State & Private Forestry
Forest Products Laboratory
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.
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Dave Schumann, former technology transfer coordinator with the FPC&R; Technology
Marketing Unit, has been elected to SAF Fellow. Dave became a member of the
Society of American Foresters (SAF) in 1959 and has served SAF in a variety of
capacities. He has received numerous awards and recognitions through his career
and has made many contributions to the profession through his affiliations with
other professional associations. Congratulations, Dave.
[Source: WISAF Newsletter 16(1), Winter 1997/1998]
Forest Products Technical Specialist Position - Based in Sitka, AK, this position
carries statewide responsibilities. The main task is to provide technical
assistance for customer-based projects focused on strengthening firms in the
forest products industry. Requirements include business experience related to
forest products value-added processing; an undergraduate degree in wood science
or forest products technology or 7 years of technical experience; and knowledge
of forest products modern manufacturing concepts, processes, markets, and
business systems. The salary ranges from $55,000 to $62,000, with additional
bonus potential. Closing date is April 17. For additional information and a
full position description, contact Kirk Flanders at the Juneau Economic
Development Council, 612 W. Willoughby, Suite A, Juneau, AK 99801. Tel: (907) 463-3662.
[Source: Chad Converse, USDA Forest Service, S&PF;, Alaska Region]
An International Workshop on Community-Based Natural Resource Management will be held May 10-14, 1998, in Washington, DC. Organized by the Economic Development Institute of the World Bank in conjunction with the International Development Research Centre (Canada), this workshop is the second in an annual series of workshops on institutional reform for sustainable rural development. It is intended for policymakers, practitioners, and communicators who are involved with some aspect of community-based natural resource management in developing and transition economies. It will focus on institutional innovations that enhance the community-based management of renewable natural resources and that help to alleviate poverty.
For more information, contact Bob Clausi, Forest Congress Information Center, 205 Prospect St., New Haven, CT 06511. Tel: (203) 432-5117
Advantages of Plastic Piers Claimed - Researchers from Queens and Manhattan Colleges assessed the chemical environmental impact of a new pier in the East River in New York City, which was constructed from recycled postconsumer waste plastic consisting of polyethylene and polyethylene terephthalate. The researchers claim that the plastic is immune to marine-boring organisms, which damage conventional wood structures. According to the report, the amount of organic compounds and metal ions leached from the plastic is far less than that already present in the river. Many of the leached compounds seem to be characteristic of product residues in the plastic containers. The researchers contrast this to the significant amounts of arsenic, chromium, copper, manganese, and selenium leached from pressure-treated lumber.
Before the pier was constructed, a chemical baseline was obtained by assaying dissolved organic and inorganic species in East River water at the proposed site. Various compounds and heavy metals were found at the parts-per-billion (ppb) level. Leaching of organic and inorganic species from plastic was compared to leaching from wood treated with chromated copper arsenate (CCA) in simulated East River water. (Note that the wood samples were cut from pressure-treated pine from a lumber yard, which raises questions about whether the wood was representative of that used for piers.--Ed.) Leachate was taken from both the surfaces and interior of the wood, but from only the surfaces of the plastic.
In August 1996, the gazebo on the plastic pier was struck by lightning. The
lightning melted or vaporized about a third of the decking. According to the
New York City Fire Department, the entire pier would have burned if it had been
constructed of wood.
[Source: Resources, Conservation and Recycling 21: 199-211, 1997]
Articles Praising Use of Steel in Homes Raise Questions - Two articles in recent issues of a local newspaper in Madison, WI tout the use of steel in homes. The "House Made of Steel Catches Fire" (Jan. 15, 1998) relates how a fire in a post-World War II all-steel Lustron house resulted in damage and discoloration of some procelain-enamel steel panels but little, if any, damage to steel structural members in the walls and roof. In "Steel Framed Homes Offer Numerous Advantages" (Mar. 1, 1998), steel is extolled as better than wood in terms of safety, dimensional stability, cost, and even energy consumption. According to this article, about six scrap cars are required to build an average single-family home with steel framing compared to 40 acres of softwood trees required for wood framing.
These articles fail to take into account factors that mitigate the advantages of
using steel in house construction. The manufacture of steel through refining of
iron ore and the recycling of steel expend much more fossil fuel and cause much
greater buildup of carbon dioxide in the atmosphere than do the manufacture and
recycling of wood products. In addition, problems with thermal bridging and low
insulation value have been associated with steel framing. Finally, I find the
contention that 40 acres of wood is required to produce 10,000 board feet of
wood absurd.
[John Zerbe, Former Program Manager, Energy Research, Development, and
Application, USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory]
FPL Biopulping Research Advances Technology and Commercial Adaptation - The biopulping research team of the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL), supported by the Biopulping Consortium, performed another 50-ton (dry weight basis) outdoor chip pile trial in July 1997. Decontamination of wood chip surfaces, cooling, and fungal inoculation were performed sequentially in screw conveyors. The inoculated chips were then stored for 2 weeks under forced aeration to allow the fungus to grow and "soften" the chips. Refining of the fungus-treated chips in a thermomechanical pulp (TMP) mill at the Consolidated Paper Co. in Wisconsin Rapids, WI resulted in 30% savings in electrical energy. Paper made from these biofibers had improved strength. The paper required 5% less kraft pulp compared to paper made from control fibers and had comparable strength properties.
The costs of using biopulping in a 600 ton/day TMP mill were evaluated. Capital costs were estimated to be between $5 and $7 million. Savings of $10/ton of pulp may be realized with 30% savings in electrical energy. This is equivalent to an annual savings of $2 million, which, compared to estimated capital costs, results in a payback period of 2 to 3 years. Mills that are refiner-limited may experience throughput increases of more than 30% from the reduction in energy by refining at a constant total power load. A 20% increase in throughput would result in savings of $55/ton pulp or $12 million annually, and the payback period would be approximately 6 months. If 5% kraft pulp were substituted by biomechanical pulp, an additional savings of more than $13/ton pulp might be realized. Other advantages of biopulping, such as environmental benefits and pitch reduction, were not quantified in this analysis.
The Wisconsin Alumni Research Foundation, a partner in the Biopulping Consortium, has exclusively licensed the technology to Weaver Industries, Inc., a California-based company that has taken the lead in commercializing biopulping technology and supporting further research at FPL. Weaver is promoting this technology worldwide and has developed an extensive technology package that includes the patent licensing arrangements, fungal inoculum, the design and supply of appropriate equipment, and technical information. Further research includes fungal pretreatment of wood chips for kraft pulping and biopulping of wood wastes and nonwoody plants for papermaking and board manufacture.
The success of this consortium demonstrates how industry, university, and
government can work together to develop new technologies through high-risk
research. Agenda 2020--the paper industry's vision for the future--recommends
such partnerships for the future.
[Source: CHIPS, Official Newsletter of FPL Employees' Assoc.,
Madison, WI, Mar. 1998]
Laminated Veneer Lumber and Coating Lines Share Plant - Willamette Industries has opened two new plant operations under one roof to take advantage of an adjacent rail spur. The building houses the Custom Products panel finishing operation and a new veneer lumber plant dedicated to production of wood I-joist flanges.
In the Custom Products plant, ultraviolet (UV) coatings are applied to medium-density fiberboard (MDF) and particleboard. The UV coatings are 99% solids, with little organic material to produce emissions. The chemical bonding reaction is initiated through exposure to UV radiation supplied by high-voltage lamps filled with saturated gases. The new system produces a higher quality product compared to the company's previous solvent-based finishing line and virtually eliminates emissions.
The Custom Products plant consists of three production stages: a flat panel line, an edge finishing line, and a cut-to-length finishing line. A fourth element, a molding line to rip, machine, and prime coat moldings from MDF panels, was approved in 1997 for installation during the first quarter of 1998. Panels are grain-printed, cut to size, and machined as required into kitchen cabinet parts, principally drawer sides.
The laminated veneer lumber (LVL) plant was designed to produce flange stock for Willamette's wood I-joist plant. Raw material is dry CD veneer in full sheets that has been graded for density at the producing plant by the Metriguard ultrasonic process. The plant has a scarf line, a continuous layup and radio-frequency (RF) press line, and a saw line with a circular gang that rips the billets to flange dimensions. Since the scarf line can run at twice the speed as the layup line, it operates in two shifts. The layup/press line runs 24 hours/day, 7 days/week on four rotating 12-hour shifts. The scarf line is also used to grade veneer sheets for moisture content. Rather than redrying the sheets at the LVL plant, high-moisture-content sheets are extracted from the system and sold on the open market. Visual grading also takes place on the scarf line, which provides three reject bins. The layup and press line produces a continuous billet that is sawn to stock lengths of 48, 60, 70, and 72 ft (15, 18, 21, and 22 m). In addition, custom orders for commercial building applications run to specific lengths between 30 and 70 ft (9 and 21 m).
A database with product and process information (e.g., cycle time, heating data,
press load configuration, ambient plant temperature, and humidity) is maintained
on a press computer that is linked to a printing wheel that passes over all
billet stock, numbering each billet and flange and registering a code that can
be used to access production information. All material--from veneer through
finished products--is tagged with barcode labels for inventory control.
[Source: Wood Technology, Jan./Feb. 1998]
Slower Capacity Growth Forecast for Paper Industry - U.S. capacity growth for pulp, paper, and paperboard is expected to fall below historic norms over the next 3 years, according to the annual Capacity Survey of the American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA;). Growth in mill consumption of recovered paper is expected to moderate, but it will nevertheless expand almost 1% a year faster than wood pulp consumption. Capacity to produce paper and paperboard is expected to expand at an average annual rate of 1.2% from 1998 to 2000, less than half the 2.5% rate of the previous 10 years. In the same period, wood pulp capacity is slated to increase at an average annual rate of 0.4%.
To a great extent, wood pulp capacity has not kept pace with paper and
paperboard capacity because of rapid gains in the use of recovered paper fiber.
From 1988 through 1997, wood pulp capacity rose at an average annual rate of
1.3%, trailing paper and paperboard capacity growth by about one percentage
point. During the last 2 years, recovered paper consumption by U.S. mills grew
sharply--8.1% in 1996 and 7.2% in 1997. With the expected slowdown in capacity
growth, recovered paper consumption is estimated to expand at an average annual
rate of 2.1% in the next 3 years.
[Source: The Timber Producer, Jan. 1998]
Recycling of Materials From C&D; waste represents a rapidly growing area in solid waste management. The rising cost of disposal and the growing recognition of the recovery potential of construction and demolition (C&D;) waste have opened the door for recycling opportunities.
Although each C&D; recycling facility has unique characteristics, most have a few things in common. Mixed C&D; waste is tipped and targeted materials are removed. The materials include large items that may prove incompatible with processing equipment and materials that are easily removed and have good market value, such as large pieces of lumber with potential reuse value. Waste that primarily consists of one component may be routed to a specific tipping area.
Typical materials handled by a C&D; materials recovery facility (MRF) include recyclable concrete/rubble, wood, ferrous metal, and fines, and nonrecoverable debris, which is landfilled. Crushed concrete is used as construction aggregate and fill material. Wood is often sold as fuel for industrial boilers and may be used for landscaping material or engineered wood products. There is a well-established market for the recycling of scrap metal. Other materials, such as aluminum, copper, cardboard, and carpet padding, generally find reliable markets and are recovered in small amounts.
At a Florida C&D; MRF, records were kept of materials recovered over several
months. By mass, the materials consisted of fines (32%), ferrous metal (4%),
wood (10%), concrete (40%), and other (14%). If considered by volume, wood
would represent a much higher percentage because of its greater density.
[Source: Waste Age, Mar. 1998]
First Newsprint Deinking Mill Still a Leader - When Garden State Paper (GSP) opened its newsprint recycling facility in 1961 in Garfield, NJ, it was the first newsprint deinking mill in the United States. Today the giant facility processes about 300,000 tons of old newspapers per year. The recycled paper is sold to about 100 customers, mostly in the greater New York/New Jersey area, including most daily metropolitan and suburban newspapers. The costs are comparable to that of virgin paper.
One longstanding problem for deinking mills has been odor control, and Garden State has undertaken some measures to keep odors to a minimum. The facility has also been able to recover "fiber fuel," a paper-based fuel made from unusable paper that helps run the facility's 13-MW generator, which also burns oil and gas. The system generates about half the facility's power.
Because of the successes of GSP and other recyclers, almost 6 of 10 U.S.
newspapers are recycled. Producing paper from recycled paper is said to reduce
air and water pollution by 50%, and recycling 1 ton of paper is said to save
7,000 gallons of water and 4,100-kW hours of electricity.
[Source: Waste Age, Mar. 1998]
Low-Emissivity Plant - ChemRex, a Minnesota company that specializes in coatings, sealants, and adhesives, has introduced a low-emissivity interior latex paint called Radiance that the company says can cut heating and cooling costs significantly. In regard to application and finished appearance, Radiance is like any other high-end latex paint, says Ann Turner, ChemRex's marketing manager. "What sets Radiance apart," she explains, "is that it's infused with randomly oriented, highly reflective microscopic particles that enable it to act as both an emissive barrier and a radiant energy reflector, reducing the home's heating and cooling requirements." These particles reduce the paint's emissivity to 0.65, compared to 0.90 to 0.97 for ordinary latex paints. Radiance works on an operating principle similar to that for low-e glass. In the winter, low-e paint reflects radiant energy back into the room, enabling the homeowner to lower the thermostat a few degrees, thereby saving money. In the summer, Radiance would act as an emissive barrier, reducing the amount of radiant energy coming through the walls and roof (provided the ceiling is painted). As a result, the homeowner could raise the set point on the air conditioning system and save money here as well.
For more information, contact ChemRex, 889 Valley Park Dr., Shakopee, MN 55379. Tel: (612) 496-6000; Fax: (612) 496-6058; Web site: www.radiancecomfort.com.
Growth and Maturity of Engineered Wood Products - According to APA-The Engineered Wood Association, engineered wood products (EWPs) fall into four general groups: (1) structural wood panels, including plywood, oriented strand board (OSB), and composite panels; (2) glued laminated timber (glulam); (3) structural composite lumber (SCL), including laminated veneer lumber (LVL), parallel strand lumber (PSL), and oriented strand lumber; and (4) wood I-joists.
As with any viable industry, the history of EWPs has been characterized by finding and responding to specific needs. In the same way that plywood became a symbol of the push for reconstruction in the postwar years, OSB has come to represent the emergence of EWPs as a substitute for solid wood in residential construction. In fact, OSB is the most successful EWP to be introduced to builders, who have adapted it in many ways--from wall sheathing and flooring to a sturdy, low-cost panel that can be used in countless household projects.
The pattern of acceptance of OSB can be seen as typical of market growth of EWPs in general. The process has generally followed that of any new product. First, the new product is met with skepticism. Second, as the product is tested in the field, it succeeds or fails to establish strong reasons for using it rather than the traditional product. Laminated veneer lumber, I-joists, and glulam are still emerging and defining their identities in the marketplace. Their constant and steady growth of about 15% per year shows that the importance of these products is increasing in their respective markets.
The major markets for EWPs are residential and institutional construction, which consume about 85% of total EWP produced. So far, these products have not penetrated the commercial construction market, primarily because of the entrenched advantages of steel. However, the construction markets for residential and institutional construction and remodeling are growing as contractors become aware of EWP qualities.
The volume of EWP produced surpassed APA forecasts in the 5 years prior to 1997. In 1994, I-joists were used in 20% of wood floors and in 1996, 26%. Among panels, OSB has made huge strides in market expansion, and its share of the structural panel industry increased from 24.7% in 1990 to 40.9% in 1996.
A primary precept upon which research and development of EWPs has progressed is the belief that EWPs are environmentally sound and defensible because they use wood fiber efficiently. The loss of old-growth forests has forced industry in the West to develop techniques for using smaller logs. In the South, where fiber is plentiful but there are few large logs, the industry has been built on small-log technology in both lumber and panel products.
Although the technology can be developed to produce a given product, if the
price of this product is not competitive, no amount of persuasion will convince
buyers that it is a usable substitute. A case in point is the recent growth of
I-joists. As the price of I-joists has narrowed relative to that of solid wood
and as contractors have become familiar with their advantages and applications,
I-joists have assumed a growing market share. Some EWPs, like LVL, PSL, and
related products, are still waiting for their major break into the market.
[Source: Crow's Forest Industry Journal, Dec. 1997]
German Organizations Study Ecuadorean Tree for Food Production - Harvesting and marketing of fruit from inchi or Mani de Arbol (Cariodendron orinocense Karsten) hardwood for a food source is being investigated by three German research and foreign aid assistance organizations. The area under investigation is in the Sucumbios Province of Northern Ecuador. The 49.2- to 98.4-ft (15- to 30-m) tall inchi tree is relatively common in the region, with a distribution of one tree per 12.4 acres (5 hectares).
The inchi tree forms fruits in a 3-month ripening period. The fruits are kernels similar to nuts surrounded by a fleshy protein-rich pericarp. The nuts are used locally for food and vegetable oil. This study should provide an example of how special forest products from tropical rain forests may contribute to higher valuation of forests.
New Magazine on Portable Sawmilling - Independent Sawmill and Woodlot Management
is a new, full-color national magazine that aims to inform those interested in
small-scale wood processing. Each issue will include a review of a portable
sawmill and a firewood processor, as well as several technical columns on
different aspects of timber processing and woodlot management. The magazine is
published six times a year. Subscriptions are $18/year or $33 for 2 years.
Subscriptions outside the United States are $24 and $43, respectively. To
subscribe, call (888) 290-9469, or send a check or money order to Sawmill and
Woodlot, Subscription Services Dept., P.O. Box 3000, Denville, NJ 07834-9243.
[Source: Vermont Forest Exchange & Information Bulletin, Mar. 1998]
New Technology in Glue Bonding - The GREENWELD® process, new bonding technology from Greenweld Technologies Limited of New Zealand, has been introduced in the United States and Canada by Greenweld North America Co., a subsidiary of WTD Industries in Corvllis, OR. The patented process virtually eliminates the problem of handling moisture in fingerjoint bonding, according to Jeff Garver, vice president of Greenweld North America Co.
Research and development of the GREENWELD® process began in 1987 at the New Zealand Forest Research Institute, with a focus on the upgrading of low-value timber by recovering green trim ends. Operation trials of the GREENWELD® Process began in 1990, and in 1993 the first industrial plant was commissioned in New Zealand. Additional plants were started in New Zealand, Australia, and England prior to introduction in North America in 1997. Georgia-Pacific Resins worked in close partnership with WTD's Midway Engineered Wood Products facility in Corvallis towards certification of the process. It is the first plant of its kind to become certified by a grading agency in the United States. The Western Wood Products Association (WWPA) has certified Midway to use the GREENWELD® process for both vertical and horizontal applications.
Test results have shown that pieces with up to 180% moisture content can be glued successfully using the GREENWELD® process. In addition, the process can be used to bond pieces with dramatically different moisture contents. For example, pieces with 9% moisture content have been joined to those with up to 150% moisture content. Wet lumber glued by the GREENWELD® process can be used wet, air dried, or kiln dried. The process has also been successful in joining pieces of frozen lumber. Bonding can be accomplished in both hot and temperate climates, according to Jeff Parker, operations manager for Greenweld Technologies, Ltd.
The GREENWELD® process is effective for all medium-density softwood species, including Douglas-fir, hemlock, radiata pine, southern yellow pine, jack pine, ponderosa pine, balsam fir, grand fir, western redcedar, and black spruce. The process has also been shown to be effective for many hardwood species.
Information on the GREENWELD® process can be obtained from Jeff Garver at (541)
758-1023.
[Source: Crow's Forest Industry Journal, Dec. 1997]
Contents
Forest Products Laboratory |
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Please send any questions or comments to
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Contact-Name: Adele Olstad
Contact-Phone: 608/231-9329
Document-Date: 1998 April 27
Abstract: March 1998 Issue of FPC&R; Review