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. The use of trade or firm names in this issue is for reader information and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Department of Agriculture of any product or service.
USDA Forest Service
Look for items in these categories:
Dale Bosworth Selected as New Forest Service Chief--Effective April 22, Dale N. Bosworth became the 15th Chief of the USDA Forest Service. Bosworth succeeds Mike Dombeck, who retired from Federal service on March 31. "Dale Bosworth is a veteran forester who has devoted his career to the Forest Service," said Agriculture Secretary Ann M. Veneman during her announcement of the selection. "His background and experience will make him a great addition to our team." Bosworth was formerly the Regional Forester for the Forest Service's Northern Region, which includes northern Idaho, Montana, North Dakota, and northwestern South Dakota.
Jerry Winandy Named FPL Project Leader--On April 9, Ted Wegner, Assistant Director of the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL), USDA Forest Service, announced the appointment of Jerry Winandy as Project Leader (vice John Youngquist) for the Performance Designed Composites Research Work Unit. Jerry has been in FPL's Engineered Properties of Wood Research Work Unit. He is a research forest products technologist whose research is in the area of chemical processing and its effects on the structural performance of wood and wood composites. He is also an adjunct professor in the Department of Wood and Paper Science at the University of Minnesota.
Address Changes--Within the past few months, several issues of the FPC&R; Review have been returned because U.S. Postal addresses have changed and the time allowed for forwarding mail has expired. In an effort to reduce mailing costs, please let us know if your mailing address has changed. If you would prefer to receive an electronic copy of the Review instead of a hard copy, e-mail Adele Olstad at aolstad@fs.fed.us.
The 55th Annual Meeting of the Forest Products Society (FPS) will be held June 24-27 in Baltimore, MD. Sessions will cover (1) technological advances in assessing wood quality; (2) current international research in wood moisture relation; (3) field investigative techniques for wood science; (4) woody residue and waste for bioproducts;(5) wood-plastic composites for marine structures; (6) long-term outlook for U.S. timber and forest products supply and demand-findings and implications from the USDA Forest Service 2000 RPA Timber Assessment;(7) marketing and communication technology research and issues impacting the forest products community; (8) quality control and quality machining in the future industry; (9) from forest to consumer: the hardwood resource; (10) hybrid adhesive systems; (11) field modifications of engineered wood systems; (12) current research in wood-based panels; (13) increasing softwood lumber recovery; (14) increasing use of information in optimizing forest operations; (15) protection against biodegradation/weathering of wood; and (16) wood engineering/mechanics education in forest products curriculum. For further information and registration materials, visit their conference website (www.forestprod.org/conf.html) or contact the FPS Conferences & Meeting Department by phone (608-231-1361, ext. 208), fax (608-231-2152) or e-mail (conferences@forestprod.org).
The Annual Meeting of the Society of Wood Science and Technology (SWST) will be held June 24 in conjunction with the annual FPS meeting. The morning program focuses on forest products education for kids and teachers, followed by an awards presentation and a business meeting. The afternoon session, cosponsored by SWST and FPS, includes technical papers and poster presentations. SWST and FPS will host a reception in the evening. For more information, contact Vicki Herian at 608-231-9347, 608-231-9592 (fax), vicki@swst.org, or visit their website at www.swst.org.
The Minnesota Forest Resources Partnership Is Soliciting Applications for a 12-month (approximately 800 hours/year) position as a coordinator to provide staff services. The position requires a bachelor's degree in forest management or related forest resource field and 4 years of professional experience, excellent written and oral communication skills, organizational skills, and an understanding of forest policy in Minnesota. The coordinator will provide the required services as an independent contractor who is solely responsible for payment of any withholding taxes, workman's compensation and liability insurance, and other obligations. In addition, the coordinator must provide his/her own office space; computer, communication, and office equipment; and transportation.
The coordinator will serve as the chief facilitator for the Minnesota Forest Resources Partnership and the Advisory Committee. Responsibilities include scheduling, coordinating, and attending all meetings of the Partnership, Advisory Committee, and Task Groups, as well as attending all Minnesota Forest Resource Council (MFRC) meetings; disseminating information and materials from the MFRC and its committees to all Partnership members; facilitating clear and effective communication between the Partnership and the Council as well as others having an interest in forest management in Minnesota; preparing news releases, reports (including an annual report at the end of each calendar year), papers, and correspondence; and providing staff support at educational programs, public meetings, demonstrations, workshops, etc.
If interested in this position, respond in writing no later than May 31 to Jack Rajala, Chair, Minnesota Forest Resources Partnership, P.O. Box 578, Deer River, MN 56636.
Nominees Sought for National Urban and Community Forestry Advisory Council (NUCFAC)--The Forest Service is requesting nominations for four positions on the Advisory Council, which supports education, projects, and groups related to urban and community forestry and seeks to establish sustainable urban forests for all communities. The positions are (1) a representatives from a national nonprofit forestry and conservation citizen organization; (2) a representative of State government; (3) a representative of county government; (4) a representative of urban forestry, landscape, and design consultants; and (5) a representative of a professional renewable natural resource or arboricultural society. These NUCFAC positions will serve from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2004. Nominations must be submitted by July 2. For information, contact Suzanne del Villar at 209-536-9201 or delvr@lodelink.com.
[Source: Cooperative Forestry Weekly Information Summary, April 30, 2001]
Correction--In the last issue of the Review, the article "Projections for U.S. Timber and Forest Products Markets to 2050" contained an incorrect website address. To view the draft copy of the 2000 RPA Timber Assessment and various presentations related to the Assessment, go to www.fs.fed.us/pnw/ser/rpa.
The Wood Promotion Network (WPN), a coalition of companies in the wood and wood products industry, has been formed to aggressively promote the use of wood products in North America. WPN is dedicated to educating builders, retailers, and consumers that wood is a superior building product that comes from a renewable, recyclable resource. Although wood commands 90% of the home construction market, plastics, steel, and aluminum have made inroads. Currently WPN members include more than 90 suppliers, retailers, wholesalers, transport companies, specifiers, unions, equipment manufactures, and association allies. For more information, contact The Wood Promotion Network, 676 North St. Clair - 11th Floor, Chicago, IL 60611 (312-425-6088 or 604-891-1223); or visit their website at www.woodpromotion.net.
[Source: Vermont Forest Exchange & Information Bulletin, January 2001]
A New Design for Steel Framing that achieves high R-values using simple off-the-shelf materials has researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) excited. A wall framed with these materials is said to attain an R14.5 rating. This is almost identical to the R-value of a 2 by 6 wood-framed wall insulated with fiberglass. For test purposes, the same fiberglass batt was used in both steel- and wood-framed walls. The researchers are under orders not to divulge details of the design until a patent can be approved, which is probably 2 to 3 months away.
[Source: Energy Design Update, March 2001]
California Power Shortage Could Bring New Marketing Strategies for Electricity--When biomass-to-energy plants were built in California and other states about 20 years ago, they were planned under the Public Utilities Regulatory Policies Act (PURPA) of 1978. A clause in this law requires facilities that generate up to 80 MW of power per day to sign 20-year contracts with utilities in order to receive government funds to build the plants. However, now that the 20-year contracts are running out, some biomass-to-energy plants are considering sales on the open market. One such plant is located outside of Modesto, CA. This 22-MW plant (owned by Ogden Martin Systems, Fairfield, NJ) processes 800 tons of garbage from Stanislaus County and the city of Modesto. Currently, 8 years remain on Ogden Martin's contract with Pacific Gas and Electric (PG&E;), a subsidiary of San Francisco-based PG&E; Corp. But because many utilities in California are unable to pay their bills, the Stanislaus County board of supervisors has authorized Ogden Martin to amend the PG&E; contract if the utility cannot pay.
Only one waste-to-energy plant (in Maine) is currently selling its energy through a power marketer rather than a utility. This is because Maine deregulated its energy market several years ago, and when the industry becomes deregulated, a plant is not required to sign a long-term contract.
[Source: Waste Age, March 2001]
The International Forest Products Markets Conference and the Asian Housing Exports Conference will be held back to back this year (September 24-26 in Seattle) in response to requests from past conference attendees. Themes include financial trends and timber values; economic outlook for Asian markets; overview of log, lumber, panel, and chip markets; forest certification (from regulations to retail markets); opportunities and obstacles in China and other emerging markets; and regulatory reform and economics in Japan, China, and Korea. For registration materials and additional information, contact the College of Forest Resources Continuing Education Office of the University of Washington at 206-543-0867 or visit their website at www.cfr.washington.edu/outreach/ifpm/Intro.htm.
Wood Marketing Seminar--The North American Wholesale Lumber Association (NAWLA) will hold its 2001 seminar July 21-26 in Moscow, ID. Topics to be covered during this week-long training include lumber grading, claims and collections, transportation and handling, marketing, the wholesale function, and wood technology. Along with classroom instruction, field trips are planned to a University of Idaho forest and a local sawmill. For more information, contact Dan Vincent, NAWLA Director of Education, at 800-527-8258 or dvincent@lumber.org.
ForestExpress (www.forestexpress.com/) Is An E-Commerce Marketplace for buying and selling forest products. It is an independent, neutral provider operating in four markets: timber, recycling, building materials, and paper. For more information, visit their website or call Ann Webb at 770-642-5044.
Canadian Lumber Export Industry Undergoing Change--Canada is still the largest exporter of wood to the United States, but other countries are making inroads. The volume of non-Canadian softwood lumber imports into the United States jumped from 389 million board feet in 1995 to 912 million board feet in 1999. Various regulatory changes in international markets have had a dramatic effect on the competitiveness of the Canadian softwood lumber industry, but the Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) is especially significant.
The long running disagreement between the United States and Canada regarding alleged stumpage subsidies in Canada resulted in this Canada-U.S. Softwood Lumber Agreement (SLA) in 1996. It came on the heels of a ban imposed by the European Union (EU) on imports of green softwood lumber in 1993, apparently to prevent the introduction of the pinewood nematode into Europe. Also, increasing substitution of kiln-dried lumber for green lumber in Japan (partly in response to the Housing Quality Assurance Law), in conjunction with the economic recession and reduced housing starts, has significantly reduced Canadian softwood lumber exports to Japan. The cumulative effect has been to reduce the competitiveness of Canadian softwood lumber manufacturers. The Canadian softwood lumber industry has traditionally been export oriented and, given the large production capacity of the Canadian softwood lumber industry and the relatively small size of the domestic market, the Canadian softwood lumber industry is particularly sensitive to regulatory changes that impact their international competitiveness.
The EU regulation bans unseasoned softwood lumber imports (with the exception of western redcedar) from the United States, Canada, China, and Japan. Many industry observers in North America have said that the EU ban on imports of unseasoned lumber is a nontariff barrier designed to reduce competition for European softwood lumber producers. Although the plan may have merit, it also has had a devastating impact on Canadian softwood lumber exports to Europe. From 1990 to 1999, Canadian exports to the EU plummeted 87.6%. Continued strong growth in Japan and the United States would have allowed Canadian lumber manufacturers to recover from the losses in Europe. However, structural and regulatory changes that later adversely affected the competitiveness of the Canadian softwood lumber industry were already underway in the United States and Japan.
Since April 1, 1996, softwood lumber exports from Canada to the United States have been subject to a voluntary export restriction as specified in the SLA. The voluntary export restrictions are only imposed on softwood lumber exports from the provinces of Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia, and Alberta-other Canadian provinces are exempt. The SLA allows softwood lumber exports up to 14.7 billion board feet (defined as the "base volume") into the United States duty free. Exports exceeding the base volume are subject to an export tariff imposed by the Canadian government according to the following schedule: the first 650 million board feet of softwood lumber is taxed at a rate of $50 per thousand board feet; exports exceeding 15.35 billion board feet are taxed at a rate of $100 per thousand board feet. For exports from British Columbia in the fourth and fifth year of the SLA, the upper fee base is limited to 110 million board feet, and a higher export tax is imposed on exports exceeding this volume.
Many Canadian softwood lumber manufacturers have modified the mix of lumber grades that they export to the United States in an effort to increase the unit value of their softwood lumber exports. In addition, there have been some suggestions that, as a result of the SLA, the provincial and federal governments in Canada have promoted programs to develop the secondary wood products industries in Canada. For example, U.S. wood roof truss manufacturers in the Pacific Northwest have noted that exports of roof trusses from Canada have increased. Since the SLA was signed in 1996, Canadian roof truss exports into the United States have increased from almost $20 million in 1996 to more than $71 million in 1999, while exports of wood doors and frames have increased from just over $80 million to approximately $153 million during the same time.
Since 1997, the economic recession in Japan has had a devastating impact on the Japanese housing industry. Thousands of building contractors have gone out of business and housing starts have declined from 1.67 million units in 1996 to just 1.21 million units in 1999, with the outlook for 2000 being less than 1.2 million units. Not surprisingly, the decline in housing starts has had an adverse effect on Canadian softwood lumber exports to Japan, with exports declining from 6.1 million m³ (215.4 million ft³) in 1996 to 4.6 million m³ (162.4 million ft³) in 1999. More importantly, while the decline in softwood lumber exports to Japan between 1996 and 1999 was 24.9%, the decrease in the value of softwood lumber exports over the same period totaled a staggering 40.1%.
Although reduced demand for Canadian softwood lumber can be partly attributed to the economic recession in Japan, a more significant factor has been a structural change within the residential construction industry-builders and precut housing manufacturers shifted to kiln-dried lumber. Softwood lumber manufacturers in Europe (particularly Finland, Sweden, and Austria) capitalized on this changing market preference and increased their exports of kiln-dried lumber from less than 5,000 m³ (176,573 ft³) in 1993 to more than 2 million m³ (70.6 million ft³) in 1999. Since 1989, the U.S. share of the Japanese softwood lumber market declined from 48.3% to 10.7%, while the European and Canadian market shares increased (from 0% to 16.4% and 50.9% to 59%, respectively).
Editor's Note: An overview of the effects of the Canada-U.S. Softwood Lumber Agreement is available on CINTRAFOR's website (www.cintrafor.org).
[Source: CINTRAFOR News, Winter 2000]
Bonds for Recycling Operations Under Closer Scrutiny--Many paper recycling manufacturers' expansions during the past 10 years were financed through tax-exempt municipal solid-waste bonds. This attractive financing mechanism was used for constructing new recycle paper mills as well as expansions and conversion at many existing facilities to recycle fiber capabilities.
Economically beneficial, this recycle-friendly tax policy was significant in the growth of recycled paper demand. However, during the past 2 years, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has been having second thoughts about what qualifies as a recycling facility as it applies to its eligibility to use "solid-waste bonds." Currently, more than 40 operations are under investigation by the IRS. According to a manager from the IRS' Tax-Exempt Bond Field Operation, at least a dozen or so of these facilities are "problematic" and may be denied their tax-exempt status, which significantly could hurt an operator's economic health.
Industry is seeking to continue broader availability of tax-free bond financing. Groups such as the National Recycling Coalition (NRC) in Alexandria, VA, and the American Forest and Paper Association (AFPA) in Washington, DC, are working together to gain favorable treatment.
[Source: Waste Age, March 2001]
Skyrocketing Fossil Fuel Prices Boost Wood Fuel Use--With parts of the United States subjected to as much as an 80% increase in the cost of natural gas and heating oil increasing to as much as $1.90/gal, there is optimism for increased sales of wood-burning appliances and wood and wood-pellet fuel. The boost in prices of all fuels competitive to wood in the winter of 2000-2001 was far different than in the 1970s when consumer demand was propelled by one fuel only-oil. Now, even with electricity, some prices are threatening to triple, and in California there are interruptions to supplies.
[Source: Hearth & Home, March 2001]
A Biofilter Material Made From Composted Wood Chips, horse manure, sawdust, straw, and cornstalks is controlling odor from exhaust fans at a college swine farrowing facility. After passing through the biofilter, developers claim that the output smells similar to soil after a rain. For more information, contact Terry Steinhart, Keokuk County Extension at 515-622-2680 (tsteinha@iastate.edu).
[Source: Resource Recovery Report, March 2001]
Thermo Fibertek Is a New Entity in the Paper Recycling Field. Having spun off from its parent company, Thermo Electron, Thermo Fibertek will raise additional capital to pursue acquisitions and strategic alliances in the domestic and international papermaking and paper recycling industries, including deinking systems, stock preparation equipment, and water management systems. Its Thermo Fibergen subsidiary develops and commercializes composite building materials produced from natural fiber and recycled plastic. For more information, contact William Rainville at 617-622-1139.
[Source: Resource Recovery Report, April 2001]
Yard Waste is Gaining Importance as Mulch and Declining as a Municipal Solid Waste (MSW). Yard waste includes grass, leaves, and tree and brush trimmings. Grass is the largest yard waste component by weight, and leaves are the largest component by volume. Yard waste is also the largest single component of generated MSW by weight, but it is a relatively small component of landfilled MSW by volume. In the last four decades, the MSW market share of yard waste in both generation and disposal has declined dramatically because of dramatic increases in backyard compost piles, grass cycling (leaving the grass on the lawn), and commercial composting operations. Local yard waste generation varies dramatically based on climate, yard size, and the percentage of the population in single-family housing. According to National estimates, brush is 25% of yard trimmings; grass is 50%, and leaves are 25%.
Yard waste compost or mulch is not a fertilizer. It is a useful soil conditioner that improves texture, air circulation, and drainage. Compost can moderate soil temperature, enhance nutrient and water-holding capacity, decrease erosion, inhibit weed growth, and suppress some plant pathogens. Compost can be substituted for topsoil and mulches in parks, school grounds, and highway verges. It can also be used as a daily cover for landfills.
[Source: Waste Age, April 2001]
Large MSW-to-Ethanol Plant Gains Environmental Support--Masada OxynolTM of Birmingham, AL is teaming up with a subsidiary of British-Norwegian giant Kvaerner to provide engineering, procurement, and construction services for a $100 million waste-to-ethanol conversion facility in Middletown, NY. The project will accept waste from the Orange County, NY, area and has long-term waste disposal commitments from 24 municipalities. It has gained support from Orange Environment, a local environmental watchdog group, and other environmental organizations. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation have issued environmental air and solid-waste permits after an exceptionally thorough review process. The Hartford Steam Boiler Inspection and Insurance Co. has issued a Systems Performance Insurance binder that will ensure the technical performance of the facility.
The Masada OxynolTM process couples a material recovery system with biomass conversion. It recycles or reuses 90% of incoming waste. In addition to removing traditional recyclables, the facility will generate approximately 9.5 million gallons (40 liters) of ethanol per year. For more information, call 205-558-7900.
[Source: Resource Recovery Report, March 2001]
Wood-Based Power-Generating Plants Affected by Logging Moratorium--California's 30 biomass-fueled power plants are facing fuel shortages as a result of a 90-day logging moratorium that began December 11, 2000. These plants burn approximately 5 million tons of wood per year of which 60% comes from forest-related materials such as bark and sawdust. One of northern California's largest biomass facilities, the Redding-based Honey Lake plant, was forced to shut down in January because of the moratorium. The moratorium was put in place in response to a lawsuit filed by the California-based John Muir Project. The lawsuit charged that logging practices destroyed Spotted Owl and Pacific Fisher habitats.
[Source: Waste Age, March 2001]
Engineered Wood Products House Featured at Builders Show--At the 57th International Builders Show held in February in Atlanta, GA, the Boise Cascade Corp. framed a full-sized house inside the exhibit hall using nothing but engineered wood products. Although there was nothing new in the individual elements (e.g., Versa-Studs, Versa-Lam columns, Versa-Rim Plus, Super Step, etc.), it was the first time attendees ever saw a fully framed house built without a single piece of solid wood in it.
[Source: Energy Design Update, March 2001]
The 2nd International Conference on Advanced Engineered Wood Composites (AEWCs) will be held August 14-16 in Bethel, ME. The conference will provide a focused venue for presenting and discussing the commercial, scientific, and engineering aspects of AEWCs. These composites, which combine wood with fiber-reinforced polymers (FRPs), represent an important industrial segment with a unique set of issues. Papers and poster presentations are being solicited in the following areas: market-development case studies, durability, structural performance, processing, extruded composites, reinforced composites (both laminated and integral reinforcements), code implementation, alternative technologies, engineered wood composites, building systems, bridge systems, and automotive applications.
In addition, a workshop covering processing and design fundamentals of wood/FRP hybrid composites will be offered to assist interested parties in becoming more familiar with this expanding materials area.
For more information, contact Doreen Parent by phone (207-581-2123), fax (207-581-2074), or e-mail (contactaewc@umit.maine.edu), or visit the AEWC website at www.aewc.umaine.edu.
[Source: Crossings, Winter 2000]
Canola and Kenaf: Superb Selenium Slurpers--According to the USDA Agricultural Research Service (ARS), canola and kenaf do a good job of cleaning up soil and water contaminated with selenium. Besides helping to detoxify water and reclaim selenium-laden soil, canola enriched with moderate levels of selenium may also provide a safe, nutritious feed for livestock. Although selenium is an essential micronutrient for humans and other mammals, too much of it can be harmful. Using kenaf or canola for bioremediation (i.e., biological cleanup of soil or water) could improve underground water supplies destined for homes or the safety of water in ponds and lakes used by wildlife. Selenium-containing kenaf and canola plants also have value beyond environmental cleanup chores. Kenaf makes a bright, high-quality paper that resists yellowing and doesn't require toxic chemicals for converting the wood pulp into paper. Kenaf can also be processed into acoustic tile, cat litter, bedding for horses or other animals, composite board for construction, mats for erosion control and grass seeding, or pads for cleaning up chemical or oil spills. In addition to yielding a healthful vegetable oil, forage made from canola is a desirable feed for farm animals because it has about as much protein as alfalfa. In addition, canola plants first used to cleanse or detoxify high-selenium soil or drainage water might next be sold as a value-added feed for livestock in regions where soils don't provide enough of this nutrient. For more information, visit the ARS website at www.ars.usda.gov/is/AR/archive/jun00/kenaf0600.htm.
[Source: FLC Environmental E-Mail Newsletter, December 2000]
Utilizing Bamboo as Bioenergy or Fiber Crop--According to researchers at Oak Ridge National Laboratory and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, bamboo can be used more commonly as a plantation species in the future. Bamboo is the common term applied to a broad group (1,250 species) of large woody grasses, ranging from 10 cm (4 in.) to 40 m (131 ft) in height. Already in everyday use by about 2.5 billion people, mostly for fiber and food within Asia, bamboo may have additional potential for bioenergy. However, some reports of high productivity seem to be exaggerated. Literature on bamboo productivity is scarce, with most reports coming from various parts of Asia. There is little evidence overall that bamboo is significantly more productive than many other candidate bioenergy crops, but it shares a number of desirable fuel characteristics with certain other bioenergy feedstocks, such as low ash content and alkali index. Its heating value is lower than many woody biomass feedstocks but greater than most agricultural residues, grasses, and straws. Although nonfuel applications of bamboo biomass may actually be more profitable than energy recovery, there may also be potential for coproduction of bioenergy together with other bamboo processing. A significant drawback is the difficulty of selective breeding, given the lack of knowledge of bamboo reproduction. Additional research is required on propagation techniques, and large-scale trials are needed to develop recommendations for cost-effective establishment and stand management. Mechanized harvesting also needs to be developed for countries with high labor costs.
[Source: Biomass and Energy 19(2000): 229-244, 2000]
Call for Papers--SmallWood 2002: Community and Economic Development Opportunities in Small Tree Utilization, sponsored by the USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, and the Forest Products Society (FPS), will be held April 11-13, 2002 in Albuquerque, NM. Objectives of this conference are to provide state-of-the-art information on small tree utilization and to foster peer-to-peer learning. The conference will include an international slate of speakers, including researchers, material and equipment suppliers, manufacturers, and end users. Technical and poster presentations, discussions, tabletop exhibits, and working equipment demonstrations will cover topics such as harvesting systems, processing, markets for products, and supply and availability of small wood material. A day of tours of local processors (millwork, roundwood, preservative treatment, post and pole, small woodworking, and pellet plants) in the Albuquerque area, followed by live demonstrations of harvesting the processing equipment for small trees is planned.
If interested in presenting a formal paper or poster session, arranging for tabletop exhibit or equipment demonstration space, or getting more information, contact FPS by phone (608-231-1361, ext. 208), fax (608-231-2152), or e-mail (conferenes@forestprod.org). Information is also available on their conference website (www.forestprod.org/confsmallwood02.html).
The 15th International Wood Machining Seminar will be held July 30-August 1 in Los Angeles, CA. Recent advances in wood machining processes and cutting tools will be discussed. The seminar will feature technical and poster presentations and discussions on the cutting process; tool materials and tool wear; production of veneer and chips; advances in sawing technology (including frame and band saws and circular saws); planing, molding, routing, and sanding; machining with laser and high-energy water jets, machine guarding and worker safety and control of noise and dust. Contact the Wood Machining Institute for more information. Phone (925) 943-5240; fax: (925) 945-0947; e-mail: szymani@woodmachining.com.
The seminar is being held in conjunction with the AWFS (Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers) Woodworking Machinery and Furniture Supply Fair, August 2-5. For more information on the Fair, visit the conference website (www.woodworkingfair.org).
Software for Furniture Rough Mills--Phil Steele, a professor at Mississippi State University, has designed software to facilitate lumber cut-up for furniture manufacture. Named RIP-Xcut (RIP-X for short), the software assists in maximizing yields by providing an analysis of production. The software simulates both the crosscut-first and rip-first systems currently used in rough mills. The crosscut-first versus rip-first yield and cost comparison has been identified by the furniture industry as one of its most important production decisions.
Steele said the RIP-X program provides digital simulations for 1,500 to 2,000 board feet of lumber in each of six grades. In addition to analyzing part yields and costs, it determines the best lumber grade mix. He also mentioned that a powerful feature of the system is its ability to characterize parts quality exactly by describing the specific defects and their sizes allowed in the parts.
The software is available free of charge to lumber mills and furniture manufacturers. It can be ordered online at www.cfr.msstate.edu/fwrc/products/software/ripx.html. For more information, contact Phil Steele at 662-325-8083 or psteele@cfr.msstate.edu.
Expo 2001, sponsored by the Southern Forest Products Association and touted as the most extensive display of forest products machinery and equipment in North America, will be held July 19-21 at Atlanta's Georgia World Congress Center. This biennial event is restricted to qualified industry representatives involved in the full range of forest products activities: lumber, plywood, panel, pallet, and related manufacturing; treating; secondary processing; logging; harvesting; and other silvicultural operations. Visit the conference website for more information (www.sfpa.org/Expo/Expo5.htm) or contact Lionel Landry, EXPO director, at 504-443-4464 (llandry@sfpa.org).
Virginia Tech Announces Two Short Courses to be Held in Roanoke. For additional information, contact Fred Lamb by phone (540-231-8256), fax (540-231-8868), or e-mail (FML195@vt.edu).
Contents
Please send any questions or comments to
aolstad@fs.fed.us.
Contact-Name: Adele Olstad
Contact-Phone: 608/231-9329
Document-Date: 2001 May 10
Abstract: April 2001 Issue of FPC&R; Review