State & Private Forestry
Forest Products Laboratory
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Dan Parrent Moves to Alaska - In September, Dan Parrent left his U&M forester position with the NYS Department of Environmental Conservation to accept a position as forest products technical specialist with the Juneau Economic Development Council. (Eds. note: This position was announced in the March 1998 issue of the Review.) In his new position, Parrent will provide technical and marketing assistance to wood products manufacturers across the State of Alaska. Parrent writes, "I regret missing the NE U&M Council Meeting and the opportunity to say good-bye to so many friends and colleagues. Thanks to everyone for their willingness to share information and provide assistance. The Council and the network of U&M Specialists are unique tools in our field. Do whatever is necessary to keep them alive and dynamic. I would enjoy hearing from anyone, especially if they know of any hot markets for noncommodity softwood products." Parrent can be reached at 204 Siginaka Way, Sitka, AK 99835. Tel: (907) 7475688; Fax: (907) 7474334; e-mail: dparrent@ptialaska.net.
Shelby Jones Retires From Missouri Department of Conservation - Jones, Staff Supervisor in Rural Development for the Forestry Division, retired officially on September 1 after nearly 32 years of service. He had worked in the Forest Products Utilization and Marketing (FPU&M) Program since 1974 and had supervised the program since 1978. Plans for the future include start-up of a consulting firm and more fishing. Jones plans to remain active in both the Forest Products Society and the Society of American Foresters. He is a leading proponent of marketing nontimber forest products and working with forest landowners to develop income from this little known, but large, group of potential products. He is currently working with several Missouri resource conservation and development (RC&D) councils on projects that relate nontimber forest products with expanding rural economies. Jones hopes to keep in contact with his FPU&M acquaintances and extends an invitation to stop for a visit when traveling through Missouri. He can be reached at Forest Resource Advisory Service, LLC, 217 Binder Dr., Jefferson City, MO 65109. Tel: (573) 6354598; Fax: (573) 6350855; e-mail: poogy007@aol.com.
The Improving Forest Productivity for Timber: A Key to Sustainability
Conference will be held December 1 to 3 in Duluth, MN. This
conference will focus on forest management science, practice, and policy for
achieving productivity and sustainability. New research results,
state-of-the-art technologies, recent implementation in timber management, and
information on local to global implications will be presented. For more
information, send an e-mail to bcoffin@forestry.umn.edu or check the
conference Web site.
[Source: Wood E-Bulletin, October 25, 1998. Newsletter distributed by Bob Love,
Oregon State University, Corvallis]
Christmas Tree Pest Manual Available - The second edition of this
143-page manual is now available from Michigan State University. One of the
contributors to and editors of this manual is Steve Katovich, Insect Ecologist for the
USDA Forest Service, Northeastern Area State and
Private Forestry, in St. Paul, MN. Production of this book was made possible
through the use of Northeastern Area focus funds. To order a copy, call (517) 3550240.
[Source: Northeastern Area News Notes, October 13, 1998]
Plastic Lumber Manufacturer Introduces Steel Reinforcement - A Canadian company,
EcoTrust Technologies, Inc. of Edmonton, Alberta, has
developed a way to reinforce plastic lumber using roll-formed steel
reinforcement encapsulated in the plastic composite material. The company has
developed 2- by 4-inch (5.08- by 10.16-cm) and 2- by 6-inch (5.08- by
15.24-cm) modular structural components for decking, joists, beams, and posts,
and will market this product under the name EcoSteel. The components can be
cut on site and fastened by screws or clamps. This new product is aimed at
overcoming some of the difficulties in using plastic lumber, including
insufficient structural integrity to meet code requirements and deformation
from heating on sunny days.
[Source: Solpan Review, July 1998]
Sawmills Producing More Value-Added Product Components - In the past few years, traditional sawmills have made significant strides toward producing more value-added products. Mills that used to sell green lumber now manufacture cut-to-size dimension products. Other producers are making semifinished and fully machined component parts. In a recent survey, about two-thirds of products manufactured by members of the Wood Component Manufacturers Association (WCMA) are either semifinished or fully machined. One driving force behind this shift is a significant growth of outsourcing among producers of furniture, cabinets, and related wood products. These companies are reevaluating the need to produce everything in-house as they face rising production costs and increased overseas competition. Purchasing components allows a manufacturer to determine and control production costs better. A company that has accurate production cost figures can more easily calculate a profitable selling price.
Furniture and cabinet producers are learning that adding a component-making partner to their business can help them respond faster to changing consumer preferences. The change also helps reduce overhead, inventory, and lumber-handling costs. And as demand for components increases, woodworking companies gain the strength to diversify and grow. Components include such products as cabinet doors and parts, edge-glued panels, cut-to-size blanks, mouldings, and table and chair parts. One fast-growing construction market includes high-quality interior trim, mouldings, flooring, staircases, and millwork.
Outsourcing reduces transportation costs; the companies only pay for shipping the dried product, not the water and residues that were part of the original green logs or lumber. The components producer often burns the residues to heat dry kilns, further reducing production costs.
As a specialist, the components producer can justify more and better
equipment. Cutting for different customers from the same lumber stock
maximizes board value. Specialists also have a chance to develop skilled
workers and often can devote more time to research and development in their specialty.
[Source: Wood Technology, July/August 1998]
Selection Criteria Proposed for Environmentally Benign and Energy Efficient Windows - Energy researchers have estimated that the annual energy loss through windows in the United States is approximately equal to the amount of energy flowing through the Alaska pipeline each year. This energy loss might be cut in half with recent advances in glass and frame technologies and improved construction techniques.
Although the basic single-pane, framed window has functioned well as an opening for light for a remarkably long time, it provides little protection against conduction, convection, and radiation losses. The location of a window, as well as the house, is also important. Windows on the west and south sides of a house tend to get more sunlight. A window's ability to keep in (or out) the sun's light and heat can be a blessing or a curse, depending on the home's location.
Thanks to advances in glass and frame technology, other methods besides multiple glazing of window surfaces are now available for increasing window performance. Window designers now know how to maximize window resistance to conduction, convention, and radiation losses through thermal breaks, glass treatment, better frame design, and selection of materials. A knowledgeable builder can select the most economically and functionally appropriate windows for the house under construction and can use these features to increase the salability of the house.
Filling the space between the glass panes with an inert gas such as argon instead of air can quadruple a window's insulating value compared to single-pane glass. Low-emissivity (commonly referred to as low-E) and/or reflective coating on the glass allows light but not heat to pass through, thereby increasing owner comfort in warmer climates and reducing cooling needs. Materials also play an important role. Wood is an excellent insulator and provides good structural rigidity for windows but may require more owner maintenance than other materials.
Three sets of criteria have been proposed for selecting windows. These
criteria draw on studies indicating that different climatic zones and
different window orientation have different window requirements. For northern
states and New England, or for north-facing windows in more temperate or mixed
climatic areas such as the Midwest or Atlantic regions where heating is the
largest component of a home's energy usage, it makes good economic sense to
install windows that provide maximum insulation and air tightness while
allowing the sun's heat to come through. For the South and West, or for south-
and west-facing windows in mixed climates where cooling is the greatest
component of a home's energy usage, it makes good economic sense to install
windows that provide maximum solar heat gain protection. In hot regions,
windows with selective glazings provide good solar heat control without loss
of light. Darker, tinted glazings also provide lower solar heat gain
coefficients, but they yield somewhat decreased outdoor visibility,
particularly at night.
[Source: Environmental Design & Construction, September/October 1998]
The Forest Products Annual Market Review 1997-1998, which provides general and statistical information on forest products markets in the UN-ECE region of Europe, North America, and the Commonwealth of Independent States, is now on the Web ( http://www.unece.org/trade/timber/y-rev98.htm). The Review begins with a general overview of the forest products markets in the region and then describes the economic situation in the region. Two special chapters are included this year: "Certified Forest Products Marketplace" and "Effects of the Asian Crisis on ECE Region Forest Products Markets."
The developments in five sectors are described for markets of roundwood;
sawn softwood; sawn hardwood; wood-based panels; and paper and paperboard,
wood pulp, and pulpwood. Production, consumption, and trade are considered for
each sector, plus relevant material on specific markets. Detailed information
is presented in tables, in both the text proper and the appendix.
[Source: Ed Pepke, Forestry OfficerMarketing, Timber Section,
Trade Division, UN-ECE and FAO, Geneva, Switzerland]
Wood Markets in China - According to a Wood E-Bulletin article by Sunun Setboonsarng, International Trade Development Officer, OEDD, China's crackdown on excessive logging is expected to spark a shortfall of 45 million cubic meters of timber by 2000. In an effort to cope with this year's devastating floods, the Chinese government has banned logging along major rivers in its central and northeastern regions as part of a large-scale reforestation plan. Authorities have increasingly acknowledged the role that logging along major waterways has played in the floods. Although forests cover 87.26 million hectares (215.6 million acres) or 9% of China, experts say that if left unchecked, logging threatens to eradicate all the forests within 10 years.
According to the Economic Information Daily, a Beijing newspaper, the closure of timber mills along the Yangtze and Yellow Rivers and in northeastern China would cut natural forest output by 12 to 15 million cubic meters, accounting for about a quarter of the total current annual output. Timber markets in Sichuan Province are completely closed, boosting wood prices in southwestern China and causing prices in the Beijing wood market to rise by 20% to 30%.
To boost timber output, China has decided to set up commercial forest bases
in other areas. It also plans a sharp increase in hardwood imports from the
United States, Canada, Russia, Southeast Asia, and West Africa. To facilitate
imports, the government plans to cut tariffs on foreign timber and to dispatch
lumberjacks and equipment to set up lumberyards in other countries.
[Source: Wood E-Bulletin, October 20, 1998.]
Used Pallets and Other Wood Wastes Used Successfully in MDF - Following the success of its $120.5 million manufacturing facility in Riverside, CA, the CanFibre Group, Ltd., recently broke ground on a $116.9 million manufacturing facility in Lackawanna, NY, to produce AllGreen®MDF (medium-density fiberboard) from old pallets and other wood wastes. The product is made from 100% recycled fiber. To reduce offgassing, the product uses an alternative adhesive instead of the commonly used urea formaldehyde. (Eds. note: See related article on formaldehyde-free MDF under "Environmental Issues and Protection.")
The plant is expected to open at the end of 1999 and will use 155,000 tons
of wood waste to produce about 78 million ft² (7.2 million m²) of
panel product per year. Each plant will divert more than 400 tons per day of
old pallets and demolition waste that would otherwise be discarded in landfills.
[Source: Environmental Design & Construction, September/October 1998]
Canadian Deconstruction Project Proves Profitable - Deconstruction has been defined as a method of carefully taking a building apart so that the materials can be reused. In a study project in Ottawa, Ontario, three buildings (a four-story house, two-story barn, and small garage) were disassembled from top to bottom, and 91% by volume of the materials was salvaged as part of an "extraordinary effort" by a deconstruction team.
Total project cost was $34,000 (Canadian), compared with an estimate of $27,000 for demolition and landfilling. Though the project cost more than typical demolition, part of the added cost was attributed to damage by vandals, fire department training, and detailed documentation of the project. Sale of products from the project convinced contractor Doug Goode of Vanier, Ontario, of the profitability of deconstruction. He has taken on additional deconstruction projects that have reduced costs to clients and provided jobs for laborers. One drawback is that deconstruction can take weeks instead of days, and local regulations may restrict the time allowed for demolition of condemned property.
For a report on the project and information on a study of how building
design could contribute to easier deconstruction, contact Vince Catalli, 24
Spruce Ave., Ottawa, Ontario K1R 6N7, Canada. Tel: (613) 2304149; Fax: (601) 2304149;
e-mail: vcatalli@cyberus.ca.
[Source: Forest Products Journal 48(7/8): 6, 1998]
U.S. Government to Use More Recycled Paper - As the Nation's
largest paper purchaser, the Federal government has a special responsibility
to lead the way in building markets for recycled goods. Since 1993, when
President Clinton signed Executive Order 12873 to promote recycling, the
Government has quadrupled its purchase of recycled-content paper. On September
14, the President signed Executive Order 13101, which requires that, effective
January 1, 1999, all Federal agencies must use a minimum of 30% post-consumer
recycled content paper in their operations.
[Source: FPL Today, October 16, 1998, and Waste Reduction and Recycling News,
September/October 1998]
The National Conference on Wood Waste Utilization, hosted by the
National Arbor Day Foundation, will be held January 13-14, 1999, at the Lied
Conference Center in Lincoln, Nebraska. This conference will identify a wide
variety of opportunities for communities, landowners, and businesses to
discuss the increasingly important issue of wood waste. Presenters will
explore new paradigms, provide fresh insights, share success stories, and
offer creative ways to minimize or eliminate the cost of managing wood waste.
For information or to register, call the Foundation at (403) 4745655 or send a Fax to (402) 4740820.
[Source: Arbor Day, September/October 1998]
Florida Encouraged Toward Wise Use of Prescribed Burning - The Florida Division of the Society of American Foresters (SAF) is encouraging the State to promote and encourage the wise use of prescribed burning and assist landowners, wherever possible, to accomplish this goal. SAF is a national scientific and educational organization that represents the forestry profession in the United States.
In an October 16 news release, the Florida Division announced its support of Florida Agriculture Commissioner Bob Crawford's plan to reduce the threat of wildfires by utilizing more prescribed burning of wildlands. In August, Crawford had unveiled an ambitious plan to minimize the impact of future wildfires, calling for strategic control burning to protect urban areas, more aggressive voluntary burning in rural locations, and greater manpower and equipment to carry out the plan. "While Florida traditionally has had the most aggressive controlled burning program in the country, this summer's wildfire experience has demonstrated that we must do more," Crawford said. Between the end of May and the end of July, record heat and drought triggered an unprecedented 2,300 wildfires in Florida, causing nearly $400 million in timber losses, destroying or damaging more than 300 homes, and forcing the evacuation of 50,000 residents.
The centerpiece of Crawford's plan is making greater use of controlled or prescribed burning, a practice in which public or private landowners intentionally set fire under select conditions to burn the underbrush, which typically provides the primary fuel for wildfires.
For more information, contact Terence McElroy at (850) 4883022.
[Source: Bill Rogers, Scientific Tree Care of Tallahassee, Tallahassee, FL]
Environmentally Benign Adhesive Systems are becoming more available
to the furniture industry. Industry representatives state that while the costs
of converting to the new adhesive systems are high, long-term costs are lower
as a result of reduced hazardous waste disposal costs. Waterborne solvent-free
adhesives are flame retardant and have good green strength. However, they
lengthen bonding times and require good ventilation systems. Hot-melt
adhesives do not produce volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, but they
do limit repositioning of the substrate and they require temperatures of
300°F to 400°F (149°C to 204°C). In addition, equipment
costs are higher for hot-melt adhesives than for liquid adhesive systems.
Acetone solvent adhesives do not produce hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) or
VOCs, but the flammability of the solvent complicates compliance with fire regulations.
[Source: Forest Products Journal 48(7/8): 6, 1998]
Formaldehyde-Free MDF - SierraPine Limited's Medite Division
manufactures three classes of formaldehyde-free medium-density fiberboard
(MDF): moisture-resistant Medex, Class 1 Fire Rated Medite FR, and the more
economical Medite II. These products are manufactured using a polyurea
(isocyanate-related) resin matrix. Compared to the manufacture of standard
MDF, the manufacturing process for the new products results in virtually no
offgassing. Because formaldehyde offgassing can destroy museum-quality
objects, particularly metal pieces such as bronze, silver, and lead, Medite
has been specified for display cases in museums. When renovators of the San
Francisco Public Library chose to undertake their renovations using design
criteria that met high indoor air quality (IAQ) standards, Medite II was
specified for its low impacts on IAQ and Medite FR was used to meet IAQ
standards in conjunction with meeting fire codes. The surfaces of Medite
products are suitable for a variety of treatments, including paints,
varnishes, lacquers, UV fills, laminates, and foils.
[Source: Environmental Design & Construction, September/October 1998]
Genetically Altered Yellow-Poplar Proposed for Pollution Clean-Up - Phytoremediation
has been proposed as a remedy for cleaning up polluted
industrial sites. The process consists of planting trees on contaminated
sites. Environmental scientists favor yellow-poplar for phytoremediation
because it is fast growing and has a relatively high leaf surface area. During
the phytoremediation process, trees store chemicals from the soil in their
tissues or metabolize them into apparently less volatile components.
Chemical by-products are then transpired to the atmosphere through the leaves.
Still unknown, however, is whether these by-products are less harmful than the
chemicals themselves or whether diluting them in the atmosphere only creates
another hazard. In one study, researchers at the University of Georgia took a
gene from a mercury-resistant strain of bacteria and inserted it into the
genetic code of yellow-poplar. Laboratory tests showed that the genetically
engineered poplar had a tenfold increase in resistance to mercury and in
ability to transport mercury through the roots and tissues, reduce it to a
less volatile form, and release it into the air.
[Source: Wisconsin State Journal, September 29, 1998]
Attracting Termites With Carbon Dioxide Bait - Termites are
attracted to a 1% concentration level of carbon dioxide, similar to what is
emitted by rotting wood and by termite colonies. Dr. Lou Bjostad, an
entomologist at Colorado State University, suggests that a carbon dioxide
attractant could be combined with a small amount of insecticide to localize
chemical control of termites. Another strategy might be to place carbon
dioxide bait around the perimeter of a house, directing termites away from the
structure. Many types of foam insulation panels emit carbon dioxide in the
range attractive to termites and could actually be attracting termites.
[Source: Forest Products Journal 48(7/8): 6, 1998]
The National Wood In Transportation Information Center (NWITIC) has a new Internet address. Information pertaining to the NWITIC program, grants, events, coordinators, and publications can be accessed from the home page at http://www.fs.fed.us/na/wit. The publications link allows access to more than 130 publications available from the Center. Publications can be ordered directly from the Web site, and some are available for downloading. Several issues of Crossings, NWITIC's quarterly newsletter, are also available for downloading.
Ambitious 3-Year Study Hopes to Improve Wood Frames - Extensive
earthquake damage of wood-frame buildings in the Los Angeles area in early
1994 has prompted a $6.9-million, 3-year study to improve seismic resistance
of structures. Members of the California Universities for Research in
Earthquake Engineering will solicit proposals from engineers to gather data
from insurers, those who have filed legal claims, and building owners. The
goal of the research is to improve codes and standards, make insurance ratings
and loss estimates more accurate, and train building designers, inspectors,
and contractors. The research team will conduct physical testing, retain
engineers to produce reports on buildings previously analyzed for forensic
reasons, and work with codes and standards organizations. In consultation with
the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Federal Emergency
Management Agency, and others agencies, the research team will also compute
the costs of improving the seismic performance of structures.
[Source: ENR Engineering News Record, September 19, 1998]
National Honors for Innovative Education in Sustainable Managing and Marketing of Special Forest Products were awarded to the Pacific Northwest Special Forest Products Extension Education and Research Program. The aim of this program, which is managed by Professor James Freed of the Washington State Extension, is to teach public and private land managers about managing nontimber products as environmentally and economically sustainable enterprises. Landowners learn about new options for harvesting products without large equipment and with limited capital expense. The options are especially useful for environmentally sensitive lands such as wetlands or riparian zones, or for lands designated for wildlife protection. Another aspect of the program is training and certification for displaced timber workers. Trainees learn about native plant identification, sustainable harvesting techniques, post-harvest care, forest safety, value-added processing, direct marketing, wholesale marketing, and small business management. The program is funded by Washington State University and the USDA Forest Service, with cooperation from Oregon State University. To date, this Extension program has spawned 19 new companies.
For more information, contact Paul McCawley, National Program Leader for
Environmental Education, Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension
Service. Telephone: (202) 4014141; e-mail: pmccawley@reeusda.gov<./a>. Video on Small Roundwood Processing Equipment - Equipment
designed by Montana Manufacturing may be helpful for utilizing small timber.
This company designs and manufactures precision dowel mills capable of
handling roundwood measuring from 2 to 8 inches (5.08 to 20.32 cm) in
diameter. The machines are designed to utilize timber, which might otherwise
be wasted, to produce decorative fencing and furniture-grade material. To
obtain a video of this equipment, write Montana Manufacturing, P.O. Box 106,
Choteau, MT 59422; call (406) 4662140; or send an e-mail
(harold@postyard.com). The company also has a Web site at http://www.postyard.com.
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: 1998 November 9
Abstract: October 1998 Issue of FPC&R; Review
[Source: Andrew Kratz, Regional Botanist, USDA Forest Service, Lakewood, CO]
Improved Utilization of Solid Wood