Newsletter

SFPA Welcomes Mauvila Timber, LLC

Mauvila Timber was established in 2000 near the Port of Mobile as an export lumber business. Most of their lumber is Southern Yellow Pine, primarily Loblolly and Longleaf. They have over 600,000 square feet of warehouse filled with a variety of lumber, all of which can be viewed on their website mauvilatimber.com.

Lane Merchant is their General Manager & Vice President of Sales and is the company’s primary contact.
Phone: 251/964-2539 Email: Lane.merchant@mauvilatimber.com.

RFP -Wood seminars in the Caribbean and Guatemala

SFPA is seeking individuals or companies interested in assisting International Seminars in the Caribbean and Guatemala. Click here for more information.

2019 RFP for SFPA

SFPA is seeking individuals or companies interested in assisting International Seminars. Click here for more information.

SFPA Welcomes LaSalle Lumber Company

SFPA welcomes LaSalle Lumber Company, LLC, as its newest Lumber Manufacturer member. Tolko Industries, headquartered in Vernon, BC, has partnered with Louisiana-based Hunt Forest Products to build a state-of-the-art sawmill near Urania, Louisiana. Earlier this year, Tolko announced plans to build the new facility; click here to read the company’s news release. The mill is designed to produce 200 million board feet annually, with three continuous dry kilns and a planer facility.

“This is our first venture into the United States,” said Brad Thorlakson, Tolko president and CEO. “And we are thrilled to be in Louisiana with Hunt Forest Products, a family-owned company like ours, and one that has played a vital, reliable role in Louisiana’s forestry industry for more than a century.”

Pino Pucci is the company’s manager and will represent LaSalle Lumber on the SFPA Board of Directors. Contact Pino at 250/550-2504 or send an e-mail to pino.pucci@tolko.com.

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.