National Hardwood Magazine - January 2011

DOWNES & READER HARDWOOD

DOWNES & READER HARDWOOD CO., INC. Wholesale Distributors of Hardwood, Softwood Lumber, Mahogany and Plywood Direct Exporters Ash, Basswood, Beech, Birch, Cherry, Cypress, Hickory, Hard Maple, Soft Maple, Poplar, Walnut, Red Oak, White Oak, Aromatic Cedar, Sugar Pine, SYP ® ® TRADE TALK South Shore, Ky.—Graf Brothers Flooring & Lumber (GBF) takes great pride in their slogan “The Only Thing We Waste of the Tree, is the Shade.” GBF now takes what they used to call waste and turns it into a viable heating source. Eco Energy Fuel Co., a new addition to Graf Brothers, went online at the beginning of 2010. Eco Energy Fuel turns the kiln-dried waste products from the flooring and lumber production into Winter Heating Fuel. Providing the following services: 4,000,000 BF Kiln Dried Inventory, Planing Mill, Straight Line Ripping, Gang Ripping, Mixed Container Shipments, and Rail Siding IRON S ICK DOWNES & READER HARDWOOD CO., INC. Headquarters: P.O. Box 456 - Evans Drive Stoughton, MA USA 02072 Phone: 781-341-4092 Fax: 781-344-7110 Inside U.S.A.: 800-788-5568 North Carolina Office: William von der Goltz Steve Arnett Tel: 336-323-7502 Fax: 336-323-2848 The most durable and cost effective kiln stick on the market Distribution Yard P.O. Box 634 Commercial Blvd. Blakeslee, PA USA 18610 Phone: 570-646-6724 Fax: 570-646-6628 Web Site: www.downesandreader.com Graf Brothers’ EcoFuel Block GBF’s Fuel Blocks are made with 100 percent kiln-dried Hardwood sawdust, and compressed at 500 tons of pressure with no additives. Each block weighs approximately 7.25 pounds and burns up to six hours in a fireplace insert or wood-burning stove. According to a representative, the Fuel Blocks produce almost no ash and store easier than regular firewood. With today’s rising utility costs, Eco Energy Fuel Blocks are a competitive alternative to current heating sources, the representative said. Each pound of Fuel Blocks puts out 8,400 BTU’s; that’s 182,700 BTU’s per 3- pack. For more information contact Linda Curtis by phone at 606-932- 3117, fax at 606-932-3156 or email at linda@grafbro.com. • Atlanta, Ga.—In a bold commitment to forests, Georgia-Pacific (GP), based here, has announced that it will not purchase trees from Endangered Forests and Special Areas, or from new plantations established at the expense of natural Hardwood forests. The policy statement was developed in consultation with environmental groups Dogwood Alliance, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) and Rainforest Action Network (RAN). While GP’s new forest policy applies to all of its operations, as a first step in implementing its commitment on Endangered Forests and Special 52 Hardwoods...The All-Purpose Material

An update covering the latest news about Hardwood Suppliers. Areas, GP worked with the environmental groups and scientists to identify 11 Endangered Forests and Special Areas totaling 600,000 acres in the Mid-Atlantic Coastal Eco-Region, as well as 90 million acres of natural Hardwood forests in the Southern region. Endangered Forests and Special Areas in other regions will be mapped in a similar process, over the coming years. “No other U.S. company has demonstrated this level of initiative in mapping unique forests across such a broad region,” said Debbie Hammel, NRDC Senior Resource Specialist. “Through this process, GP has proven that—by harnessing scientific advances and seeking conservation guidance—corporations can help protect unique places without sacrificing profitability.” “Georgia-Pacific has shown real leadership on issues of critical importance in the South. At the same time, our forests are not completely out of harm’s way until other companies also agree to protect them,” said Danna Smith, Executive Director of Dogwood Alliance. “We will continue to urge the companies that are lagging behind to take action to protect unique places on the Southern landscape and end the conversion of natural Hardwood forests to plantations.” The 11 designated Endangered Forests and Special Areas span North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, and Georgia and include forests in the Alligator River Region, Camp Lejeune Area, Congaree River Area, Croatan National Forest Region, Fort Jackson, Francis Marion National Forest, Holly Shelter Region, Great Dismal Swamp Area, Green Swamp Region, and Savannah River Site. These areas are home to endangered species such as the Red-cockaded woodpecker, rare plants including the carnivorous Venus Flytrap, and unique geographic features—including pocosins, the Algonquin term for “swamp on a hill.” This commitment to increasing protection for forests is the result of six years of engagement between GP and environmental groups, the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Dogwood Alliance, and Rainforest Action Network (RAN). • South Milford, Ind.—Tri-State Hardwood Co., based here, recently added a new log de-barker and two new dry kilns. This new equipment will allow Tri-State Hardwood Co. Inc. to increase the capacity of lumber that is processed at the facility and will increase the efficiency of the operation. According to sources, the company, along with the LaGrange County Economic Development Corporation, will be requesting tax abatements from the LaGrange County Council for a period of ten years on the improvements, valued at 9,775. This expansion follows many recent improvements and additions to the operation over the last two years, valued at approximately 0,000. The expansion created four new positions at Tri-State Hardwood Co., Inc. In addition to the new jobs created, an additional 29 jobs will be retained, bringing their total employment to 33 employees. “We are very excited to announce the planned expansion of our operations in South Milford,” said Denver Calhoun, President of Tri-State Hardwood Co., Inc. “The addition of the new kilns to our facility will Please turn the page EXPERIENCE QUALITY DEPENDABLE 975 Conrad Hill Mine Rd.~Lexington, NC 27292 Phone 336-746-5419~Fax 336-746-6177 Web: www.kepleyfrank.com To better serve our customers we have a 50 bay sorter and optimizing trimmer. Below is a picture of our sorter that helps us provide customized sorting and packaging. This is a view of our 50 bay sorter. Information about our sawmill, planer mill and lumber inventory is below: 1.) Our three sawmills cut 15 million board feet a year of fine Appalachian Hardwood lumber in 4/4 through 8/4 thicknesses in mostly Red Oak, White Oak and Poplar as well as Ash and Maple. Our crosstie mill manufactures about 100,000 board feet per week of crosstie and tie sides in species such as Hickory, Sycamore, Beech, Gum and Elm. In addition to the lumber we cut from our sawmill we also process another 12 to 15 million board feet of lumber per year through our Hardwood concentration yard business. We purchase and process all domestic species in all grades. 2.) Our modern planer mill runs two shifts to ensure on time shipments of our lumber to customers. We deliver kiln dried or air dried lumber and offer export preparation and on site container loading. 3.) We offer 600,000 board feet of fan shed inventory at all times, to provide efficient service to our customers. Kepley-Frank maintains an air dried inventory of 5,000,000 plus board feet of all species, to ensure back up inventory for our customers. *Through Jimmy Kepley acquiring Lexington Home Brandsʼ plant #2 in Lexington, N.C., and naming the operation Linwood Furniture, Inc., his company offers kiln dried lumber from Linwoodʼs eight dry kilns with a total dry kiln capacity of 600,000 board feet per charge. The furniture plant is also offering the service of contract furniture manufacturing and the manufacturing of wood components for other furniture manufacturers and other woodworking companies. JANUARY/2011 53