Import/Export Wood Purchasing News December 2023/January 2024

HHP - Continued from page 4
“Our most experienced graders oversee production being processed
through the Trim Expert grading system,” said Bruce Dahn, kiln-dried sales
manager at HHP, Inc.
degrading of the lumber and to make sure our customers get the consistency and
value they continue to invest in,” Dahn said.
HHP has a wide range of customers, from those looking for lumber to go into
high-end flooring or a millwork application to those looking for custom to standard
pallets. “We manufacture what works best for our customer,” Dahn noted.
“From the custom sorts that go to our high-end end-use customers to the distributors
and manufacturers that need a custom designed pallet to carry the load that
they want shipped, we strive to be efficient and cost effective by consuming all of
the full range of products that are produced in the mill.”
HHP is known to promote the ease that comes with doing business with them,
whether it is moving material in and out of their facilities, or the consistency of
their product, they strive to make their clients lives simpler. “You can receive
HHP lumber any way you want, as long as it has the HHP logo and blue paint on
the ends,” remarked Dahn. “Our customers that we sell to on a repeat basis, especially
the distributors, see this as an added value on an already superior product.”
Another way that HHP continues to add value to their products, is to end wax
every pack of green lumber produced, all year-round, with U-C Coatings Anchorseal.
Whether it is going on sticks for kiln drying in HHP’s kilns or being sold
green.
“One thing that Marco and Joe have always emphasized is the quality of the
products that we produce here at HHP and the pride that we have when we put it
into the marketplace,” said Dahn. HHP makes a point to pay attention to the little
things, like putting grooved HT export blocks on every pack produced so that
they are easier to move around and no loose blocks have to be picked up after
moving packs.
The added details that HHP puts into their products goes beyond adding extra
blocks on packs leaving their sawmills. “Our most experienced graders regularly
go back through packs of green & KD lumber to ensure the Trim X System’s
output,” Dahn noted. “We are not trying to force boards up, into a grade. So,
when a grader disagrees with how the Grade X System viewed the board, we
go into the system and recalibrate the way it interprets the defects seen so we
are consistently getting the production graded the way we want. We can do this
because every board is sprayed with a unique identifying number as it is moved
to the bin sorter.”
HHP uses VisionTally with their kiln-dried lumber, ensuring that each piece
is accounted for, and the footage is accurate. “We are giving our customers the
Northern Red Oak makes up almost 80 percent of HHP’s 13 million board
feet of annual production.
HHP dries all of its production in Nyle Dehumidification dry kilns, which ensures
bright consistent color. “We also take the time to package our lumber
so it appears as good as what the customer will find inside,” Dahn said.
confidence that they are getting what they paid for, and the documentation that
they get along with these packs helps lower their stress levels,” Dahn added.
“Once the packs have been strapped and labelled, there is no question as to what
the contents of each one is, no matter how far it has traveled.”
HHP continues to utilize the oversized space that the mill was initially built
on. “When the foundation was laid back in 1992, they made sure they had a good
layout and allowed room for plenty of expansion,” said Joe Carrier. This forethought
has allowed for additional equipment, such as, a McDonough double cut
carriage, two PHL resaws, a PHL/Comact optimizing edger, that feeds the Trim
Expert, on to a PHL trimmer and PHL 60 bay bin sorter, with USNR scanning, as
well as the VisionTally. They also have seven Nyle Dry Kilns, with a drying capacity
of 75,000 board feet each, with an annual drying capacity for the Northern
Red Oak of 6.3 million board feet.
The accuracy of the equipment that HHP has invested in is paramount, as
they ship their lumber around the globe. HHP ships to markets including China,
Europe, Vietnam and the Middle East. “What works best for HHP is when we are
able to find a key account, or a group of accounts that we are able to do regular
business with. Whether it’s a container every three months or five containers every
month, we look to do business with someone that is looking for a high-quality
product that needs a consistent supplier,” Dahn said. HHP also finds it crucial to
not overwhelm themselves with distribution partners. “We try not to water down
the distributorship within a given market. It is important that we can distribute all
the wood that we can produce through a limited number of these partnerships,”
Dahn continued.
“Since we produce a niche product, our clientele that really needs and values
the Northern Red Oak is spread out,” said Dahn. Since HHP’s products are
spread out around the globe, they export their products mainly through the Port
of Boston, as well as sending containers through the Worcester railyard to the
New York and New Jersey ports and occasionally sending containers through the
Montreal port. When moving their products domestically throughout the United
States and into Canada they use a combination of HHP trucks and independent
truckers based on where the lumber is headed.
“One thing is for sure, HHP is well positioned to take care of their customers
as the market continues to change and evolve,” said Dahn.
HHP is a member of the National Hardwood Lumber Association, Hardwood
Manufacturers Association, American Hardwood Export Council, The New England
Lumbermen’s Association and the National Wood Pallet Association.
To learn more visit www.hhp-inc.com. n
HOUSTON HARDWOOD - Continued from page 5
Recently adding a new
Powermatic planer to its
equipment list, McCoy
said using its two SCMI
moulders, they’ve been
able to streamline the
production process and
designate specific machines
to certain tasks.
“We use one of the
machines to run patterns
that we change up several
times a day,” said
Guy Pike, Vice-president of Houston Hardwoods. Continued on page 28
IWPA - Continued from page 2
od between the adoption of a proposal to transfer a species from one Appendix
to another and the entry into force of the new listing. IWPA members have been
negatively impacted by the current lack of a clear and uniform understanding both
internationally and in each country of when permits are required as new species
have been added to the CITES appendices. IWPA staff will continue to urge Parties
to facilitate clear guidance that takes into account the realities of international commerce,
with shipments often departing exporting countries before a listing goes into
effect and arriving in the importing country after.
While these issues will continue to be debated before final consideration at the
next Conference of the Parties expected in 2025, they will have to be implemented
by country Management Authorities such as the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s
Division of CITES Management Authority.
IWPA has invited key leaders from FWS to join us at IWPA’s 2024 World of
Wood Convention and educate attendees on both the basics of CITES permitting
for industry members who are new to the CITES process as well as broader developments
such as the upcoming implementation of the Ipe and Cumaru Appendix II
listings. It is also important to remember that you can always call or e-mail IWPA
staff with any questions you may have about specific CITES issues or general questions
about how the Convention works.
IWPA will continue to work closely with our industry allies to speak clearly and
forcefully that CITES and the implementing Parties must avoid trade restrictions
unless there is a clear conservation benefit consistent with the text of the Convention.
n
AHEC - Continued from page 2
trade and industry. In order for this strategy to be effective it is important to bridge
the gap in order to create a stronger link between specifiers and the hardwood sector
in each market. Working with these global user organizations as well as their
respective specifier communities is absolutely vital to the effectiveness and reach
of AHEC’s messaging.
One of the biggest constraints preventing adoption of American hardwood species
is a lack of knowledge about the material. Without the knowledge of the material
and how it can be used, markets cannot make informed decisions and therefore
bdahn@hhp-inc.com • lumbersales@hhp-inc.com
14 Buxton Industrial Drive, PO Box 489,
Henniker NH 03242
603-428-3298 www.hhp-inc.com
U.S. Hardwood products will not get a fair representation or chance to compete. The
major constraints addressed by our programs are:
• lack of technical knowledge of the variety and potential of U.S. hardwoods
• competition for market share of non-wood and “look-alike” materials
• lack of familiarity with full performance potential of U.S. hardwoods
• the need to achieve a better balance between market demand and species
availability by focusing on underutilized species like Red Oak, Cherry, Maple, and
Tulipwood
• lack of technical knowledge, awareness, and data on structural/exterior
design opportunities for U.S. hardwoods (CLT, TMT, LVL, etc.)
• Benefits of U.S. hardwoods in meeting environmental regulations
Our target audience falls into three main categories: hardwood traders and importers,
hardwood manufacturers, and decision makers like architects, engineers,
and designers – the “specifiers”. Although our program is not aimed specifically at
consumers AHEC is increasingly reaching this target audience through increased
social media activity and publicity in the consumer press.
AHEC events in 2024 and beyond will continue to incorporate design projects
and creative marketing to give American hardwoods a high-profile showcase and
promote underutilized species and new technologies. An environmental life cycle
analysis is also conducted on all of our marketing projects to continue to promote
the sustainability benefits of using American hardwood. Keep an eye out for AHEC
events next year and stay up to date through our website: www.ahec.org. n
SEC - Continued from page 3
Increased onshoring from Chinese firms seeking lower cost labor and a means
of avoiding the U.S. tariff on Chinese goods is also a huge demand driver. Once
the world’s center for low cost labor, by 2020 the average hourly wage in China
for manufacturing workers was $6.50, a 12 percent increase from a year earlier.
Meanwhile, the average hourly wage in Mexico in 2020 was $4.82, a 3 percent
increase from 2019. While the labor rate in Mexico is rising, Mexico’s ample
supply of comparatively low cost labor, and proximity to one of the largest consumer
markets in the world, will likely continue to fuel continued manufacturing
growth.
The Softwood Export Council (SEC) has been active in Mexico for decades.
New HHP logo...
Same High Quality
HHP, INC.
Continued on page 37
World Class Northern Hardwoods
Specializing in 4/4 & 5/4 Production of
Red Oak • Ash • Hard & Soft Maple • Yellow Birch
Premium Quality Northern Hardwoods
Sawmill • Kilns • Export Prep • Container Loading
13 Million Board Feet Annual Production
Page 26 Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n December 2023/January 2024
Import/Export Wood Purchasing News n December 2023/January 2024 Page 27