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
One Gifford Pinchot Drive
Madison, WI 53705-2398
Phone: (608)231-9200
FAX: (608)231-9592
E-mail: FPC&R; Technology Marketing Unit OR
FPL Information Services (for publication requests)
Look for items in these categories:
Dean Prestemon, professor and extension forester (wood products) with Iowa State University in Ames, will be retiring in early March. During Dean's university career of more than 33 years, he not only had primary responsibility as a campus extension specialist but was also involved in research and resident instruction. Along with activities in timber processing and marketing, his special area of interest and expertise was the proper use of wood in building construction. In announcing his retirement Dean wrote, "I have enjoyed my academic extension career at Iowa State, and I have relied on the Forest Products Lab for current information and considered their staff as the final authority on most technical questions." Dean and his wife plan to do a substantial amount of traveling during the next several years, but for now they can be found at 4606 Dover Dr., Ames, IA 50014-3713; Tel: (515) 292-1542; e-mail: DRPAmes@aol.com.
Assistant Professor and Wood Products Extension Specialist - The Department of Wood and Paper Science at North Carolina State University is soliciting applications for a full-time, 12-month, tenure-track faculty position. This position requires a Ph.D. degree with at least one degree in forest products, wood science and technology, or a related area. The specialist will provide statewide leadership within the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service to develop educational programs for the wood products manufacturing industry. Department priority program needs include recycling, plywood and veneer manufacturing, wood finishes and coatings, and marketing. Responsibilities include the development of an educational program in the applicant's area of expertise through workshops, seminars, demonstrations, case studies, publications, videotapes, and computer programs.
For more information, contact Dr. Larry Jahn, Department Extension Leader, North Carolina State University. Tel: 919-515-5579; Fax: 919-515-8739; e-mail. The deadline for applications is April 30, and the position is available immediately.
The Rural Coalition is Recruiting Applicants for a project manager/network coordinator for the SuperMarket On-line Cooperative Marketing Project. The SuperMarket is a collaborative effort by a wide array of groups representing minority and limited resource farmers who are practicing sustainable agriculture in the United States and Mexico. The SuperMarket will use the Internet as a marketing tool to enable these farmers to network and collaboratively access the markets and services they need to be successful. The position requires a person with people and project management skills, computer and technical skills, and multicultural experience. Job responsibilities include coordinating and communicating regularly with a project team consisting of 10+ community-based organizations and 6+ consultants; assisting in the design of a Web site for marketing agricultural goods and crafts for diverse low-income rural communities; maintaining and updating the Web site; providing technical assistance to participating groups; and organizing and conducting meeting and training sessions. For more information, contact Lorette Picciano, Executive Directory, Rural Coalition, by Fax (202-544-9613) or e-mail (ruralco@aol.com).
Do You Field Questions on Equipment Suppliers, sources of domestic species, location of sawmills, and the like? The Technology Marketing Unit and the Public Affairs staff at the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, WI, have identified several trade journals as excellent sources of information. Note: this listing is for information purposes only and does not constitute an endorsement of any journal to the exclusion of others not listed.
The 3rd Jasper Area Wood Products Trade Show will be held May 18 in Jasper, IN. Exhibits will represent a wide range of products and services, including wood, veneer, and panel materials; laminates and laminating services; hardware; abrasives; adhesives; finishing materials and equipment; packaging materials; hand and power tools; and machinery. High-tech electrical and computerized control systems, software, and engineering services will also be represented. Information about exhibits is available from Dan Cassens of Purdue University by telephone (765) 743-9697, Fax (765) 743-9698, or e-mail.
Tax Tips for Forest Landowners for the 1998 Tax Year,
by Larry Bishop, a forest management and taxation specialist with
the U.S. Forest Service Southern Region, Atlanta, GA, as well as several other
popular publications on forest taxation, are available on the Internet. The
Web address for Bishop's publication is
www.r8web.com/spf/taxtips98.htm.
From this site you can access other tax references. For a hard copy of the
publication, contact the Alabama Forest Owners' Association, Inc., (AFOA),
P.O. Box 361434, Birmingham, AL 35236. Tel: (205) 987-8811; Fax: (205) ;987-9824;
e-mail;
or visit their Web site.
[Source: Capital Ideas, January 1999]
SFPA Expo '99 will be held June 24-26 at the Georgia World Congress Center in Atlanta. Sponsored by the Southern Forest Products Association (SFPA) and the Forest Products Society, the Forest Products Machinery & Equipment Exposition brings together exciting exhibits and expert explanations through seminars designed to complement the equipment and machinery displays. A complete listing of seminar titles and registration information can be obtained by calling SFPA at (504) 443-4464 or visiting their Web site.
Use of Powder Coatings on Wood Under Development - In recent years, manufacturers of finished metal products have relied on powder coatings to achieve goals such as reduced costs, increased productivity, and enhanced quality. Intensive efforts in chemical research are now underway on applying these coatings to nonmetal substrates such as medium-density fiberboard.
Powder coatings are popular because they are dry, ready-to-use finishes. No solvents are used in any part of the application process, which eliminates the need for venting, filtering, and solvent-recovery systems to control volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Health hazards to workers are reduced because these coatings do not contain VOCs, which may cause eye, throat, or skin irritations. In addition, air used to exhaust powder spray booths can be recirculated directly to the plant, reducing the cost of heating or cooling makeup air, and spillage can be safely and easily vacuumed.
Powder coatings can be applied either manually or
automatically to horizontally conveyed or vertically hung parts. The coatings
adhere uniformly to surfaces regardless of configuration, producing seamless
edges that allow for greater design flexibility and eliminate runs, drips,
sags, and other surface irregularities. If poorly sprayed parts are detected
prior to curing, the coatings can be blown off with an air gun and the parts
recoated. Furthermore, approximately 95% of unused oversprayed powder can be
recovered, recycled, and reused, resulting in maximum material utilization.
[Source: Wisconsin Wood Marketing Bulletin, September/October 1998]
The Paperless Office Revisited - Chaz Miller (cmiller@envasns.org)
of the Environmental Industry Associations
foresees the coming of age of the "paperless office." In the 1970s,
the paperless office was touted as "the future." In the 1990s, the
paperless office is assumed to be a delusion. However, computers were slow
three decades ago and memory was limited. Today, with exponentially faster
computers and expanded memory capability, Miller thinks that society may be
slowly turning the corner on how office paper and computer resources are used. Miller
cites growing computer savvy as one impetus in this direction. More people are
editing documents on the screen instead of printing copies for review. The use
of e-mail has also contributed to the drop in paper usage. In Miller's office,
for instance, computers have changed the way newspaper stories about solid
waste and recycling are distributed to the public affairs staff. Clippings
from newspapers have been replaced by electronic "clippings" from
newspaper Web sites. The clips are stored in an electronic file and e-mailed
to the staff.
[Source: Waste Age's Recycling Times, December 14, 1998]
Softwoods and Hardwoods Run Counter to One Another as Markets Fluctuate - Several months ago, hardwoods were much in demand and prices were high. At that time softwood producers were in a bind as prices dropped. Now the situation has reversed. There are also some regional differences from national trends. "We don't have a big holdback on anything. It's the prices taking a dive," says a South Central hardwood producer. Yet a Northeastern hardwood producer reports that although inquiries are increasing, prices remain stable. Hardwood manufacturers in all regions concur that the price of red oak has dropped as a result of oversupply.
The Markets section of the December issue of Southern Lumberman indicates that softwood businesses are doing unexpectedly well, especially considering the time of year. Many softwood producers have recovered from the previous price decline caused by overproduction; the prices of some products are increasing or leveling off. According to one source, the demand for exports has increased as a result of Central America's disastrous bout with Hurricane Mitch. With more than half a million people left homeless by the hurricane, plywood is in high demand. A 30-day or more backlog of plywood shipments has also contributed to the price increase.
Unseasonably good logging weather in November and December
contributed to overproduction of lumber in all regions; one sawmill produced
60% more lumber compared to last year. Another factor linked to the oversupply
of lumber is dry kiln capacity expansion. Many hardwood producers contend that
the rash addition of kilns in sawmills and secondary wood manufacturing
companies across the country is a leading cause of overproduction and falling
prices for kiln-dried lumber.
[Source: Southern Lumberman, December 1998]
Paper Capacity Growth Slow - The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) has released its 39th annual paper capacity survey, which predicts that growth in pulp and paper capacity from 1999 to 2001 will be the slowest on record. The results of the survey (released December 8, 1998) show an average growth rate of 0.9% for this period, down from a reported capacity growth of 1.2% in 1998.
The use of recovered paper is predicted to grow at a 2.5% annual rate, compared to an annual growth rate of 1.3% for virgin paper. The recovered paper share of the industry's total fiber usage will increase from 36.5% in 1998 to 37.3% in 2001. Tissue paper capacity is likely to expand by 2.2% from 1999 to 2001 as a result of the increase in the capacity of machines that came on-line in 1998 and the probable start-up of five new machines.
The AF&PA reports that newsprint capacity will stay flat
over the next 3 years, while printing & writing paper capacity will grow
slightly, averaging an annual growth rate of 0.8%. For recovered paper grades,
old corrugated cardboard will likely account for 49% of the increase in total
recovered paper consumption, old newspapers for 22%, and mixed papers for 19%.
[Source: Waste Age's Recycling Times, December 14, 1998]
Cubes From Recycled Paper are being used as a packing
material. The cubes lock together to prevent a product from shifting or
breaking. Said to be more efficient than "peanuts" or bubble wrap,
the cubes can support any shape. They are biodegradable, compostable,
reusable, and burnable. For more information, call (888) 778-8420.
[Source: Resource Recovery Report, January 1999]
Production of Board Products From Construction &
Demolition Waste is well underway at Recovery 1, Inc., of Tacoma, WA.
Established in 1993, this company processed 60,000 tons of C&D waste in
1997, including 46,000 tons of wood, 9,400 tons of dirt, 2,200 tons of rock,
brick, and concrete, and over 1,200 tons of metal. About 980 tons of garbage,
less than 2% of the total, required landfill disposal. Fiber suitable for
paper and board production has been produced from pallets and stumps. Current
markets include green waste (hog fuel). For more information on work to
develop the technology required to produce board furnish from C&D waste,
call (800) 949-5852.
[Source: Resource Recovery Report, November 1998]
Canada's Recycling Rate for Packaging Waste Exceeds 50% -
For reducing packaging waste sent to landfills, Canada
had set a somewhat arbitrary goal of 50%. However, according to Alan Robinson,
president of the Packaging Association of Canada, a 52% reduction rate was
achieved "voluntarily, without regulation." He also states that
Canada went from being wasteful--throwing away more weight per capita than
any country--to economical by following two principles: (1) packaging is
loaned to businesses and (2) the mentality of cradle-to-grave has changed to
cradle-to-cradle, where the material is kept in the economic stream. Virtually
every piece of packaging used in Canada has been redesigned, although some
redesigns haven't worked. For example, cans with thin walls were found to dent
more easily than other cans, though they used less material.
[Source: Waste Age's Recycling Times, December 14, 1998]
1998 Tumultuous Year for Paper Recycling - Paper recovery rates in 1998
were anticipated to be above
those of 1997 and to reach an all-time high. However, market prices for many
recovered paper grades were at their lowest point in years. In particular, old
corrugated cardboard (OCC) felt the brunt of the flailing marketplace for
recovered paper. By late October, some recyclers had contemplated landfilling
OCC. "It's only a matter of time," said one processor in the
Northeast. While landfilling of recovered paper remained just a threat, the
steadily disintegrating OCC market continued through the end of the year. At
the end of December, national average OCC prices for end users were at a
dismal $33/ton. For old newspaper (ONP), however, prices had increased by the
end of 1998. "It's been an interesting year for ONP," said Bill
Moore, president of the Atlanta-based paper consulting firm Moore &
Associates. "It started out softer than it's ending." While economic
turmoil overseas kept away buyers of OCC and other paper grades, few Asian
countries shied away from importing No. 8 newsprint. By September, shipments
to Korea were on the rise.
[Source: Waste Age's Recycling Times, January 1999]
The Building With Trees National Conference, sponsored by The National Arbor Day Foundation in cooperation with the National Association of Home Builders and the American Planning Association, will be held March 29-31 at the Lied Conference Center, in Nebraska City. Randall G. Arendt, author of leading books on design and conservation planning techniques, will be the keynote speaker. The conference will feature other distinguished presenters as well, including builders and developers who have won national recognition for their efforts to save trees during construction. For more information on the conference or to receive a free booklet on the Building With Trees Recognition Program, contact John Rosenow or Gary Brienzo at (402) 474-5655.
USDA Action to Protect U.S. Forests From Asian Longhorned Beetles - As of December 1998, all solid wood packing materials, including pallets, crates, and dunnage, imported into the United States from China must be either heat-treated, fumigated, or treated with preservatives before it leaves China. This USDA mandate will also require that shipments be accompanied by a certificate signed by a Chinese government official verifying that the material was treated by one of these methods. According to the USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS), infestations have been found in a "significant amount" of packing in Chinese imports.
The adult females lay their eggs in the bark and the larvae
bore large galleries deep into the wood. As the beetles bore out of the tree,
they leave behind tunnels 3/8 inch (9.5 mm) in diameter or larger. These
tunnels disrupt the vascular function of the tree, which eventually weaken and
kill the tree. Since the Asian longhorned beetle has no known predator in the
United States, the only effective method of killing it is to cut down and burn
the infested tree. Potential losses to the U.S. economy as a result of
infestation by this beetle and other Chinese wood-boring insects have been
estimated at $138 billion. According to the National Wooden Pallet &
Container Association (NWPCA), treating solid wood pallets and crates to
comply with the new requirements is easy. NWPCA has posted a list of approved
heat treatment, fumigation, and preservative treatment methods for Chinese
solid wood packaging imports on their Web site.
[Sources: Southern Lumberman, January 1999; The Timber Producer, January 1999; and
The Northern Logger & Timber Processor, November 1998]
Steam Used to Clean Up Contaminated Sites - Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory has developed a new process to clean up contaminants. Hydrous pyrolysis/oxidation (HPO) has been used to clean up Southern California Edison's Visalia pole yard. For 80 years, the site was used for treating poles, initially with creosote and later with a combination of pentachlorophenol (PTP) and diesel fuel. The cleanup team claims that HPO technology will slash cleanup time from an estimated 120 to less than 5 years.
According to project leader Robin Newmark, "The process
speeds up the rapid mineralization of the contaminants and turns them into
water and carbon dioxide." High-pressure steam is injected through
parallel pipes to 100-ft (30-m) depths to heat the contaminants and
"herd" them toward extraction wells. The water is condensed on the
surface and creosote compounds are channeled into four 20,000-gal (76-L)
tanks. Newmark notes that Livermore has studied HPO treatment of other
contaminants and has yet to find a compound where it doesn't work.
[Source: Engineering News Record, January 25, 1999]
The OSB Industry--Beyond Commodity Conference, sponsored by the University of Minnesota, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, USDA Forest Service, and Forest Products Society, will be held May 5-6 in Arden Hills (St. Paul), MN. Oriented strandboard (OSB) has captured a major share of the panel market from traditional softwood plywood. However, what does the future hold for the OSB industry? Where will the resource come from? How will new technologies help OSB plants stay efficient and profitable while improving product quality? What about durability and performance issues for builders and other users? Manufacturers, distributors, and users of OSB who attend this conference will have an opportunity to discuss these and other issues. For further information or to register, contact Julie Polzer, Department of Wood and Paper Science, University of Minnesota, by phone (612) 624-3619, Fax (612) 625-6286, or e-mail.
5th International Conference on Woodfiber-Plastic Composites is scheduled for May 26-28 in Madison, WI. Emphasis will be on composites that incorporate virgin or recycled plastics and wood and nonwood natural fibers. An international slate of speakers, including researchers, manufacturers, suppliers, and recyclers, will discuss the processing and potential uses of these composites and the research and development activities required to fit the products into market niches. The conference will feature technical, panel, and poster presentations, discussions, and tabletop exhibits. For more information, contact the Forest Products Society by phone (608-231-1362, ext. 208), Fax (608-231-2152), or e-mail, or visit their Web site.
Composite Ties Claimed to Last Longer Than Wood -
North American Technologies has sold 1,200 TieTek
composite ties to the Union Pacific Railroad, which previously had purchased
3,300. Made from grocery bags, tire rubber, and "other waste
materials," these ties last 50% longer and have a "higher
consistence" than wood ties. The firm will begin commercial production in
Houston in early 1999. For more information, call (713) 662-2699.
[Source: Resource Recovery Report, January 1999]
Forests Provide Emergency Food Reserves in Asia - According to Patrick Durst, forestry officer of the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for Asia and the Pacific, forest plants are considered as "emergency foods" in most Asian countries when crops planted by farmers fail. In India, Malaysia, and Thailand, about 150 wild plants have been identified as sources of emergency food. Among the food crops that come from forests are bananas, cacao beans, mangoes, papaya, guava, and avocados. Indirectly, forests contribute to food security by conserving soil, protecting watersheds, regulating water flows, fixing nitrogen, rehabilitating wastelands and degraded lands, and providing natural pesticides. Trees and shrubs also contribute to food production by providing fodder for livestock. As much as 50% of all animal fodder for livestock in Nepal and parts of India comes from trees.
Forestry in Asia generates income and employment, thus
enabling people to buy food. Despite the critical importance of forests in
contributing to food security, the region's forests are being destroyed at an
unparalleled pace. In their recently completed Forest Resources Assessment
Project, FAO estimated that deforestation in tropical Asia and the Pacific now
exceeds 9.6 million acres (3.9 million hectares) each year. Countries losing
the largest areas of forest include Indonesia, Thailand, Myanmar (Burma),
Malaysia, the Philippines, and India. The rate of deforestation is
particularly disturbing in Bangladesh, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippines,
and Thailand. Durst blames agricultural expansion in all forms as the leading
cause of deforestation in the region. "In Asia and the Pacific, the
clearing of forests for agriculture has been pushed to the limits," he said.
[Source: The Philippine Lumberman, January/February 1997. Note: Issue received by FPL Library 9/98]
Gugo (Entada phaseoloides),
a forest vine considered to be one of the primary raw materials used in the
manufacture of basketwork and Christmas decor, is widely distributed in
mainland Asia, tropical Australia, the Philippines, and the Pacific. It
thrives well on a wide range of soil types. Processing forest vines has
considerable potential to generate income, employment, and diversity export
platforms because of demand in international markets. However, the future
development of the vine industry depends on sustained supplies of the raw
material. Because of the saponin content in the bark, gugo is also used as
shampoo by Filipinos, particularly in the rural areas.
[Source: The Philippine Lumberman, March/April 1997. Note: Issue received by FPL Library 9/98]
Philippine Research Indicates Potential for Adhesives From
Native Trees - A research study at the Forest
Products Research and Development Institute in the Philippines showed that
indigenous tree species may be tapped for the manufacture of plywood glue.
These species include native ipil-ipil (Leucaena leucocephala) and
bakauan (Rizaphora mucronata Lam). Researchers Felisa D. Chan and
Adelina E. Manas found that tannins from the bark of these species can be used
as a substitute for phenol formaldehyde (PF) by as much as 80% to 90% in
PF-based glues for plywood. The glues from the trees passed the glue bond
quality test required for waterproof, exterior-use plywood. The experimental
adhesives did not differ much from commercial plywood glue--they
required the same pressing time, pressing temperature, and assembly time.
[Source: The Philippine Lumberman, July/August 1997. Note: Issue received by FPL Library 10/98]
Protecting Wood is the topic for the Forest Products Society's Midwest Section Spring Meeting to be held April 19 at the Forest Products Laboratory in Madison, WI. Experts in wood anatomy, fungi, preservation, properties/uses/hazards, and finishing will discuss such topics as the relationship of wood structure to decay, mechanisms and causes of fungal attack on wood, preservative treatment options, new use-category standards for treated wood, and the pros and cons of various finishes. For more information, contact Mark Knaebe at the Forest Products Laboratory by phone (608) 231-9422, Fax (608) 231-9262, or e-mail.
National Hardwood Lumber Association Training - The following training will be held at NHLA headquarters in Memphis, TN. For more information on each course, contact Mary Bartee at (800) 933-0318.
The Department of Wood Science and Forest Products at Virginia Tech has announced the following workshops to be held in Roanoke, VA. Additional information or registration material is available from Fred Lamb at (540) 231-7256 or Fax (540) 231-8868.
Reducing costs while improving quality and yield are major objectives in operating today's rough mills. The high cost of lumber makes efficient conversion and processing essential. The workshop is aimed at managers, supervisors, engineers, and quality control personnel in the furniture, cabinet, and related industries. Topics include lumber yield and quality issues, yield and efficiency factors, rough mill configurations, improvement of rough mills, analysis of rough mill operations, current and future scanners and vision systems, and future rough mills.
Designed for supervisors and lumber drying personnel, this course will cover practical techniques and procedures for operating and controlling various types of systems used to dry lumber before it enters the dry kiln. Topics include the pros and cons of predryers, drying sheds, and air-drying yards; appropriate selection of a predryer, drying shed, or air-drying yard; practical techniques for effective operation of predryers and drying sheds; layout and effective operation of air-drying yards; controlling degrade and improving drying quality prior to the kiln; procedures for green lumber receiving areas; and stacking and stickering.
Drying pine for furniture, cabinet, millwork, and other manufacturing applications is different from drying it for structural lumber. Special skills and procedures are necessary to avoid defects such as stain, warp, wet pockets, knot fallout, and hairline cracks. Topics oriented toward lumber drying personnel, quality control personnel, and supervisors include color control (blue stain and brown stains); causes and cures of drying defects; operational procedures and kiln schedules for quality drying; compression wood, juvenile wood, warp, stress, and moisture control issues; and practical procedures and techniques for handling green and dry lumber.
The importance of quality lumber drying is increasing as wood quality decreases and the market demands brightly colored material free from drying defects. The workshop is aimed at experienced drying personnel and supervisors, and topics include schedule modifications; properties of today's hardwoods that affect drying and processing; techniques for controlling stain, warp, moisture content variation, casehardening and longitudinal stress, and energy use; drying of mixed loads; and drying for quality. Air-drying yards, drying sheds, predryers, steam dry kilns, and dehumidification dryers will be included in the discussions.
InterSaw '99 - The International Sawmilling Expo, will be held May 7 and 8 as part of Wood Week, an exciting new industry event brought toether by the Quebec Lumber Manufacturers' Association, Canadian Wood Products, and Feric & Forintek Canada Corp. Sawmill professionals and technology specialists from across North America will discuss current and upcoming trends in solid wood products manufacturing. For more information, contact Master Promotions Ltd., New Brunswick, Canada, by telephone (506) 658-0018, Fax (506) 658-0750, or e-mail (show@nbnet.nb.ca).
Contents
Forest Products Laboratory |
Forest Service |
USDA
Please send any questions or comments to
TMU/fpl@fs.fed.us.
Contact-Name: Adele Olstad
Contact-Phone: 608/231-9329
Document-Date: 1999 March 8
Abstract: February 1999 Issue of FPC&R; Review