Connections encourages EWTA and APA Members to submit news of interest to scain@engineeredwood.org
EWTA NEWS
EWTA Welcomes Nextwire as Newest Member
Engineered wood industry supplier Nextwire is the latest company to join EWTA. Nextwire is a North American company with more than 50 years of manufacturing and engineering experience in woven fabrics. Nextwire CleanSheet II caul and press screens offer extended life resulting in lower cost per board foot. Nextwire can provide these screens with attached tow bars, which are manufactured from stainless or plain steel. Contact Vice-President of Sales Charlie Brown. GO ►
Spring EWTA Advisory Committee Meeting March 29
The spring Advisory Committee Meeting is scheduled for Friday, March 29, at the Courtyard by Marriott in Corvallis, Ore. The meeting is being held following the Wood-Based Composites Center’s Structural Plywood and Veneer-Based Composites short-course, held at Oregon State University March 27-28.
Info Fair Registration Opens April 15
Registration for EWTA’s 2019 Info Fair opens April 15. The event, along with APA’s Annual Meeting, is scheduled for Nov. 2-4 at the JW Marriott Starr Pass in Tucson, Ariz. Info Fair’s “Early Bird” registration deadline is Aug. 30. For Info Fair exhibit information, contact Emily Houg or visit our website at https://www.engineeredwood.org/info-fair. 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.
EWTA MEMBER NEWS
Dronsky Joins Raute Team
Raute Canada has hired Patrick Dronsky as its vice president of engineering technology. Dronsky has more than 26 years of experience in the wood products and mining industries, along with experience as project engineering manager. His career has included management roles at Wood Canada (formerly Amec Forster Wheeler) and Westmill Industries. A Raute veteran, Dronsky spent 10 years (1992-2002) in the company’s engineering department, where he held roles as both product manager and mechanical lead engineer.
Chem-Trend Opens New R&D Facility Near Munich
Chem-Trend recently announced that it has opened an advanced research and development laboratory space in Maisach, Germany, about 15 miles west of Munich. The new lab space will enhance Chem-Trend’s existing R&D capabilities and joins Chem-Trend’s network of laboratories across the globe. The facility spans nearly 10 acres and cost approximately $45.5 million. In addition to R&D, the integrated space includes areas for warehousing, training, dining and administrative services. The investment primarily aims to amplify service, enhance technical support, and advance development capabilities for its customers over the long term.
McLube Introduces New Release Agent
McLube recently introduced a new, low-cost release agent for the wood press industry. This new coating, McLube 813, may be applied directly to cauls, screens, and/or fiber mats and has been specifically formulated to reduce the amount of release required per square meter of board. McLube 813 is a colorless, non-foaming emulsion available in concentrate or in ready-to-use dilutions to suit individual requirements.
Argos Introduces High-Speed Vision System for Plywood Panels
Argos Solutions has launched a new version of its plywood grading system aimed at automating the visual inspection needed in the different production processes after the plywood press. The new system, which integrates edge grading, detects overlaps and edge gap that are critical for plywood quality. Combined with the plywood Argos Grading System, this solution allows plywood manufacturers surface inspection of all six surfaces of their plywood panels.
Sansin Wood Finishes Used in BC Project
Sansin’s architectural wood finishes were used in the Rocky Pines Community Centre, a Lubor Trubka Associates Architects-designed project in Merritt, B.C. The center, which serves the rural Lower Nicola community on Lower Nicola Indian Band land, is a candidate for the Wood Design Awards BC. The center features a large multi-functional space, as well as a library, convenience store, meeting room, kitchen and coin-operated laundry. The heavy timber post and beam structure uses mass timber elements such as glue-laminated beams/purlins, as well as a glue-laminated timber roof deck. To showcase the mass timber features, as well as the interior wood, Sansin’s architectural wood finishes were used for aesthetics, protection and their low-VOC profile. The posts and beams were coated with KP12-UVW and Sansin SDF in a custom Light Honey. The pine interior boards and trim are treated with KP12-UVW and ENS Optimum Clear.
Combilift Pallet Truck a Finalist for International Award
Combilift’s Combi-PPT powered pallet truck has been nominated as a finalist for an International Intralogistics and Forklift Truck of the Year (IFOY) award. The award, which is sponsored by the VDMA Materials Handling and Intralogistics Sector Association, honors the best products and solutions of the year. The Combi-PPT powered pallet truck, with 8,000 kg capacity, is one of three products shortlisted by the jury in the Warehouse Truck category. The Combi-PPT is a high-performance, pedestrian operated powered pallet truck with a range of capacities up to 16,000 kg, which enables the safe and secure transportation of very heavy loads without the need for a ride-on forklift. Winners will be announced April 26 at the IFOY Award night in Vienna, Austria.
AROUND THE INDUSTRY
Roseburg and PotlatchDeltic Complete Purchase of MDF Plant
APA member companies Roseburg Forest Products and PotlatchDeltic Corporation recently announced that they have completed the purchase and sale of the assets of the PotlatchDeltic subsidiary Del-Tin Fiber LLC, including its MDF plant located in El Dorado, Ark. The two companies reached an agreement in principle last December, dependent upon final due diligence and regulatory approval. El Dorado MDF is Roseburg’s third MDF plant purchase in the past four years. The company acquired Pembroke MDF in eastern Ontario, Canada, in early 2018, and an MDF plant in Medford, Ore., in 2015.
Interior of APA’s Tacoma Lab Expansion Takes Shape
Insulation, interior panels, an overhead door and electrical work are taking shape around the 70-by-75-ft “strong floor” under construction at APA – The Engineered Wood Association’s Tacoma, Wash., headquarters. The special floor system will be able to withstand the application of tremendous forces during structural testing once it is complete this spring. The floor is part of a $4.5 million laboratory expansion project at APA that also includes additional space to test shearwalls up to three stories tall. It will be the first major upgrade of the lab since it was built in 1969. To watch time-lapses, live video feeds and photos of the construction, visit www.apawood.org/lab-expansion or click the link here: SEE CAMERA ►
Elston Joins Roseburg, Cribb Promoted
Roseburg Forest Products has appointed Jake Elston as senior vice president of operations, responsible for all manufacturing operations including both industrial and structural products. Elston has more than 23 years of experience in manufacturing and operations, most recently serving at Arauco North America as its vice president of operations. Elston will work closely with Roseburg’s Ashlee Cribb, who has been promoted to senior vice president – chief commercial officer, responsible for the sales, marketing and logistics functions, and the supply chain initiatives for the company.
LP Names Haughie as Executive VP and CFO
Louisiana-Pacific Corp. recently announced that Alan Haughie has been named executive vice president and chief financial officer of the company. Haughie succeeds Mike Kinney, who has served as interim CFO since July 2018. Kinney will return to his role as treasurer and investor relations director. Haughie brings more than 25 years of financial expertise and strategic planning leadership experience to LP. He most recently served as senior vice president and CFO of ServiceMaster Global Holdings Inc., a provider of essential residential and commercial services.
RESOURCES
PLATINUM SPONSORS
Thank you to the following sponsors. Click below to visit our Platinum Sponsors webpage.
SILVER SPONSORS
Thank you to the following sponsors. Click below to visit our Silver Sponsors webpage.
