Newsletter

EXPO 2019: Robust Exhibit Sales

Nearly 100 companies have contracted fully 80% of the available exhibit space for the 35th Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Exposition – Expo 2019 – to be held June 26-28, 2019 at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center.

“Participation in Expo is approaching an early sell-out; most of the larger exhibit spaces are already occupied,” commented Eric Gee, SFPA’s exposition director. “Many of the exhibiting companies are determining the equipment they’ll bring for display in Atlanta, and some have expanded their exhibit space based on strong, pre-show orders,” he added.

Sponsored and conducted by SFPA every two years since 1950, this event has traditionally included many of the biggest names in the business displaying everything from sawmill machinery to materials handling equipment, attracting key representatives from the nation’s largest wood products manufacturers. Expo 2017 featured 183 exhibitors, with a total attendance of just over 2,000.

SFPA Welcomes Beasley Forest Products

SFPA welcomes Beasley Forest Products of Hazlehurst, Georgia, as a new Lumber Manufacturer member. Beasley Forest Products is North America’s premier producer of matting products for the energy transmission, utility and construction industries. The company also has an extensive line of Southern Yellow Pine products and is a top hardwood producer for both domestic and exports markets.  Other products include crossties and switch ties for the railroads. For the shipping industry, Beasley offers a wide variety of pallet products including cants, stringers and cut stock of various widths and dimensions.  As a proud steward of sustainable forestry, the company is committed to procuring material from FSC-certified sustainable sources for its manufacturing operations.

Brandon Cox handles Business Development-Grade Lumber and will represent Beasley with SFPA. Contact him at 912/375-5174, ext. 4703 or send an e-mail to brandon.cox@beasleygroup.com.   To learn more about Beasley Forest Products,

Students’ 2019 Demo Project Unveiled

Studio 804 is a year-long, comprehensive educational opportunity for graduate students who are entering the final year of the Masters of Architecture program at the University of Kansas School of Architecture and Design. It is a unique instructional model that has earned notoriety among architecture schools worldwide. Studio 804 educates students through experience in all aspects of the design-build process. Objectives include promoting the creative use of materials in the development of affordable, sustainable and energy-efficient buildings. The design for Studio 804’s 2019 project includes many applications for wood products. Inside, flooring and exposed glued laminated beams are featured in the living area. Outside, decking and wood siding are incorporated.

Studio 804 is currently seeking manufacturing partners for materials, an opportunity to showcase Southern Pine products in a unique and innovative setting. Beyond local promotions and open houses, partners can look forward to recognition in national and international publications. 

Westervelt Expansion Announced

SFPA member The Westervelt Company, headquartered in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, recently announced plans to construct a new Southern Pine sawmill in Thomasville, Alabama. Click here to read the company’s News Release. The new mill will join the company’s existing facility in Moundville, Alabama, which began operations in 1997.

“We’re excited to be a part of this community,” said Joe Patton, vice president and general manager for wood products. “It’s not only a great fit for us because of the location and proximity to our resources and facility, but because this region and our new neighbors have so much to offer.”

According to the release, the facility will produce approximately 250 million board feet of lumber and create 125 new jobs. The expansion will also take advantage of available workforce and existing customer bases. Construction is expected to begin mid‐2019, with operations beginning in late 2020.

Successful Seminars in Mexico

Recently, a pair of educational seminars in Monterey and Mexico City enhanced the knowledge of U.S. softwood products among importers, distributors, architects and builders.

During their visit, a four-member team from American Softwoods (AMSO) toured Maderería NASA, one of the largest pallet manufacturers in the country, with operations in Tampico and Monterey. The company’s close proximity to a port enables them to export pallets and custom packaging to a wide customer base. While at the Tampico facility, SFPA’s Eric Gee delivered a presentation to the firm’s purchasing managers and sales personnel. Eric explained Southern Pine grades, various treatments and applications. He fielded questions from the group related to the strength and durability properties of Southern Pine.

The two seminars were well-attended by architects, designers, engineers and lumber distributors. Eric’s presentation focused on the many structural uses of Southern Pine products, primarily in residential construction.

New VP at Robinson Lumber

SFPA member Robinson Lumber Company recently announced the promotion of Court Robinson to become the company’s Vice President. Building on his four years’ experience as Pine Business Development Manager – a position he retains – Court will lead Robinson Lumber’s international logistics teams, which manage business relationships that span the globe. Court will also now focus on designing effective international shipping strategies and enhancing internal operations companywide.

“We are excited to have such talented leadership dedicated to improving how we move products around the globe,” said company president Joe Buckhaults. “Court brings focus and problem-solving skills to our logistics operations, which will immediately improve our ability to serve both our customers and suppliers with timely and accurate shipments. And with annual movements in excess of 10,000 loads, those improvements will have a material impact on our bottom line.”

Robinson Lumber Company is celebrating its 125th year in business and fifth generation of family ownership.

SFPA Welcomes New Member

SFPA welcomes Progress Industries, Inc. of Trussville, Alabama, as a new Associate member. Established more than 40 years ago, the company is recognized as a world leader in the design of chip mills and wood utilization equipment. Progress Industries continues its long tradition of maintaining a technological edge, staffed with talented engineers and highly trained tradesmen.

Johnny Tarassoli is vice president of the company and will represent Progress Industries with SFPA. Contact him at 205/655-8875 or send an e-mail to jtara@progressindustries.com.  To learn more about Progress Industries, visit www.progressindustries.com.

No Import Tariffs on U.S. Lumber

With much relief, U.S. lumber is not among the products facing increased import tariffs in the wake of escalating trade tensions between the U.S. and many of our trading partners. China, Mexico, Canada and the European Union are collectively raising tariffs on billions of dollars of products they import from the U.S. in response to Washington’s efforts to curb imports. Fortunately, wood products are largely spared, with the exception of a 10% tariff on plywood exports to Canada.

“Each country’s list of targeted products is largely similar”, says Jerry Hingle, the Southern Pine Council’s international program consultant. “Tariffs on steel and aluminum are heavily targeted, but so is a long list of agriculture products strategically chosen to harm certain congressional districts in the U.S. Thankfully, our industry dodged this one”, he adds.

SFPA Welcomes New Member

SFPA welcomes McDonough Manufacturing Company of Eau Claire, Wisconsin, as a new Associate member. Founded in 1888, McDonough has focused on delivering the efficiency and speed required by today’s sawmills. The company’s product lines include band mills, carriages, resaws and edgers.

Matt Tietz is the company’s owner and will represent McDonough Manufacturing with SFPA. Contact him at 715/834-7755 or send an e-mail to mtietz@mcdonough-mfg.com. To learn more about McDonough Manufacturing, visit www.mcdonough-mfg.com.

EXPO 2019 Exhibit Sales Timeline Set

Beginning May 15, SFPA will be mailing the Exhibitor Prospectus for Expo 2019 to all companies who participated in the previous Expo. SFPA Members will have until July 15th to select their location and return a completed Exhibit Space Application. Later this year SFPA will mail the Exhibitor Prospectus to potential exhibiting companies who have participated in previous Expos or have expressed an interest in becoming an exhibitor at Expo 2019.

Click here for more information about how the booth selection and assignment process works. Click here for exhibit space rates and more details about the show, to be held June 26-28, 2019 at Atlanta’s Georgia World Congress Center.

“I’m sharing this timeline with all members and past exhibitors to illustrate the window of opportunity to select an exhibit space – it’s a brief twelve weeks,” notes exposition director Eric Gee. “After September 15,