U.S. Forest Product Suppliers Update Import/Export Market Status ...

Page 12WHO’S WHO - SchumannContinued from page 9University, he obtained a Bachelor ofScience degree in Forest Products.Schumann and his wife Carolyn havethree children. In his spare time heenjoys fishing, volleyball, golf andspending time with his family.Since 1798 Alan McIlvain Company hasspecialized in sourcing grade domesticand foreign lumber from sawmills. Withstate-of–the-art dry kilns and some ofthe most experienced operators in theindustry they produce consistently dried,tension-free lumber. Automated sortingequipment allows Alan McIlvain to producea wide variety of width, length andgrade combinations to offer customersthe lumber they need to complete projectswith minimal waste. For more informationvisit www.alanmcilvain.comSE ASIAContinued from page 1•all over Asia, provided Michael Snow,executive director of AHEC, the opportunityto launch to more than 40 journaliststhe results to date of an independentLife Cycle Assessment (LCA) ofAmerican hardwood lumber shipped to arange of destinations in China andSoutheast Asia. With local interest ingreen products and more environmentallyfriendly construction by both governmentsand the private sector in Asia,this data was considered timely by theassembled media. Snow explained thevarious science-based indications of thelow carbon impact of American hardwoodsas part of AHEC’s drive to securea level playing field for wood. Heexplained in detail the importance ofdeveloping environmental profiles forindividual species in preparation for producingEnvironmental ProductDeclarations (EPDs) and distributed an“Environmental profile of U.S. Tulipwoodkiln-dried sawnwood delivered to theSoutheast Asian Market.”The press event was emceed byMichael Buckley, director of TurnstoneCommunications and former EuropeanDirector of AHEC, now residing inSingapore and providing public relationsconsultancy to AHEC. He said that,“Singapore, a small dynamic islandon the crossroads of Asia that punchesway above its weight in manyrespects, is not a major importer ofhardwood lumber or veneer, as thestatistics demonstrate. ButSingapore is both a specifier and aserious consumer of American hardwoodin furniture, floors, doors, andthe fit-out of its many designer storesand shopping malls as well as insuch iconic buildings as theEsplanade Theatres on the Bay (or‘Durian’ building as it is fondlyProviding Premium Hardwoodsfrom Around the WorldWhen you think of wood, think of us.known), which uses AmericanCherry. Singapore’s architects, Ibelieve, are fast coming to understandthe vital importance of usingwood as a key material to influenceclimate change.”Singapore, as a design hub and leadingcountry in developing green initiatives inSoutheast Asia, was the venue for thisyear’s convention selected by AHEC.The Convention was hosted by AHECand jointly organized by the SingaporeInstitute of Architects (SIA) and theSingapore Furniture Industries Council(SFIC) with which AHEC has long cooperatedin Singapore.Opening the convention, Chris Rittgers,Agricultural Attaché U.S. Embassy forMalaysia and Singapore, said his jobwas to link the interests of U.S. agriculturalexporters (including hardwood)with industry and trade. “The issue ofenvironmental sustainability of productsis extremely important to consumers,”he said. The global forest industry has tofocus on green design, which also offersopportunities, he continued.John Brown, president of Pike Lumber,Akron, Ind., and chairman of AHEC,went further, stating that good designand planning, as found in Singapore,comes from good choice of material. Heasserted that, “Wood is better than steel,better than concrete, better than othermaterials and we have plenty!”Theodore Chan, president of SIA, saidthat architects are looking for new materialsbut wood is a classic. He referredAtlanta, GAHuntersville, NCCleveland, GACrystal Spring, PAClarksville, TNBirmingham, AL800-476-5393www.hardwoodweb.comImport/Export Wood Purchasing Newsfondly to its appeal by touch, feel, color,smell, grain patterns and appreciated itas natural, saying “Water plus air equalswood.” He suggested it is seen in Asiaas an affluent material for interiors butcalled on AHEC to talk to government toaccept wood more in building codes.James Koh from SFIC said that AHEChas a great reputation for sustainabletimber based on the sustainability of itsforests. “We want all in Asia to learnwhat AHEC has done,” he concluded.Welcoming delegates, John Chan,Regional Director of AHEC, said thatAHEC has become the channel for itsmembers looking to access Asian markets,and thanked them for the 20 yearssupport given since the opening of theHong Kong office. Snow and RupertOliver then followed with full presentationson the issues of sustainability andenvironmental research into the carbonimpacts of American hardwoods.The renowned British furniture designerLuke Hughes made the point that thewell-known sustainability of Americanhardwoods had happened without certificationand gave two particular piecesof advice. “Furniture,” he said, “shouldembellish a space and not embarrass it,and should be designed for the longterm,” for which he gave many examples,including his own furnituredesigned for the recent royal wedding inWestminster Abbey in London, England.Tony Chi, eminent designer based inNew York, gave a review of his thoughtsand work in designing with wood, as didCarol Bentel – also from New York.Andrew Lawrence, the leading woodengineer at Ove Arup & Partners inLondon and Hong Kong, presented adetailed insight into the Red Oak “Wave”project at the London Design Festival,which had required 1,000 different timbersections and 500 connectors. Theproject had already received much interestin the Asian media. James Greaves,Senior Partner at Hopkins Architectsand long-time friend of AHEC, demonstratedhis many completed projects featuringwood, including Yale VeterinarySchool, Haberdashers Hall, the Olympic“Velodrome,” the Queen’s Building inCambridge and many others.During the Afternoon Breakout Sessionfor AHEC members and trade representatives,Dana Spessert, NHLA ChiefInspector, reported on NHLA’s KDCertification Scheme. Ted Rossi, of TheRossi Group and a past president ofNHLA, introduced and explained theU.S. government’s APHIS (Animal &Plant Health Inspection Program), whichis primarily to protect U.S. agriculture.APHIS certificates have becomeincreasingly difficult to obtain for manyreasons, including government cutbacksand can often lead to missed shipments.APHIS has issued a Memorandum ofUnderstanding for NHLA to work as anadministrator in the processing of analternative to the APHIS certificate.NHLA is using a third party organization,Timber Products Inspection (TPI), whichalready monitors softwood and will beinspecting hardwood kiln-drying andheat treatment facilities. The new certificateshave been approved by somecountries, including Vietnam and therehas been preliminary acceptance fromthe EU, which has passed a sub-committeereview and full approval is expectedfall 2012.Concluding the Singapore Convention,all delegates received a copy of thenewly published American HardwoodSupplements in English and Chinesefeaturing many relevant articles. One ofthe lasting images for AHEC membersvisiting Singapore for the first time mayhave been the welcome party at Ku DeTa, high above the newly completedwaterfront. More important, however,were the messages that went beyondthe convention, which will see AHECparticipate at the BEX show for environmentalbuilding products and systems inSingapore in October.•MARKET UPDATE - DupreyContinued from page 1ing for a slow recovery.”He indicated his container shippingContinued on page 13