Distributed every other month, the EWTA Connections newsletter highlights news from EWTA members, the association, and the industry as a whole.
Regular features include:
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EWTA News: Updates on association activities, programs and events
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EWTA Member News: Member press releases and activities. Send us your stories!
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Around the Industry: General news and events impacting the engineered wood industry
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Resources: Key links to stay connected and informed
Highlighting news from EWTA and APA members, the association and the engineered wood industry as a whole.
May 2023
APA Annual Meeting and EWTA Info Fair Registration Open
It’s time to register! Details were recently sent to APA and EWTA members announcing the launch of a new APA-EWTA Events website. The site provides Annual Meeting and Info Fair details with registration links to attend and sponsor. We look forward to connecting with members on Oct. 14-17, 2023, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Palm Desert, California. Contact: Kim Sivertsen and LaDauna Wilson.
Info Fair Sponsorship Opportunities
Four sponsorship levels are available to EWTA members – Diamond; Platinum; Gold and Silver, with additional sporting event sponsorships for golf and tennis. There are several new sponsorship opportunities this year, such as sponsoring a speaker at the Safety Workshop or one of the holes at the golf tournament. Check out all the options on the events website or contact Events Coordinator Emily Houg.
Challenging Outlook for 2023-2024
The tightening of monetary policy by the Federal Reserve is expected to continue in 2023, which will keep the rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage in the 6-7% range through the year. This means the affordability challenge will remain in place through the year and helps explain why a record percentage of people surveyed by Fannie Mae say it is a bad time to buy a home. Policy makers at the Federal Reserve may begin to ease credit conditions in 2024 if they are convinced that inflation will be sustainable at 2%. Therefore, single-family starts are projected to run in the 775,000–825,000 range in 2023 and 2024, down from 1 million units in 2022. The increase in interest rates will also lead to multifamily starts to also be down compared to 2022. In addition, there is a record number of multifamily units under construction, raising concerns about prospective returns on apartment investments. Multifamily starts are projected to fall to 500,000 units in 2023, down from 555,000 in 2022. Other end-use markets will be softer than in 2022. For example, recreational vehicle production is forecast to run in the 300,000–350,000 unit range in 2023 and 2024, down from 493,000 in 2022. The outlook for the end-use markets translates into lower production of structural panels and engineered wood products in 2023 and 2024 compared to 2022.
Call for Entries:
EWTA 2023 Innovation of the Year
The Innovation of the Year Award recognizes a company providing new technology, product, or service that has been shown to demonstrably reduce production costs, increase productivity, improve product quality or in some other way provide a bottom-line benefit to APA members.
As an EWTA member, do you have one or more new and original items or services that are in field use and producing positive results? If so, consider submitting your entry for the EWTA 2023 Innovation of the Year Award!
Visit EWTA Supplier Awards Program for additional information and examples of past winners.
Deadline is September 1.
Spring 2023 Engineered Wood Journal Coming Soon
The spring edition of the Engineered Wood Journal will be available as a digital e-magazine in late May. Topics include:
- The role of engineered wood in sustainable structures
- The importance of updating wood marking systems
- The potential of machine learning for the engineered panel industry
- Factors contributing to the 2023 housing industry outlook
- EWTA’s annual 2023 Business Outlook
- Supplier of the Year and Innovation of the Year award winners
- 2023 Membership directory
- Industry, Association and Member news
A link to the published magazine will be distributed to all members. If you would like to receive the magazine, send your name, company and e-mail address to ewta@apawood.org.
EWTA Member News
CON-VEY Announces New Vice President Role
Con-Vey LLC, North America's leading manufacturer of automated material handling equipment for engineered wood products, is pleased to announce the promotion of Jeremy Goebel to Vice President. With over 10 years of experience at Con-Vey, Jeremy brings a wealth of industry knowledge and leadership to his new role.
Matthews Marking Systems Announces new Wood Products Industry Leader
Matthews Marking Systems has announced that Bill Ashley, key accounts manager, is stepping in as the go-to advocate and advisor for wood marking solutions at the company. He brings over five years of experience with Matthews supporting EWTA members and the wood products industry. Ashley takes over for his former mentor Donna Meade who recently retired after a 40-year run from her role as strategic initiatives manager at Matthews.
IMEAS, Inc. Moves to New Facility
IMEAS, Inc. recently completed a move to a new and larger facility in Tyrone, GA. The new space accommodates company growth, providing increased office and warehouse space. The new address is 1415 Senoia Road, Suite, Tyrone, GA 30290. The main office phone number, 678 364-1900, emails and other phone numbers remain current.
Thank you, Info Fair Sponsors
Info Fair wouldn't happen without the support of EWTA members and sponsors. Following are the companies who have contributed as Diamond, Platinum, Gold and Silver sponsors at the 2022 event. Links to company information is available on the Info Fair Sponsors page.
CHECK IT OUT >
2022 Diamond Sponsors
2022 Platinum Sponsors
2022 Gold Sponsors
2022 Silver Sponsors
EWTA on LinkedIn
EWTA is all about fostering connections and building relationships. Be sure to visit the EWTA LinkedIn site for features and links to recent news and articles from the engineered wood industry. Check out the Member of the Week posts highlighting randomly selected EWTA members, and read the stand-alone articles taken from the Engineered Wood Journal.