State & Private Forestry
Forest Products Laboratory
The Forest Products Conservation & Recycling Review is assembled and edited monthly by Adele Olstad and John Zerbe of the FPC&R; Technology Marketing Unit at the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL). Review contributions and correspondence may be sent to either Adele or John at the address below. For copies of FPL or North Central Forest Experiment Station publications,
contact FPL Information Services at the same address.
The individual items included in the Review reflect the content and tone of the original articles. Inclusion of an item does not
imply agreement nor endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of facts or opinions contained in any article. The Review does
not evaluate the accuracy of the information reported.
Forest Products Laboratory
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Phone: (608)231-9200
FAX: (608)231-9592
E-mail: FPC&R; Technology Marketing Unit OR
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Look for items in these categories:
Joe Denig Assumes Authorship of "Drying Decisions"--Joe Denig, a wood products extension specialist at the North Carolina State University College of Forest Resource and an industry-recognized drying authority, has taken on this regular column in Southern Lumberman. Joe will provide advice on how to introduce new technology, improve product quality, and increase manufacturing efficiency. Joe's widespread experience should serve him well in this role. Each year, he conducts a number of short courses for hardwood and softwood kiln operators, and he has authored several handbooks. Joe credits his knowledge to opportunities given to him as a graduate student under Gene Wengert, the last author of this column who recently retired as an extension specialist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, and to 13 years of work with Steve Hanover at North Carolina State University.
[Source: Southern Lumberman, January 1999]
The Forest Products Conservation & Recycling Personnel Directory has been revised and released by the FPC&R Technology Marketing Unit. Significant turnover in staffing of Federal, State, and Extension forest products utilization and marketing (U&M) programs over the last several years has taken its toll on the U&M professional network. The FPC&R Technology Marketing Unit believes that the revised directory will help to re-establish and strengthen the U&M network. The directory can be used as a reference guide for locating professionals who can provide technical assistance and recommendations for improving timber harvesting, processing, and implementation of forest products as well as economic development, recycling, use of small-diameter and underutilized species, development of special forest products, and processing of value-added products. For each State, the directory lists the Forester, U&M Specialist(s), Extension Specialist(s), Regional Extension Specialist (if applicable), USDA Forest Service Specialist(s), and other sources of information. The directory also provides infomation on several Federal programs. Only a limited number of copies of the directory have been printed for distribution. However, the directory is available online as a PDF document for viewing or printing.
The 27th Annual Wood Technology Clinic and Show will be held March 24-26 in Portland. Eight simplified conference tracks will cover more than 50 topics that define the future of the wood processing market and the skills necessary to succeed in the current economic climate. The tracks include highlights in sawing, drying, management skills, woodworking, international focus, certification, maintenance and hydraulics, and technology. For more information, visit the
Web site. Registration is possible by phone (800) 789-2223, Fax (888) 811-7391, or
e-mail.
Changes at the Hardwood Technology Center--In the latest Federal budget signed by President Clinton, Congress directed the USDA Forest Service to take the lead in addressing many of the issues facing those with an interest in the production of hardwood forest products. The Forest Service was given funds to develop an Institute of Hardwood Technology Transfer and Applied Research and asked to assume responsibility for overall direction of the Robert C. Byrd Hardwood Technology Center (RCBHTC) in Princeton, WV. Effective November 20, 1998, the assets of the Center were officially transferred to the Forest Service and the RCBHTC was renamed the Wood Education and Resource Center (WERC). Northeastern Area State and Private Forestry will lead this overall effort and has named Al Steele as the main contact person. For more information, contact Greg Puckett at WERC at (304) 487-1510 or visit the Web site .
Hardwood Expressions, a free, 36-page consumer guide to solid hardwood flooring, cabinetry, furniture, and woodwork, has been published by the Hardwood Manufacturers Association (HMA). This illustrated publication includes sections on solid hardwoods, flooring, kitchens and baths, furniture, and moulding & other millwork. To order a free copy, contact HMA at (800) 373-9663 or visit the Web site. Plant a Tree, Leaf a Legacy! The National Tree Trust, a private, nonprofit organization, has just released the Seedling Order Form , the first part of their project in the America's Treeways and Community Tree Planting Program. The organization is offering free tree seedlings to transportation authorities, forestry departments, municipalities, garden clubs, school groups, and other volunteer organizations for planting on public land in the year 2000. The National Tree Trust is also providing a list of species available and appropriate for each planting region in the United States.
The tree seedlings come in quantities of 100. Applications for seedlings are due May 31, and species are allocated on a first-come, first-serve basis. Since a large demand is anticipated, the National Tree Trust encourages groups to submit their application promptly.
All groups who submit the Seedling Order Form will automatically receive a request for informationon their tree planting project (Part Two: Project Information); this information is due October 1. Both the Seedling Order Form and Project Information must be completed in order to receive the seedlings.
To receive the Seedling Order Form or to request additional information, contact Ashley Link at (800) 846-8733, ext. 27 or send an e-mail message to alink@nationaltreetrust.org. Include your address and phone and Fax numbers in your e-mail message. Call for Papers for Wood Adhesives 2000--Scheduled for June 22-23, 2000, in Lake Tahoe, NV, this symposium is the seventh in a series held every 5 years by the USDA Forest Products Laboratory and the Forest Products Society (FPS). The symposium is designed to provide a comprehensive update of the science and technology of wood adhesives and bonded wood products. If interested in giving a formal or poster presentation, or for additional information, contact Julie at FPS at (608) 231-1361 (ext. 208), send a Fax to (608) 231-2152, or check the Web site.
The 1999 Northeastern Forest Products Equipment Exposition is scheduled for May 14-15 in Bangor, ME. For more information, visit the Expo's
Web site or contact the Northeastern Loggers' Association, P.O. Box 69, Old Forge, NY 13420. Tel: (315) 369-3078; Fax: (315) 369-3736; e-mail.
The Northwest Manufacturing Automation Conference and Exposition will be held June 9-11 in Portland, OR. Dedicated to issues and opportunities facing Pacific Northwest manufacturers, this conference targets a wide range of manufacturers, including aerospace, food processing, metals, pharmaceuticals, pulp and paper, semiconductors, and wood processing. Conference attendees will be able to explore the latest in leading-edge process automation software and equipment. For more information, visit the Web site. Careers in Wood is a multimedia resource that enables students to interactively explore a future in the wood industry by learning about individual wood companies and associations, related college and university programs, and job opportunities. The Careers in Wood project is being marketed to schools, career centers, homes, and wood industries across the United States and Canada. A promotional video, teacher's guidebook, and marketing brochures and posters are included as accessories to encourage use of the resource as a class assignment or at home.
Careers in Wood was developed by Woodlinks, a nonprofit society dedicated to promoting education, training, and careers in the wood industry. For information, contact Woodlinks at (604) 822-0821; Fax: (604) 822-9159; e-mail; or visit their
Web site.
[Source: National Hardwood Magazine, December 1998]
[Source: Susan Odell, Cooperative Forestry Staff, Washington, DC]
[Source: Wood Technology, October 1998]
[Source: Wood Machining News, March/April 1998]
The 6th Annual Forest Products Marketing Workshop, sponsored by Virginia Tech, will be held
March 15-16 in Blacksburg. The program will concentrate on the fundamental principles of marketing and salesmanship as they apply to the forest products industry. Topics include an overview of forest products, personal selling, and marketing (distribution, pricing, promotion, strategy, international and domestic markets, marketing on the Internet). For registration materials or additional information, contact Bob Smith at (540) 231-5876, send a Fax to (540) 231-8868, or send
e-mail.
Pallet Adhesives Show Promise--The Pallet and Container Lab at Virginia Tech has been conducting research on the effectiveness of adhesives for assembling wood pallets. Several adhesives have showed promise. Cross-linked polyvinyl acetates in air-dried connections were shown to be equivalent to nailed connections. A hot-melt urethane isocyanate was shown to be stronger than nailed connections in both green and air-dried pallet parts. For air-dried pallet part assembly, reactive hot melts are candidates for future testing.
At least one adhesives manufacturer, Franklin International, is said to be reformulating an off-the-shelf adhesive and may partner with pallet manufacturers to test the product. To be effective as pallet adhesive, the glue must exhibit good gap-filling ability for roughsawn and warped surfaces, resistance to weather exposure, low sensitivity to fluctuations in moisture content, good penetration at relatively low clamping pressures, low emission of volatiles, easy cleanup and disposal, rapid cure, long pot life, low cure temperature, low cost, resilience to impact loading, and resistance to creep and relaxation. If a low-cost adhesive could be found to assemble pallets, it could solve problems such as board splitting and damage from protruding nails and at the same time improve joint stiffness.
[Source: Timber Processing, December 1998]
The U.S. Paper Industryturned in better-than-expected earnings for the third quarter of 1998, but the industry remains victimized by weak pricing and continuing impact from the Asian financial crisis. Pricing was hurt by slack global consumption through the third quarter. Analysts report that the only bright spot in the paper industry slowdown is the likelihood that it is beginning to force a drop in production capacity. Several Canadian papermills and at least one large Indonesian mill have shut down recently, easing the pressure of overcapacity in a market hit by a glut resulting from weak international demand for paper. The U.S. Market for Recycled Cardboard and Other Recyclable Materialsis reportedly being hurt by the Asian Economic Crisis. In 1995, old cardboard sold for $200/ton; by 1997, the price had dropped to $100/ton and is currently $35/ton. According to analysts, the increase in recycling capacity has contributed to lower pricing. Europe Sets Stage for Panel Growth--While fluctuations exist among segments of the wood-based panel industry worldwide, the industry as a whole continues to gain strength. Wood Technology's annual survey of new, enlarged, and remodeled plant facilities documented 242 projects scheduled for completion in 1998 and in the future. Highlights from this survey include the following:
[Source: The Northern Logger & Timber Processor, December 1998]
[Source: The Northern Logger & Timber Processor, December 1998]
[Source: Wood Technology, October 1998]
The European panel industry is booming, despite a lackluster economy. The survey indicates that more than 3.2 billion ft² (297.6 million m²) will be added to new particleboard capacity and 1.7 billion ft² (158 million m²) to new medium-density fiberboard (MDF) capacity through 1999 (all figures on 3/4-in. (19-mm) basis). This new volume comes from 14 greenfield particleboard plants and 13 new MDF plants. The new particleboard plants are situated in Austria, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Poland, Spain, England, and Scotland. Additions to MDF capacity are in Austria, Belgium, Germany, Poland, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Scotland, and Wales. Some particleboard plants are huge, with daily capacity up to 1 million ft² (93,000 m²); maximum capacity of MDF plants is about half that volume.
Continuing economic problems in Asia are evidenced by the paucity of new wood-based panel projects beyond those scheduled for completion in 1998. No projects are listed for Australia and New Zealand, which depend on Asian markets for particleboard and MDF. Nine new MDF plants in China, employing European technology, are scheduled to open in 1998. These plants are small by standards in the industrialized West.
South America is proceeding cautiously. Some announced projects have been postponed but others continue. Including major plant expansions, start-ups scheduled for 1998 and 1999 encompass four particleboard lines (one in Argentina and three in Brazil) and four MDF lines (one in Argentina and three in Brazil).
At least one major renovation project is scheduled in North America. Particleboard capacity expansion would be a dead issue were it not for the infant strawboard industry.
The Wood Waste Utilization National Conference, offered by The National Arbor Day Foundation, has been rescheduled from January to March 2-3, 1999, in Nebraska City. The focus of this new national conference is the management of wood waste from public and private woodlands. The aim is to help community officials, foresters, landowners, and others deal with wood waste, especially since landfills are rapidly filling up and burning is now banned in most parts of the country. Sessions will also consider the growing national demand for wood fiber and ways in which wood waste might help meet that demand. For more information, contact The National Arbor Day Foundation at (402) 4745655 or via e-mail.
The Recycling Symposium and Papermakers Conference is scheduled for March 1-3 in Atlanta, GA. For information, contact the Technical Association of the Pulp and Paper Industry, P.O. Box 105113, Atlanta, GA 30348-5113. Tel: (770) 446-1400 (international), (800) 446-9341 (Canada), or (800) 332-8686 (United States); Fax: (770) 446-6947.
Effects of Recycled Newsprint Fiber Additives in Composite Panels--Otto Suchsland, Salim Hiziroglu, Trek Sean, and Gopal Iyengar have investigated the effects of recycled newsprint fibers on the properties of MDF and hardboard (wet and dry). The results indicate that all paper fibers that have passed through the secondary refiner are apparently more closely related to hardboard pulp than other types of pulp. For both dry and wet processes, fiber properties reach very reasonable levels at high board densities, as indicated by high modulus of rupture and internal bond values. Kraft fiber, which contains no lignin, performs poorly as a hardboard furnish and has a weakening effect on boards made from recycled paper fiber.
Therefore, it is the fineness of the furnish or the absence of a relatively coarse component that limits the usefulness of recycled paper fiber in medium-density board products. The use of paper fiber in wet-process hardboard, even in the laboratory, is made impractical by very high freeness values. It is conceivable, however, that recycled paper fiber could be used with advantage in dry-process hardboard. Another application of paper fiber, suggested by the results of the study, is in the form of highly densified face layers in regular MDF or particleboard. Such applications would allow property control by face-specific treatments, such as resin type and level variation, and appropriate adjustments of moisture content. An additional benefit of such three-layer designs would be extraordinarily smooth surfaces, a characteristic of all paper fiberboards. Increase in Construction and Demolition Waste--An EPA study reported that the United States generated a record 136 million tons of construction and demolition (C&D) waste in 1996. This waste includes lumber, gypsum board, bricks, asphalt, and some concrete. This total does not include waste from highway construction or land clearing. According to the study, 57% of C&D waste came from nonresidential buildings and the remainder from residences. Much of the debris (48%) was generated by demolition, with renovation and construction sites accounting for 44% and 8%, respectively. Between 35% and 45% of the waste went to landfills that accept C&D material exclusively.
Officials in Oregon and Florida are setting up new ways to divert C&D debris from landfills, but these efforts are difficult to execute. Florida State officials are hoping that stronger screening efforts will keep C&D materials from landfills. They are training operators to ensure that inappropriate materials, including C&D debris, are not accepted at landfills.
Recycling sites for C&D debris accept only select materials (e.g., no furniture or tires), but determining what materials should be accepted is a difficult process, according to Richard Tatter, professional engineer with the Florida Department of Environmental Protection. One obstacle to separating certain materials is that tipping fees at C&D debris recycling sites are much lower than tipping fees at municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills. Consequently, MSW that should be sent to a landfill is sometimes sent to a C&D recycling site instead.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection reports that more than half of its C&D debris is recycled. The department has sponsored a series of workshops for homebuilders and contractors on how to recycle waste at job sites. It has also published a job site recycling guide, targeted primarily at concrete and wood recyclers.
Other methods to divert C&D debris from landfills are being used in Portland, OR. The city requires construction sites with a permit value in excess of $50,000 to recycle. The city also has a tipping fee of $63.50/ton. Because the Portland economy is largely based on timber, there are many opportunities to recycle used wood. For example, some facilities make urban wood into chips. Also, in Eugene, OR, an effort has been made to produce hardboard from C&D waste. The hardboard is manufactured into moulding and other trim for home construction.
[Source: Forest Products Journal 49(11/12): 55-64, 1998]
[Source: Waste Age's Recycling Times, December 14, 1998]
Fear of Y2K Computer Glitches Increases Sales of Low-Tech Wood Stoves--Publicity on possible failures of high-technology equipment and power and gas distribution systems in the year 2000 has caused some people to strive for self-sufficiency through purchasing wood stoves. "Y2K is definitely having an impact," says Waterford Stoves president Pat Moynihan. "Last year our business was 55% gas; this year, I predict, wood will be the majority of our business." This change is particularly impressive since cookstoves constitute 85% of Waterford manufactures. Waterford manufactures the Stanley woodburning cookstove. Sales of the Stanley cookstove, as well as less expensive wood stoves, have increased dramatically since 1998. Twice as many cookstoves were sold in 1998 compared to previous years, with dealers ordering 6 to 10 units at a time.
Brad Michael, the president of Heartland Appliances, another manufacturer of wood cookstoves, says "This Y2K thing is sending our wood cookstove sales through the roof. Two months ago I would have said they represent 15% of our business; now I must say 25%." Other retailers, however, have not sold a single wood stove because of Y2K, even in areas of extreme cold such as the Northeast and the Pacific Northwest. Increased sales of wood stoves seem to be limited to the North Central region, through Ohio, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and Indiana. Older Wood Fiber Panel Product Considered for Better Quality of Indoor Air--Since 1949, the Tectum Company of Newark, Ohio, has been manufacturing ceiling panels using a fibrous matrix of long, thin wood strands of aspen ("wood excelsior"). This panel product could be an alternative to acoustical ceiling panels made with mineral wool fiber. Shedding of mineral fibers has become a concern in studies of indoor air quality in the workplace.
The binder for Tectum panels contains magnesium oxide, sodium silicate, magnesium sulfate, calcium carbonate, and water. Finished panels are 44% wood fiber, 25% magnesium oxide, 16% sodium silicate, and 15% other materials. Because the curing reaction is exothermic, little energy is required to produce the panels. Tectum panels cost two to four times as much as mineral fiber panels. The company sells about 10 million ft² (930,000 m²) of panel products annually, which probably accounts for less than 1% of the U.S. acoustical ceiling panel market. Panel waste is nontoxic and can be ground and composted to produce a soil conditioner.
[Source: Hearth & Home, December 1998]
[Source: Forest Products Journal 48(11/12): 13, 1998]
Accelerated Process for Manufacturing LVL From Small-Diameter Trees--Sunpine Forest Products of Alberta, Canada, tripled the speed of laminated veneer lumber (LVL) manufacture in a continuous flow line that produces 40-ft (12.2-m) lengths. Constructing the line cost the company $65 million (Canadian $) and created 50 new jobs. Two other Alberta companies are also contemplating an LVL line. The goal is to be able to produce a 1-1/2-in- (38-mm-) thick billet, 40 ft (12 m) long, every 7 minutes. The line can produce LVL up to 3-1/2 in. (88.9 mm) thick.
Sunpine expects the demand for LVL to grow as the number of trees capable of providing larger dimension lumber diminishes. The company has the technology to peel a small-diameter tree, laminate the veneer into LVL, then cut it for such uses as beams for construction as well as flange stock for truss joists. Sunpine will primarily use lodgepole pine and spruce for LVL, but aspen has also been peeled successfully. The strength and potential of mixing wood species for particular applications are being tested at a research lab at the mill. Researchers plan to test oriented strandboard (OSB) as an LVL core, using LVL as face material. The tests will include screwholding power, an important characteristic for the secondary wood processing industry.
Sunpine views Japan as its initial target for marketing, but it will test the American market as well. LVL is not subject to U.S. softwood lumber import quotas. Sunpine's veneer line includes a spindleless lathe that can peel a block down to a 1-7/8-in. (47.6-mm) core. Cores are exported to California for use as grapevine and tree stakes. At present, Sunpine produces about 70% dry and 30% green veneer. The dry veneer is used to manufacture LVL.
[Source: Wood Technology, October 1998]
Strawboard Plant Begins Operation--Isobord Enterprises, Inc., headquartered in Portland, OR, started manufacture of strawboard at its $150 (U.S.$) million plant in Elie, Manitoba, Canada, in August 1998. The panel, which competes with particleboard, is made from wheat straw and isocyanate resin. Isobord expects to use 200,000 tons of wheat straw per year when running at full capacity of 144 million ft² (13.4 million m²) of board (3/4-in. (19-mm) basis). The company expects to build additional plants in 1999.
On the same note, Harvest Board International broke ground on its $160 million strawboard plant in Rawlins County, Kansas, in October 1998; the plant is expected to open in 1999. Strawboard will be manufactured from a combination of wheat straw and polyurethane resin. In the first year of operation, Harvest Board plans to use 110,000 tons of straw to produce 76 million ft² (7.1 million m²) of board. Within 3 years, the company plans to build two additional plants in neighboring counties, boosting total production to 228 million ft² (21.2 million m²). New Use for Colored Chips--Colored wood chips have been a preferred surface application around playground equipment for a few years. Now they are showing potential as mulch. Colored mulch is becoming a profitable means of utilizing wastes from pallet recycling which includes large volumes of splintery, split, thin, dry wood of various species and dimension.
Color fastness is the most often noted advantage to colored mulch. Other mulches, such as pine straw, bark, and uncolored woods fade or turn colors within weeks. Color availability is essentially unlimited, from greens and earth tones like black, gold, and brown, to bright colors like orange, yellow, and blue. The most popular color, however, is red, which may have as much as 65% of the overall market.
According to various sources, the wholesale price for uncolored mulch ranges from free to $5 per yard, depending on the local market for it. Colored mulch costs as much as $7 to $8 per yard to produce and can sell for nearly double that, which represents a high added value and turns a business cost into a profitmaker. The best markets are the Midwest, Northeast, Southeast, and East Coast although the West Coast is starting to pick up. The worst market so far is the Northwest, but that's because colored mulch hasn't been there as long. End users include anyone interested in attractive landscaping--from homeowners and apartment complexes to golf courses and municipalities.
[Source: Wood Technology, November/December 1998]
[Source: Timber Processing, December 1998]
Hardwood Information Center Web Site Updated--All material has been updated and reorganized to be more user friendly. Visitors to the site can access information on solid hardwood flooring, cabinetry, furniture, and millwork. A new feature is hyperlinks to complementary sites, such as the Hardwood Council, where their "Tips & Techniques" series has been posted. Click on the FAQ button and scroll down the document to see a listing of these sites. Another feature is the addition of a "Tip of the Month" section. For more information, visit the Web site. Salvaged Yellow-Cedar Bonds With Phenol-Resorcinol Adhesive and Hydroxymethylated Resorcinol Coupling Agent--In response to reports of unsatisfactory and variable adhesive bonding of yellow-cedar, as well as the need to use the large volume of dead yellow-cedar timber in southeastern Alaska, a study was conducted to determine whether phenol-resorcinol-formaldehyde (PRF) adhesive could develop durable bonds to salvaged yellow-cedar. E. Arnold Okkonen and Charlie Vick of the Forest Products Laboratory reported that resistance of adhesive bonds in yellow-cedar lumber laminates to delamination, shear strength, and wood failure exceeded requirements of ASTM D 2559, a specification for adhesives used in structural laminated wood products exposed to exterior service conditions. Comparisons of data from this study and two studies by the U.S. Department of Navy Bureau of Ships indicate that bondability of yellow-cedar was not compromised despite the fact that the lumber had been salvaged from 500-year-old trees that had been dead for 14 years. Wood products laminated from salvaged but durable yellow-cedar should command a premium in the marketplace, particularly for marine construction. Cordwood Stacked for Walls of Ontario House--Unusual homes have been built south of Algonquin Park near Bancroft, Ontario. Among them is a unique 16-sided cordwood stacked-wall home that's also a thriving Bed & Breakfast. Bernice and David Fraser designed and built their 38-ft- (12-m-) diameter, two-story, almost round home in 1995 after taking a weekend course in stack-wall building from New York State expert Rob Roy at his Earthwood Building School. A local contractor erected a skeleton of posts, beams, joists, subfloor, roof trusses, roof boards, and shingles.
With the help of their son and assorted visitors, the couple spent 6 months cutting over 40 face cords (145 steres) of 19-in. (48-cm) dried cedar logs, then mixing 200 bags of lime and 165 bags of Portland cement and stuffing it between the logs as they were stacked to form the walls. Lime (to keep the insects out) and sawdust (for insulation) went into the insulating space between the 5 in. (13 cm) of cement at each end of the logs. The 18-in.- (45-cm-) thick walls provide an R-value of close to 30, and the roof is R-45.
The structure has 18 windows and 7 doors. It has a wooden walkway leading from the driveway to the second story front door and continuing all the way around the house. There are two guest rooms, an office, and a woodworking shop on the ground level.
[Source: National Hardwood Magazine, November 1998]
[Source: Forest Products Journal 48(11/12): 81-85, 1998]
[Source: Natural Life Magazine No. 57]
Contents
Please send any questions or comments to
TMU/fpl@fs.fed.us.
Contact-Name: Adele Olstad
Contact-Phone: 608/231-9329
Document-Date: 1999 January 228
Abstract: January 1999 Issue of FPC&R; Review