have one picture and a few words promoting the use of American hardwoods – all befitting this grand scale effort. For more information on the Unified Hardwood Promotion project, or to add your company name in support, please contact Grace Terpstra at [email protected]. W W W. N H L A .C O M AHEC's investment into a massive LCA study – a scientific method to measure and evaluate the environmental burdens associated with a product or activity by systematically describing and assessing the energy and materials used and released to the environment over the life cycle – will involve data collection from a variety of sectors, supply chain elements and geographical regions. The leading LCA consultant PE International will undertake the study, which will conform to the ISO 14040 series of standards for LCA and Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and include an assessment of the carbon footprint of American hardwoods as a discrete component. Undertaken to ensure appropriate and fair recognition of American hardwoods' environmental profile, the study will provide a Life Cycle Inventory data for sawn lumber and veneers of a selection of American hardwood species, as well as LCAs and carbon footprints for product groups such as flooring, doors and furniture, comparing them with products manufactured in alternative materials. Once the LCA is completed, an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), which is quantified environmental data for a product with pre-set categories of parameters based on the ISO 14040 series of standards, will be issued to provide the basis of a fair comparison of the environmental performance of American hardwood products included in the LCA. EPDs are also widely recognized as the most effective method of communicating the full environmental profile of any given product or material. PE has completed more than 110 EPDs and is known for its reliable internal EPD Quality Management System and standardized approach towards LCA based testing and analysis – assuring AHEC of a thorough and fully analyzed assessment once the study is complete. A key aim of the study is to enable manufacturers of joinery, flooring and furniture products that rely on American hardwoods to prepare formal EPDs in line with international standards. The information will cover environmental impacts of all processes from point of extraction through to delivery to the importers yard in Europe and in East Asia. Information for regions outside these areas, including the Middle East, will also be made available in the near future. The study is especially important given that 'Green Building' initiatives like BREEAM (UK and International), LEED (U.S. and International), DGNB (Germany), HQE (France), and CASBEE (Japan) are becoming more dependent on EPDs to provide credible and comparative information on the environmental performance of materials used in the building sector. D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S 15 MAKING IT WORK TUNING YOUR LEVELER By Russell Barratt, Market Manager, Simonds International Automatic leveling machines for wide bands have become commonplace in mills today. Over the last twenty years, the machine has demonstrated its worth in the hardwood mill and is now generally considered a basic piece of filing room gear, shedding its somewhat exotic gear perception from just ten years ago. If you have one and it is not getting used every day; let’s find out why and get the situation corrected. There are several key factors to getting the most out of your leveler. I’ll address the ones that are specific to the red machine that I am familiar with, but I believe many of these principles will cross over even to machines that are not such a splendid color! No mater what brand of machine you own they can all do a fine job. The first step in understanding how well your machine is working is getting an objective measure of performance. To do this, load an ordinary mill run saw in the machine and with the air cut off get zero established. A couple of important things to note about getting zero at the start of the cycle: ■ Always get zero with the saw moving, and always over the support rails. If you get zero on a stationary saw you may zero on a bump and end up trying to move the entire saw to a position it cannot possibly achieve. The result will not be good! ■ Note that all of the readings over the rail will be either zero or show up from zero. The saw cannot show through with the rail in the way; make sure that you set zero to reflect that. With the saw in the machine and tracking; move the indicator out to the middle of the saw and watch for spots that show significant movement. When you find a spot that shows a defect, stop the machine and align that spot under the indicator. Move the indicator from side to side and note how much movement it shows; mark that spot on the saw carefully for location and the extent of the movement. It’s best to mark three or four spots this way. Now process the saw by making just one pass across it with the leveler (not a full operating cycle, just one pass from back to front). Cut the air off and return to each of the marked spots. Note how much of the deviation has been removed. Now you have an objective measure of performance. A good result will be a reduction of one half or a little more of the deviation present. Subsequent passes in a full operating cycle will get the saw extremely flat in functional terms. This single pass should take no more that 15 minutes on a typical headrig saw that is 42’ long and 12” wide. On a resaw that is 32’ x 10” the process should take 10 minutes. If it takes longer than that you are making the sequence of rolls too close together and performance will suffer as a result! It is best to make steps of approximately half inch between the circumferences as the machine works across the saw. If you make them too close together you risk reacting too much too soon on larger deviations which actually makes the saw worse instead of better. It seems counter-intuitive, but the worse a saw is, the bigger the steps you need to take. If a saw is dished or has lots of problems, take great big steps, such as 1” or 1-1/4”, at the start of the cycle. That will take out the big problems very quickly; then dial the machine back to 1/2” and let if find the rest. This principle is a very important one as it will speed up the process and yield dramatically better results. If this check does not demonstrate a good result the following steps may explain why. Watch the indicator and the control panel. Do the lights on the panel react to what the indicator shows? The easiest way to check is to adjust the indicator up and down on a stationary saw. The lights on the panel for small bumps should react when the dial is more than three marks from zero (.03 mm or .0012”). The big bump lights should react at about 12 marks (if you have a two stage machine – those made since the mid 90’s) but don’t be overly worried about the big bump setting. I would not worry the big bump trigger if it’s anywhere between 8 and 15 marks (it just activates the bottom cylinder to bump pressure a bit). Next, check that the firing of the working rolls does not upset the measurement the machine is making. Put a saw in okay condition in the machine and zero it out (air off). Shut the machine off and move the head out until the working rolls are in the middle of the saw. Activate each of the top rolls by having someone behind the machine pull down the arm that works the rolls and watch the indicator. It should not move more than one or two marks. If it does, check the height of the bottom rolls relative to the bed line of the machine (from the support rails to the drive). (Continued on page 19) 16 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S W W W. N H L A .C O M W W W. N H L A .C O M D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S 17 HT NEWS BARK RESTRICTION REVIEW By Wayne Tomas, NHLA Technical Services Director In early 2009, all ISPM-15 stamped wpm must be nearly bark free. The wpm must be built from debarked material. ALSC rules allow the overlooking of bark less than 1 inch wide (3 cm) of unlimited length and patches up to credit card size (50 sq cm). “cork”, generally of a different color, between the outer bark and the solid wood. Cambium in hardwood must be removed because it is bark. We are all trying to avoid the technicalities of these definitions but cambium is to be considered bark. The cambium will vary in color and thickness depending on specie and time of year the tree is harvested among other factors. The customs agent in China is not going to get technical about this and may stop shipment because of the cambium layer as well as loose outer bark. By now you know that putting a barky board facing the bottom side of a pallet will not work. The NHLA auditor is required to flip through pallets and look at the bottom side-sometimes using a flashlight to determine what stack of pallets he wants to flip. The assistance of facility personnel in this effort will ensure compliance and speed up the audit process. Other Emerging Issues Two other issues have also emerged. First is the issue of repaired or recycled pallets that may have passed under previous rules but may not be eligible for ISPM-15 certification again because of original (old) bark.Recycled or repaired pallets staged for retreatment and new marks should be sorted before going to the chamber rather than after treatment for obvious reasons. Bark restrictions on repaired pallets must always be reviewed. The problem often exists as to how close we want to get to these limitations. If you can’t tell from 3 or 4 ft away that it is SAFE it probably isn’t! If you must get down on hands and knees to micro measure the bark then it is probably too much. Facilities that go to a “bark free” position in production don’t worry about micro-measurement. Then we have the problem of the cambium layer which is essentially bark. In softwood, the cambium layer does not appear to present a problem. In hardwood, the cambium layer looks like “horse hair” or 18 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S The other issue is in the area of custom heat treatment where facility #1 builds the pallet and sends them to certified facility #2 for treatment and stamping. The certifying ISPM-15 facility is held accountable for bark, so it will have to sort the pallets for bark or send the pallets back to the building facility for bark sorting. If you have specific questions regarding Wood Packaging Material or the NHLA Program please contact Wayne Tomas, Technical Services Director at [email protected] or 901-399-7556. W W W. N H L A .C O M RULES CORNER INTERPRETATION OF THE WALNUT RULE By Dana Spessert, NHLA Chief Inspector Over the past two months, I have received several calls concerning the interpretation of the F1F Walnut rule with regards to the wane limitation. The F1F rule under the Walnut and Butternut section of the Rules book is written as follows: “F1F: Pieces 6’ and 7’ long shall grade FAS on the better face. The reverse side of the board shall be sound as defined in Sound Cutting or the reverse side of the board not grading below No. 1 Common. Pieces 8’ and longer shall grade FAS on the better face. The reverse side of the cuttings shall be sound as defined in Sound Cutting or the reverse side of the board not grading below No. 1 Common.” The word “standard” is not in the definition, therefore, the F1F standard wane limitation does not apply. I hope this helps clarify any confusion on the rule. Also, I would like to point out that when a buyer and seller agree on a shipment, it does not have to be by the standard grades as they are written in the NHLA Rules Book. The purchase order in which the shipment is agreed upon should list any exceptions to the standard rules. If this is done, an NHLA Inspector can help to resolve any issues that may arise. 2011 Rules Book Available I would like to remind everyone that the new 2011 Rules book is now available and will be mailed during the month of December. If you would like to receive extra copies of the Rules Book, please contact Paula Walls by email [email protected] or by phone 901-399-7563. NHLA Cheif Inspector Dana Spessert can be reached at 901-507-0312 or [email protected]. MAKING IT WORK (Continued from page 16) If you suspect problems with this alignment, then place a saw in the machine that is in good shape to use as reference. Start with the head of the machine on the back edge of the saw, look underneath the saw at the height of the bottom roll in each pair (you may need a light behind the machine). You should see just a whisker of daylight between the roll and the saw (.010” for example), the same should be true of both bottom rolls. Now run the head to the outside edge of the saw and make the same check. You should see the same relative amount of daylight. If these bottom rolls are too low the saw will react when the top rolls fire and cause an unwanted reaction in the dial. The bottom rolls are on eccentrics, should you need to adjust them you will have to reset the working pressure as well. and work each of the air cylinder arms through their range of motion a couple of times to feel the point of contact with the saw. Once you have a feel for it, pull down until you just feel the contact and check the gap to the rubber stopper. It should be 1/2” to 5/8”, and importantly it should be the same on both sides. Any error you cannot visually see is too small to worry about. A bandsaw leveler working properly is a huge help to both saw filers and saw performance. If yours is not being fully utilized you owe it to yourself to find out why! These simple checks will give a good start. If you find problems give the manufacturer a ring, there are not many problems with these machines that cannot be resolved very easily over the phone. Now, check working pressure. With the same saw in place and the saw still stationary with the air still off; go around to the back of the machine W W W. N H L A .C O M D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S 19 CALENDAR WH ERE IN THE WOR LD IS N H LA? Hardwood Leaders Forum Charlotte, NC | December 7 Participating: Mark Barford, Executive Director Las Vegas Furniture Market Las Vegas, NV | January 24–28, 2011 Attending: Leah Covington, Marketing Director Surfaces 2011 Las Vegas, NV | January 25–27, 2011 Attending: Tom Walthousen, Director of Industry Relations 2011 I HLA Convention & Exposition Indianapolis, IN | February 9–10, 2011 Attending: Tom Walthousen, Director of Industry Relations Hardwood Federation Annual Meeting Washington, D.C. | February 15–16, 2011 Attending: Mark Barford, Executive Director Delhi Wood 2011 New Delhi, India | February 17–20, 2011 Attending: Dana Spessert, Chief Inspector 2011 HMA Annual Conference & Expo Charleston, SC | March 14–16, 2011 Attending: Mark Barford, Executive Director NHLA Spring Board Meeting Sarasota, FL | April 7–10, 2011 DesignEx 2011 NAHB International Builder’s Show Orlando, FL | January 12–15, 2011 Small Log Conference 2011 Coeur d'Alene Resort, ID | March 23–25, 2011 Melbourne, Australia | April 13–15, 2011 Attending: Mark Barford, Executive Director International Scientific Conference on Hardwood Processing (ISCHP) 2011 Interzum 2011 Blacksburg, VA | October 16–18, 2011 Virginia Tech Cologne, Germany | May 25–28, 2011 Attending: Tom Walthousen, Director of Industry Relations 20 I N DUSTRY EVENTS D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S W W W. N H L A .C O M CALENDAR EDUCATION & TRAIN I NG 3-Day Lumber Grading Short Course Guangzhou, China | December 9–11 Guangzhou Yuzhu Timber Wholesale Market Instructor: Bob Sabistina, International Consultant Contact: Chris Churchill | 901-399-7555 | [email protected] Inspector Training School 162nd Class Graduation Memphis, TN | December 10 at 9 am NHLA Headquarters Contact: Chris Churchill | 901-399-7555 | [email protected] Inspector Training School – 164 th Class Memphis, TN | January 12– April 15, 2011 NHLA Headquarters Instructor: Rich Hascher Contact: Chris Churchill | 901-399-7555 | [email protected] 2-Day Advanced Lumber Grading Short Course for Walnut Fayette, MO | March 21–22, 2011 Missouri-Pacific Lumber Company Instructor: Benji Richards Contact: Chris Churchill | 901-399-7555 | [email protected] 2011 Leadership, Management and Development Program Memphis, TN | Session 1: April 3–7, 2011 Washington, D.C. | Session 2: May 9–12, 2011 Contact: Chris Churchill | 901-399-7555 | [email protected] 2011 Hardwoods 101 Memphis, TN | June 5–9, 2011 Contact: Chris Churchill | 901-399-7555 | [email protected] Inspector Training School – 165 th Class Memphis, TN | September 7– December 9, 2011 NHLA Headquarters Instructor: Rich Hascher Contact: Chris Churchill | 901-399-7555 | [email protected] W W W. N H L A .C O M D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S 21 JOB BOARD Hardwood Lumber Inspector Lumber Grader Cersosimo Lumber is seeking a lumber inspector who is able to grade all New England hardwood species. Qualified candidates must be able to work with a team of inspectors. NHLA Inspector Training School graduate with 2+ yrs of experience is preferred, but the company is willing to consider recent graduates as well. Cersosimo Lumber offers a good stable work environment with benefits. Salary is to be determined. Cersosimo Lumber Co. Inc. 1103 Vernon Street | Brattleboro, VT 05301 802-254-4508 | 802-254-5691 (fax) www.cersosimolumber.com Edwards Wood Products is seeking a lumber grader to inspect/grade a variety of hardwood lumber following NHLA rules and assist in other duties as needed. Assist with daily operations of Dry Kiln Lumber coming from three 3 plants in North Carolina. Lumber Buyer Rex Lumber Company is seeking a lumber buyer whose position would be based in the Appalachian Region. Primary duties include: ■ Purchasing of green and kiln dried Appalachian species ■ Coordinating freight with yards ■ Maintaining required inventory levels ■ Maintain current vendor base while sourcing new vendors ■ Addressing grade/footage discrepancies with vendors ■ Updating pricing on species covered as market conditions dictate ■ Fielding and responding to inquiries from Salesmen and Managers ■ Travel associated with purchasing duties (moderate, estimated to be 40-60percent) ■ Educating and advising Sales staff and Management to market changes Candidate is required to have a knowledge of hardwood and softwood lumber grades; an ability to recognize, evaluate and forecast market trends; good communication skills; the ability to multi-task and computer literacy including the use of Microsoft Outlook and Office. Wholesale Sales experience is a plus. Competitive salary and benefits based on experience. All correspondence will be strictly confidential. Please contact Andy Godzinski, Director of Purchasing at [email protected] or by phone at 978 -263-0055 ext. 1256 Rex Lumber 840 Main Street | Acton, MA 01720 978-263-0055 ext. 1256 | 978-263-9806 (fax) www.rexlumber.com 22 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S Ideal candidates would be a graduate of the NHLA Inspector Training School with some hands on experience up to a seasoned lumber grader as there are two positions available. Salary is based on experience. Present operation is expanding and the two positions available will be 2nd shift. Call to discuss hours. Pay and benefits to include 40-1K. Edwards Wood Products, Inc PO Box 219 | Marshville, NC 28103 704-624-5098 | 704-624-2484 (fax) [email protected] | ewpi.com Lumber Inspector Ten Oaks, LLC is seeking a lumber inspector for their sawmill in Stuart, Virginia. Interested candidates should contact Gary Birkett or Warren Williams. Ten Oaks , LLC. PO Box 619 | Stuart, VA 24171 276-694-3208 | 276-694-4998 (fax) [email protected] Experienced Kiln Operator The Salamanca Lumber Company has been a loyal NHLA member since March 1, 1978. Located in New York State, 60 miles south of Buffalo just north of the Pennsylvania state line, the facility currently has 21 dry kilns in the lumber concentration yard. At this particular time, they are searching for an experienced/certified kiln operator for the facility. The salary is negotiable. Interested candidates should contact Susan Rockwell. Salamanca Lumber Company 59 Rochester Street | Salamanca, NY 14779 7 16-945-4810 | 716-945-1531 (fax) [email protected] Lumber Grader Telco LLC, located in El Dorado, Arkansas is seeking a lumber grader. Qualified applicants must be able to grade green and air dried lumber. This position will also assist in shipping and receiving. To apply, please contact Doug Miller directly at 870-904-8817 or [email protected]. T L C / Telco 950 Del Tin Rd. | El Dorado, AR 71730 870-862-6100 | 870-862-6101 (fax) W W W. N H L A .C O M JOB BOARD Product Management Trainee Lumber Inspector Danzer Veneer Americas, a group of decorative hardwood veneer manufacturers, is seeking Product Management Trainee applicants for its Darlington, Pennsylvania location. The successful candidates will be trained to make decisions related to the clipping and grading of veneer for various end users. Candidates should possess a minimum of an Associate Degree. An educational background in wood products or experience in the wood industry would be considered a plus. Please contact the human resources department. Danzer Veneer Americas 119 A.I.D. Drive | Darlington, PA 16115 724-827-3769 (fax) [email protected] | www.danzerservices.com AHC Clarksville, Inc. is looking for a lumber inspector at their facility in Clarksville, Tennessee. The position will include inspecting both kiln dried and green lumber. The Inspector will be responsible for supervising a crew, tracking/monitoring production, and obtaining set goals. A NHLA Inspector Training School graduate is preferred, but not necessary. Candidates must fully understand lumber rules and their applications. Salary is based on experience. AHC Clarksville, Inc. 310 Dover Road | Clarksville, TN 37042 931-472-0389 | 931-472-0391 (fax) [email protected] | www.hardwoodweb.com Experienced Lumber Grader Lumber Inspector Johnson Lumber Company is looking for a mature individual to be a company employee and join its family business of 50 years. Job duties include part-time lumber grading as well as learning other aspects of the business. Salary is negotiable and a graduate of the NHLA Inspector Training School is preferred. Johnson Lumber Co., Inc 11561 Longwoods Rd. | Easton, MD 21601 410-822-5476 | 410-820-4250 (fax) [email protected] | www.johnson-lumber-co.com Lumber Inspector Quality Hardwoods, Inc. is looking for a Lumber Inspector for a modern, high production hardwood sawmill in South Central Michigan. The ideal candidate will be a self-motivated individual who has graduated from the NHLA Inspector Training School. The Lumber Inspector is responsible for determining the grade and quality of products by applying NHLA grading rules to determine board grade. Duties also include applying grade marks to boards; evaluation of boards for upgrades and, if appropriate, returning board to edger, trimmer or resaw for rework. The Lumber Inspector is responsible for maintaining yard inventory until lumber is shipped. This position is full-time permanent employment and the salary is negotiable. Quality Hardwoods is a well established company providing excellent wage and benefit package. Send resume and references to: Quality Hardwoods, Inc. PO Box 38 | Sunfield, MI 48890-0038 517-566-8061 | 517-566-3659 (fax) [email protected] | www.qualityhardwoodsinc.com W W W. N H L A .C O M Savage Lumber Company located in Doyle, Tennessee has a position available for an experienced Lumber Grader. Candidates with lumber grading experience should contact Alex Savage. Savage Lumber Company PO Box 39 | Doyle, TN 38559 931-657-2211 | 931-657-2214 (fax) [email protected] Lumber Inspector Meister Log and Lumber Company (A division of Midwest Hardwood Corporation) has an immediate opening for a hardwood lumber inspector. A NHLA Inspector Training School graduate is preferred along with Walnut grading experience. Meister Log & Lumber Company is a major hardwood manufacturer with tremendous growth potential. A division of Midwest Hardwood Corporation, the Wisconsin based sawmills include Meister Log & Lumber in Reedsburg, Park Falls Hardwoods in Park Falls, and Buffalo Lumber & Tie in Fountain City. Meister Log and Lumber Co. 1440 Laukant Street | Reedsburg, WI 53959 608-963-9909 | 608-524-3961 (fax) [email protected] | www.midwesthardwood.com Current job openings are posted by members at www.nhla.com. For more information, visit www.nhla.com or contact Chris Churchill at 901-399-7555 or email at [email protected]. D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S 23 HOW DO T H ESE TREES RELATE TO YOU? A creation of Joe Salyers, chainsaw artisan, the Kentucky Hardwood Christmas Trees pictured here begin as fallen wood from the artist’s 140 acre farm. Tree species include; cedar, hickory, oak, sassafras, walnut, white birch and willow. The basic shape of the Christmas tree is carved out with a chainsaw; beginning at the bottom and roughing out the tree's distinctive cone shape; then upward chainsaw cuts are made around the wood to evoke the layered boughs of an evergreen tree. FYI: According to legend, there was a time during the Great Depression, when a family from the hills of Eastern Kentucky came up the idea of making a Christmas Tree from the trunk of a hardwood tree. The Kentucky Hardwood Christmas Tree is available at www.atasteofkentucky.com. 24 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 0 H A R D W O O D M AT T E R S W W W. N H L A .C O M ARE YOU READY TO BE THE STRENGTH OF YOUR COMPANY? Leadership is not a solitary pursuit – but one that harnesses the energy of those around you. Are you a leader or simply a manager? Are you ready to be the strength of your company, the architect of change and have the competitive ability for adaption? Enroll now and prepare today for the challenges and opportunities of the global tomorrow. 2011 NHLA LEADERSHIP, MANAGEMENT AND DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM Session 1: April 3 – 7, 2011 in Memphis, TN | Session 2: May 9 – 12, 2011 in Washington D.C. Online application is available at www.nhla.com. For more information contact Chris Churchill at 901-399-7555 or [email protected]. www.nhla.com
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