March 2018

March 2018

Connections encourages EWTA and APA Members to submit news of interest to scain@engineeredwood.org

EWTA NEWS

EWTA Advisory Committee
Meeting Scheduled

The EWTA Advisory Committee will hold its spring meeting on May 10 at APA – The Engineered Wood Association headquarters in Tacoma, Washington. The meeting will include a laboratory tour and review of the renovation. For more information, contact Terry Kerwood.

Info Fair Registration Opens April 6

Registration for EWTA’s 2018 Info Fair opens April 6. The event, along with APA’s Annual Meeting, is scheduled for Oct. 27–29, 2018, at the La Cantera Resort & Spa, Hill Country, San Antonio, Texas. Info Fair’s “Early Bird” registration deadline is Aug. 24. For Info Fair exhibit information, contact Melinda Lilley at mlilley@engineeredwood.org or (206) 818-7432. For APA Annual Meeting information, contact Kim Sivertsen.

Connections Welcomes Member News

EWTA’s Connections newsletter, published electronically every other month, welcomes news from its members. News suitable for publication in upcoming issues includes press releases about new hires, new products, company news, or awards won. Please send your information or direct questions to Sheila Cain, editor.

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EWTA MEMBERS NEWS

Leadership Changes at
Willamette Valley Company

After 30 years as CEO and president, John R. Harrison has transitioned to a different role at Willamette Valley Company. Harrison will continue to serve as CEO and board member, and John Murray—a 38-year employee of the company— will serve as Willamette Valley’s new president, the company announced in a press release. Bob Halligan will be the new chief operating officer and Rob Loomis will serve as business manager of the Performance Products and Railroad divisions.

Combilift Plans Opening of New Facility

Combilift, the Irish manufacturer of multi-directional forklifts and long-load material handling solutions, will open its new global headquarters and manufacturing facility in Monaghan, Ireland, on April 30. The opening of the 500,000-sq.-ft. facility coincides with Combilift’s 20th anniversary and the launch of the company’s new product line. Established in 1998, Combilift exports to more than 75 countries and has more than 36,000 units in operation in a wide range of sectors.

New Factory

USNR Acquires Mid-South Engineering

USNR recently completed the acquisition of Mid-South Engineering Co., a consultant and provider of engineering services to the wood products industry in North America. According to USNR President George Van Hoomissen, the acquisition gives USNR greater capacity to deliver large-scale turn-key solutions to customers. USNR has promoted former Mid-South President Jeff Stephens to the position of senior vice president at USNR. Stephens will oversee both USNR personnel and key resources drawn from the Mid-South organization. Mid-South Vice President and CFO Marc Stewart has been appointed to replace Stephens as president of Mid-South. Although Mid-South Engineering is now a wholly owned subsidiary of USNR, it will continue to operate as a separate business in order to preserve the company’s ability to act as an independent advisor to its clients.

Evertree Hires 2 New Employees

Two recent college graduates recently joined the Evertree Technologies team. Yusef Celikbag will be responsible for developing new products with improved performance and increased value as Evertree’s new senior developmental chemist. Tyler Rogalewicz is Evertree’s new applications and research chemist responsible for testing and applying existing products.

Polymer Solutions Group Acquires
Phoenix Chemical Company

Polymer Solutions Group, the parent company of SASCO Chemical, announced that it has acquired Phoenix Chemical, a specialty chemical manufacturer and distributor. The acquisition will allow PSG to further build its Functional Materials Business Unit, according to a press release. John Bryant, president of Phoenix Chemical, will continue to lead the Phoenix Chemical business.

Globe Machine Welcomes New VP

Globe Machine has hired Royce Tourtillott as its new vice president of engineering and project management. He brings 25 years of experience to the company, most recently heading up the carbon fiber, hygiene and life science business segment of Automated Systems of Tacoma, Inc. (AST), in Tacoma, Washington. Tourtillott began his career at Globe as a mechanical engineer, moving into the corporate projects manager role.

Con-Vey Adds Members to Sales Team

Con-Vey recently added two new employees to its sales team. Chris Kellam has relocated from Texas to join the company as a sales engineer, and Brent Hensley joins the team as a sales representative. Kellam and Hensley are overseen by Sales Manager Jeremy Goebel, who was promoted last year from his position as technical sales representative.
Con-Vey Sales Team

Steinemann Announces U.S.
Headquarters Expansion

Sander manufacturer Steinemann Technology U.S.A. has completed an expansion of its U.S. headquarters and warehouse in Charlotte, North Carolina, doubling the structure’s footprint to just under 15,000 sq. ft. The new space includes the addition of warehousing racks for storage of parts, abrasive wide belts and segmented belts for Steinemann’s North American customers.

Dieffenbacher Receives New Order from Spain

Dieffenbacher recently announced that it has received an order from wood-based panel manufacturer Tableros Hispanos in Spain for equipment to modernize its particleboard plant in Nadela. The modernization will include a CPS+ line from Dieffenbacher.

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AROUND THE INDUSTRY

Three Mills Approved for APA Membership

The APA Board of Trustees has approved applications for membership from three manufacturers. Boise Cascade’s plywood mill in Moncure, North Carolina; a new OSB manufacturing facility owned by Forex Amos in Amos, Quebec; and Roseburg Forest Products’ new laminated veneer lumber mill in Chester, South Carolina have all joined the APA membership ranks. With the addition of the Moncure facility, Boise now has all of its plywood and engineered wood manufacturing facilities under APA’s product certification and membership. The new Forex Amos OSB manufacturing facility expands the company operations in Amos where an existing LVL plant is producing material under APA’s certification program. Roseburg’s new LVL manufacturing facility in Chester will bring more than 145 jobs to the area. Groundbreaking is scheduled to take place in the spring of this year, with a tentative completion date in the summer of 2019.

APA Elects Four Trustees to Board

Four new trustees have been elected to the APA – The Engineered Wood Association Board of Trustees, filling vacancies created by retirements and new executive assignments. The new trustees are Bruce Alexander, senior vice president—sales, marketing and logistics for Norbord; Andrew Konieczka, vice president and general manager—plywood and composite panels for Georgia-Pacific; Mike Brown, senior vice president of operations—wood products manufacturing for Boise Cascade; and Jason Ringblom, executive vice president—OSB, for Louisiana Pacific. Trustees leaving the APA board are Mike Dawson, Norbord; Mark Luetters, GP; Mary Jo Nyblad, Boise Cascade; and Brad Southern, LP.

Timber Products Company Names
Steve Killgore to CEO post

Steve Killgore has been named CEO of Timber Products Company in Springfield, Oregon. Killgore was formerly with Roseburg Forest Products. He also served on the APA Board of Trustees and was a member of the EWTA Advisory Committee. Killgore’s past experience also includes leadership of both McKenzie Forest Products and Cascade Structural Laminators. Earlier in his career he was the general sales manager of Willamette Industries and Bohemia, spanning 22 years. Timber Products Company was founded in 1918 and produces a wide range of diversified wood products including both hardwood and softwood plywood. The Timber Products plywood mill in Grants Pass, Oregon, is an APA member.

Composite Panel Association
Board Members Take Up Posts

The 2018 officers of the Composite Panel Association Board of Directors took the helm in January. The new CPA chairman is Louis Brassard of Tafisa, Canada. Jake Elston of Arauco North America now serves as vice chairman and Jim Buffington of Roseburg is the secretary/treasurer. Emilio Ayub completed his term as CPA chairman at the end of 2017 and now serves as immediate past chairman.

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RESOURCES

EWTA /// www.engineeredwood.org
APA /// www.apawood.org
EWTA MEMBERSHIP DIRECTORY /// www.engineeredwood.org
APA MANUFACTURER DIRECTORY /// www.apawood.org
APA HELP DESK /// www.apawood.org/help
ENGINEERED WOOD JOURNAL /// www.engineeredwood.org

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SPONSORS

PLATINUM SPONSORS
Thank you to the following sponsors. Click the logos below to visit each sponsor's website.

SILVER SPONSORS
Thank you to the following sponsors. Click the links below to visit each sponsor's website.

AkzoNobel.com Arclin Baumer Babcock & Wilcox Electronic Wood Systems Georgia-Pacific Chemicals H.B. Fuller IBC IMAL PAL Group itipack KADANT LIMAB LUNDBERG Matthews Marking Systems Metriguard NESTEC Panel World Magazine Player Design, Inc. REA JET Siempelkamp TEBULO WANHUA Group WBC

About EWTA

The Engineered Wood Technology Association is a nonprofit trade association of and for product, equipment and service providers to the North American engineered wood products industry.

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APA – The Engineered Wood Association has focused on helping the industry create structural wood products of exceptional strength, versatility and reliability.
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APA has more than 600 titles providing detailed technical information for architects, builders, code officials, engineers, specifiers, and others in the trade.
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