LUMBERMENOnline.com’s Latest Industry News & Articles

WASHINGTON — The American Wood Council has launched a legislative scorecard to track federal legislators’ votes and bill sponsorship on public policies affecting the use and manufacture of wood products. View the full Legislative Scorecard, and search for your own members of Congress, here:http://www.bipac.net/lookup.asp?g=afpa_awc “AWC is constantly meeting with federal legislators to educate them on our industry’s policy priorities, such as regulatory reform, building energy requirements, and a host of manufacturing environmental air regulations. Our wood products manufacturers directly employ more than 400,000 people in the United States. Going into an election year, this scorecard is a way for those in the industry to easily track how their legislators are voting in Congress, and if they’ve been supportive of our issues,” said AWC Vice President of Government Affairs Sarah Dodge.

The Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA) Board of Directors elected its 2016 slate of officers during its recent Annual Meeting in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. They are Chairman William Almond of Almond Brothers Lumber Company, Coushatta, Louisiana; Vice Chairman Jim Krauseneck of Weyerhaeuser, Federal Way, Washington; Treasurer Kerlin Drake of Anthony Forest Products, El Dorado, Arkansas; and Immediate Past Chairman Scott Vande Linde of West Fraser, Germantown, Tennessee. The board also reelected Tami Kessler as Executive Director. The officers assume their new roles immediately. “I look forward to continuing the legacy of this association, working with the excellent staff at SFPA,” Chairman Almond said. “Our association is a strong voice in the industry, and I hope to build on that strength as we continue activities through the coming year,” he added.

Wood-Mizer LLC, the only sawmill manufacturer to also produce blades, introduces the durable, high performance MaxFlex sawmill blade. Manufactured with premium quality steel selected by Wood-Mizer, the new MaxFlex blade will complement Wood-Mizer’s extensive line of bandsaw blades. Featuring specialized alloy to provide longer blade flex life and increased durability, MaxFlex is a tough all-purpose blade that is engineered for maximum sawing performance. All MaxFlex blades feature a 10° hook angle with 7/8” tooth spacing and are available in these profiles: • .042 x 1 ¼” • .045 x 1 ¼” • .045 x 1 ½” • .055 x 1 ½” “Wood-Mizer continues to focus on providing the industry with a variety of blade options for any sawing application and budget,” said Wood-Mizer Blades Manager John Storm. “MaxFlex Blades gives sawmill owners a premium quality all-purpose blade at an exceptional price.” With the addition of MaxFlex, Wood-Mizer now offers blades in five distinct brands to meet every type of wood cutting application from green softwoods to abrasive and exotic hardwoods. •SilverTip, Carbon: Ideal blade for primary and secondary breakdown. •DoubleHard, High-Alloy: All purpose, durable blade for most sawing applications. •MaxFlex, Premium: Durable, all-purpose blade made with specialized alloy for longer blade flex life. •Bi-Metal, Industrial: Heavy duty blade for production sawing. Provides a longer sawing blade life, especially for cutting abrasive, exotic wood species. •RazorTip, Stellite®: Specialized stellite-tipped blade for cutting abrasive, kiln-dried, tropical, specialty and other tough wood and beams. •RazorTip, Carbide: Specialized triple chip carbide-tipped tooth blade for the hardest of hardwoods, and leaves behind a smooth finish. Offering more than 60 basic blade profiles and an extensive array of combinations based on profile, tooth height, width, thickness, tooth set and length, Wood-Mizer blades offer unmatched cutting flexibility across the board. ### As the leading manufacturer of portable band sawmills for more than 30 years, Wood-Mizer offers an extensive line of portable and industrial sawmill equipment. The company supports its equipment with legendary customer service, blades, and blade maintenance equipment. For more information about Wood-Mizer, call 800.553.0182 or visit www.woodmizer.com.

GB Group PTY Ltd., Victoria, Australia announces a new agreement with Wallingford’s Inc.® to be the exclusive distributor in the United States of GB Harvester and Slasher bars. For over 50 years GB has built a solid reputation by manufacturing products that set new industry standards and has therefore played a significant role in the development of the forestry industry. Thomas Beerens, Managing Director of GB Group is thrilled to have this dedicated team at Wallingford’s Inc.® represent his products in the U.S.A. “We at GB are honored to be represented by such an internationally respected manufacturer and distributor. Wallingford’s policy of continuing to innovate and improve the quality of their product will also ensure, by the two of us working together, that GB has an opportunity to offer better product for the current demand and to further develop our products to meet the future needs of the U.S. logging industry.” Wallingford’s Inc.® has been serving the logging community since 1975 and is continually seeking new and better ways to satisfy their customers’ requirements. John (J) Wallingford states: “We are very excited to be part of the GB Global distribution group and are confident in the brand as recognized by our customers. Formally one of the market leaders here in the United States, GB has survived the global financial crisis. With this behind them we intend to make GB the number one brand of choice. Through intensive marketing and extensive field presence we will claim market share and demonstrate to our customers that GB will outperform its competitors while also providing for considerable cost savings”. The GB Group has been expanding their range of guide bars, sprockets, and accessories catering to all markets and customers throughout the world. Their full range of guide bar options include, ¾” & .404 pitch bars with replacement nose, double ender bars, as well as, replacement nose tips and drive sprockets. For more information, please visit: www.gbbarsusa.com

Central City, KY, August 14, 2015—Brewco Incorporated announces the acquisition of the Big Jake Scragg assets from Timberland Machinery Incorporated, located in West Plains, MO. Mike Goldston, president of Brewco commented, “We are excited about this great opportunity to acquire Timberland Machinery’s Big Jake Scragg. Timberland produces the best scragg system on the market, and this adds a solid product line to our other outstanding equipment that we manufacture. With this acquisition we can now offer a scragg system that will complement many of the market segments we service including producers of grade lumber, crossties, and pallet cut stock.” Mr. Goldston added, “We are always striving to adapt to industry changes, and with the log supply getting more expensive, we identified the need to offer our customers the most efficient way to break down a log and process the wood. And the Big Jake Scragg System does just that.” In addition to the scragg, Brewco is also acquiring all automation and controls as well as the Auto Edger, Notcher, Trim Saws, and Rotary Kicker. Timberland’s founder and owner, Dennis Franks, is looking forward to retiring and traveling with his wife. Mr. Franks said, “I’ve worked hard for many years developing and manufacturing scragg systems. The Big Jake Scragg System, which is named after my grandson, is near and dear to my heart and I wanted to ensure that my legacy was passed on to a company with a solid reputation, and Brewco is that company.” Mr. Franks added, “Several companies have attempted to copy my Big Jake, but the sophisticated and proprietary automation controls, along with the complex hydraulic system have allowed me to stay several steps ahead of the competition. Brewco has a brilliant staff that includes a Mechanical Engineer, a PLC/Automation Engineer, and a Hydraulic Engineer. This was a driving factor in my decision to sell the Big Jake to Brewco.” Timberland Machinery, Inc. will continue to operate in West Plains, MO. However, the company will only manufacture a deduster and a stacker. About Brewco Incorporated: Headquartered in Central City, KY, Brewco is a leading supplier of sawmill and wood processing equipment. Founded in 1991, Brewco was purchased in October of 2010 by Mike Goldston, Bill Hendrix, and David Piper. Best known for the B-1600 Grade Run-Around System, Brewco also manufactures stave mill equipment, crosstie processing equipment, and pallet mill equipment. Since the 2010 purchase, the company has grown from 22 employees to 47 employees.

October 8-9, 2015 North Carolina State University Raleigh, North Carolina Dehumidification drying can produce high quality kiln dried lumber with a small capital investment. This short course will provide practical knowledge about using dehumidification to produce kiln dried lumber, and the scientific background on related wood properties. It will have value for those kiln operators beginning to operate a dehumidification kiln and those considering the purchase of a dehumidification kiln. Instruction, by university faculty, will be both in the classroom and through hands-on lab exercises using our 1000 BF laboratory dry kiln equipped with a commercial lumber dehumidification system. For more details: http://www.ncsu-feop.org/biomaterials/ Registration Deadline: Friday, October 2, 2015 (5PM EDST), limit 25 attendees. Phil Mitchell Associate Professor and Wood Products Extension Specialist Wood Products Extension Dept. of Forest Biomaterials North Carolina State University 1022 Biltmore Hall Campus Box 8003 Raleigh, NC 27695-8003

WASHINGTON – American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman and American Wood Council (AWC) President and CEO Robert Glowinski have issued the following statements expressing concern about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final Clean Power Plan and the proposed Federal Plan released Monday. Donna Harman, President and CEO, AF&PA: “While the final Clean Power Plan and proposed Federal Plan reaffirm the carbon benefits of bioenergy and forest products manufacturing residuals, EPA missed an important opportunity to clarify how biomass energy can be practically used by states to meet emission reduction goals. These residuals would have released CO2 to the atmosphere if they had not been used for energy, so the industry is simply harnessing their energy value and utilizing the full carbon cycle of biomass. EPA’s lack of guidance and direction creates confusion and uncertainty for states and business investment, which hinders the competitiveness of America’s paper and wood products industry.” Robert Glowinski, President and CEO, AWC: “EPA’s Clean Power Plan imposes significant limits on how states can use biomass energy to meet their emission reduction goals. Under this plan, complete carbon neutrality depends on the absence of a current alternative market for the forest products manufacturing residuals; but it’s unclear how a state can possibly make this determination. These barriers to the use of biomass energy discourage new investment to build or upgrade wood products facilities that could produce carbon benefits. Public policies should not construct artificial mandates that reduce our industry’s ability to efficiently use manufacturing residuals for biomass energy.” # # # About AF&PA The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry’s sustainability initiative - Better Practices, Better Planet 2020.The forest products industry accounts for approximately 4 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures over $200 billion in products annually, and employs approximately 900,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states. Visit AF&PA online at afandpa.org or follow us on Twitter @ForestandPaper. About AWC The American Wood Council (AWC) is the voice of North American wood products manufacturing, representing over 75 percent of an industry that provides approximately 400,000 men and women with family-wage jobs. AWC members make products that are essential to everyday life from a renewable resource that absorbs and sequesters carbon. Staff experts develop state-of-the-art engineering data, technology, and standards for wood products to assure their safe and efficient design, as well as provide information on wood design, green building, and environmental regulations. AWC also advocates for balanced government policies that affect wood products. www.awc.org | @woodcouncil

WASHINGTON – American Wood Council (AWC) President and CEO Robert Glowinski and American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) President and CEO Donna Harman have issued the following statements expressing concern about the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) final Clean Power Plan released today. Robert Glowinski, President and CEO, AWC: “The forest products industry operates in a highly competitive market and increases in our energy costs can significantly harm our competitiveness. Moreover, EPA’s biogenic accounting framework took steps to recognize the unique energy benefits of using biomass residuals, and EPA needs to fully recognize that carbon neutrality across their regulations. We will carefully consider all legal and legislative options to address our concerns.” Donna Harman, President and CEO, AF&PA: “We are reviewing both the final Clean Power Plan and the proposed Federal Implementation Plan to ensure that biomass energy produced from forest products manufacturing residuals is recognized as a carbon benefit to the atmosphere. We’re concerned that purchased electricity costs for manufacturers will increase as a result of this EPA action and the nation’s grid reliability will be further jeopardized. We believe that the final rule is an unprecedented federal intrusion on local energy mix decisions previously in the hands of the states and consumers.” # # # About AWC The American Wood Council (AWC) is the voice of North American wood products manufacturing, representing over 75 percent of an industry that provides approximately 400,000 men and women with family-wage jobs. AWC members make products that are essential to everyday life from a renewable resource that absorbs and sequesters carbon. Staff experts develop state-of-the-art engineering data, technology, and standards for wood products to assure their safe and efficient design, as well as provide information on wood design, green building, and environmental regulations. AWC also advocates for balanced government policies that affect wood products. www.awc.org | @woodcouncil About AF&PA The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) serves to advance a sustainable U.S. pulp, paper, packaging, and wood products manufacturing industry through fact-based public policy and marketplace advocacy. AF&PA member companies make products essential for everyday life from renewable and recyclable resources and are committed to continuous improvement through the industry’s sustainability initiative - Better Practices, Better Planet 2020.The forest products industry accounts for approximately 4 percent of the total U.S. manufacturing GDP, manufactures over $200 billion in products annually, and employs approximately 900,000 men and women. The industry meets a payroll of approximately $50 billion annually and is among the top 10 manufacturing sector employers in 47 states. Visit AF&PA online at afandpa.org or follow us on Twitter @ForestandPaper.

Don’t tie up your prime mover for just one function. Rayco is introducing a new concept in Crawler Trucks with the launch of the RCT110S. This innovative platform is designed to utilize the 100hp, steel tracked Crawler Truck as a tow vehicle and carry payloads on a gooseneck trailer. The trailer can be fully customized to meet specific job requirements or to perform specialized tasks, allowing the RCT110S Crawler Truck to function as the prime mover for any number of different trailers. This concept lowers costs by keeping specialized equipment confined only to the trailer and allowing the RCT110S Crawler Truck to mate up to multiple trailers. The gooseneck trailer design allows for payloads up to 20,000-pounds and the trailer length can be configured to the user’s requirements. The RCT110S is powered by a reliable Kubota diesel engine and features a heavy-duty steel track undercarriage to maximize traction and durability. An enclosed cab with heat, A/C, and suspension seat keep the operator safe and comfortable. Joystick propel and 2-speed travel makes operation simple while the gooseneck trailer design provides the tightest possible turning radius. The RCT110S can also be configured with a 2-5/16-inch ball coupler. • Powered by 99.2hp Kubota diesel • Tows 20,000-pound payload • Heavy duty steel track undercarriage • Gooseneck trailer design for ultimate maneuverability • 2-5/16-inch Ball Coupler Option • Enclosed cab with heat, A/C, and suspension seat

WASHINGTON – American Wood Council (AWC) President and CEO Robert Glowinski has issued the following statement regarding the letter ?154 members of the U.S. House of Representatives sent to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Department of Energy and Environmental Protection Agency urging the recognition of the carbon neutrality of biomass energy. The letter can be found here: http://awc.org/docs/default-source/letters/house-letter-on-carbon-neutrality-of-forest-biomass.pdf “The carbon life cycle of wood products is well known and recognized. Our industry produces almost 80 percent of its own energy through the use of biomass residuals, displacing the need for fossil fuel use. These congressmen and women have now joined senators and scientists in supporting the use of biomass energy from manufacturing residuals as being fully sustainable. It is important for both our industry and national energy policy that the federal government clearly recognizes the carbon neutrality of biomass energy derived from sustainable forestry and our industry’s manufacturing residuals. “We thank all of the letter’s supporters and, in particular, Representatives Ribble, Bishop, Poliquin, Schrader, Harper and Graham for leading the effort.”

JACKSONVILLE, ILLINOIS (June 1, 2015) – PRS Group, Inc., based in Illinois, and Spain based CAPE have entered into a partnership that will bring new technology and machinery to the pallet industries in North America and Europe, as well as other key areas around the globe. PRS Group, a widely known US manufacturer of pallet repair equipment, and CAPE, a leading European pallet nailing machinery manufacturer, are now representing each other’s complimentary product lines in their designated markets. The pair will also be collaborating on future projects to offer a complete line of both pallet manufacturing and recycling equipment worldwide. Starting in June, PRS Group will begin offering for the first time in the US, the CAPE nailing machine, which has already developed a strong reputation in Europe for its efficiency, flexibility and scalability at a very competitive cost. The initial focus will be the CAPE Mach 2, an automatic nailing line with quick change over for the production of decks, skids and 2-way reversible pallets. It is designed to produce stringer pallets and can be upgraded easily by adding a module to produce block pallets. The Mach 2 is known for its quick changeover between designs and can produce around 2,500 pallets in an eight-hour shift. Jeff Williams, president of PRS Group stated, “The Mach series features quick 30 minute or less changeovers with touchscreen controls; no wrenches or manual adjustments are required. The unique thing about the Mach line is that the systems are modular. This allows the production line to grow with the company’s needs, without requiring the purchase of a brand new system. Through increased output and lowered costs, the machine can pay for itself within the first year of use.” PRS Group will stock necessary parts and have a specially trained technician available for service in the U.S. If you want to see the Mach 2 in action, PRS Group will have a CAPE nailing line running in its Illinois showroom later this summer. The two companies will remain independently operated, but the collaborative product offering agreement between the two will enhance each one’s ability to better serve their respective customers and to continue to provide the exceptional quality and service they have built their reputations on over the years. The partnership truly means a turnkey offering of solutions for the worldwide pallet industry.

The new Titan Trommel Screen from West Salem Machinery (WSM) is an ultra-heavy duty rotary drum screen specifically designed and manufactured for severe duty screening applications requiring high throughput and reliable long term operation. Available with drum sizes of 6 ft., 8 ft., and 10 ft. diameter with lengths from 25 ft. to 63 ft. long, the Titan Trommel is a “revolution” in trommel design and construction – with design features and build quality that deliver unsurpassed performance and reliable long term operation. What makes the WSM Titan Trommel different? Precision manufactured trunnion rings with heavy duty raised steel rings that are machined and include integrated lifter attachments – providing superior drum integrity and concentricity; massive steel support frame with machined mounting pads and laser- aligned trunnion wheel mounts – allowing long drum lengths with consistent distribution of loading; modular and interchangeable dual trunnion wheel mounts with self-adjusting pivot point – to handle shock loading and allow for easy access and maintenance; simple modular cleaning brushes with external adjustment – for improved screening efficiency; and modular screen design for use of wire mesh or perforated plate screens – allowing multiple screening zones and quick screen changes. The list goes on – the WSM Titan Trommel is truly a “revolution” in trommel design and construction and we invite you to learn more at www.westsalem.com, contact WSM directly at 800 722 3530, or by email to [email protected] and talk to one of our application specialist about your specific screening needs.