National Hardwood Magazine - June 2015

Oakcrest NOVEMBER

Oakcrest NOVEMBER 2014_Layout 1 10/16/14 10:22 AM Page 1 TRADE TALK Continued “Quality Hardwood Lumber and Flooring” Quality Hardwood Lumber 24 Million ft. Annually of Bandsawn Lumber One Million ft. of Kiln Capacity Planing Mill Facilities Straight Line Capability Width Sorting On Site Container Loading Quality Hardwood Flooring 75,000 sf. Hardwood Flooring Facility Producing 2 1 /4, 3 1 /4, 4, & 5" Humidity Controlled Warehouses Serving you from our facilities in Georgia and Tennessee. Sales - Kevin Cloer - (229) 649-9328 Sales/Purchasing - Bobby Cloer - (423) 623-7382 Sales/Purchasing - Brad Bradley - (816) 761-3236 Oakcrest Lumber, Inc. Ph: (229) 649-9328 FAX: (229) 649-9585 Email: oakcrest@windstream.net Website: www.oakcrestlumber.com nounced the retirement of its Senior Vice President of Claims, Joe McCrea. According to a recent press release, the company has hired J. Michael Lent as his successor. Lent is an experienced insurance executive who has worked with a Fortune 500 stock company as well as a national mutual insurer. He has an extensive Michael Lent background in multi-line claim handling and management along with an in-depth knowledge of all property and casualty products, coverages, laws and practices. “With over 26 years working in the commercial insurance industry, we are confident that his transition to PLM/ILM will be successful and that his experience and expertise will be a valuable addition to PLM/ILM and beneficial to our customers,” the company stated in its release. In other news for PLM/ILM, Vice President Greg Pianko announced new primary manufacturing guidelines. “Over the past several months, we have sent out communications discussing problems relating to the primary manufacturing segment of the PLM/ILM book of business,” Pianko said. “We continue to take actions to return this segment of our book to profitability, thus enabling us to remain a market for primary manufacturing.” He continued, “We have spent a considerable amount of time analyzing what has worked in the past and what additional steps are needed to help our customers reduce their potential for losses. In an effort to continue to tighten our customers’ focus in this area, we believe there is a need for documented programs in place, and to ultimately reduce the frequency of losses experienced.” PLM/ILM has put together a packet of safety guidelines and other materials to provide its customers with an overview of these programs that will assist and reduce loss potential. Copies of these Loss Control Guidelines can be found at www.plmilm.com. For questions about the Primary Manufacturing Guidelines, contact Greg Pianko at gpianko@plmins.com or 317- 875-3626. n Check us out online nationalhardwoodmag.com 62 JUNE 2015 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE

CANTON_Layout 1 3/10/15 3:04 PM Page 9 WEST COAST Continued from page 6 tion yards seem to be picking up the slack.” While always a concern, the source said transportation is not having a major impact on his operation. “Fuel prices went down considerably earlier this year and that helped tremendously during the first two quarters. I anticipate that we will see prices rise again due to the seasonal adjustment and the competition of other products.” The supplier noted particular Hardwood species that are moving fairly well include upper grades of Cherry, Maple, and Walnut. “Our inventory levels are low and we want them to be that way right now. Everyone is buying what they need, when they need it. Pricing is up a little bit and I don’t anticipate them changing much in the next couple of months.” “Hardwood market conditions are still flat in our area of the country,” a contact in Oregon mentioned. “We have different factors to contend with than the rest of the country. Transportation is always difficult because of our location.” He continued, “Inquiries are coming in but orders are stagnant. I expect we’ll see things start to pick up at least moderately in the next few weeks.” n MARS HILL JUNE 2014_Layout 1 5/19/14 2:24 Our timber is harvested sustainably from distinct areas in the high Appalachian mountain terrain of Western North Carolina. The productivity of these growing sites allows us to offer lumber produced from select, large diameter logs with exceptional lengths. An investment in our Red Oak, Poplar, White Oak, Hard or Soft Maple, Hickory, Basswood, Cherry, or Ash, guarantees you have chosen the highest-quality lumber the birthplace of forestry has to offer. ●Offering 4/4 through 8/4 Green and Kiln-Dried lumber ●Sawing 35,000+ all band sawn head-rig and re-saw ●225,000 modern kiln capacity fired by natural gas providing excellent drying conditions Company forestry ensures high-grade Appalachian hardwood logs Our commitment is to manufacture a premier lumber product with unparalleled quality, color and consistency NORTHEAST Continued from page 6 gion. Availability is good and there is a fair amount of supply around. Mills have a lot of logs because it was a good year for logging.” He continued, “Some of the overseas markets are buying a little less lumber. On the supply and demand issue there is a little bit more supply and a little less demand right now. Prices have fallen on a few things here and I think it’s due largely to the export markets. Red Oak was really hot in China and that has fallen off considerably. A few products that were being bought in huge quantities have slowed down temporarily. Ash is still strong over there, but the domestic markets aren’t as good.” When asked about transportation, he commented, “Getting trucks to deliver lumber in our region is really tough and that’s a serious thing. Sometimes we’ll have a load of lumber in the Midwest that we need to get and it will take two to three weeks to get it in here. As the economy is growing, there is a bigger demand for all sorts of products and goods nationally. Lumber isn’t the highest payload so truckers can make a lot more money hauling other things.” A contact in New York mentioned, “Hardwood activity has been flat through the spring. We’re not seeing a decrease in business, but nothing is picking up either. The market has been unable this spring to absorb the full amount of lumber processed throughout the winter. Buyers are controlling their inventory until they see a change in activity. As a result, supplies are being pushed back into the distribution system Please turn the page P.O. Box 1463, Canton, NC 28716 Tel: (828) 492-0715 • Fax: (828) 492-0716 Email: johncantonsawmill@gmail.com Contact Mars Hill, Inc. at (866) 629-9089 for obtaining the best looking White Poplar you’ve ever seen. We like to say “It’s so white, it’ll blind you!” We offer our White Poplar in 4/4 through 8/4 thicknesses in Sap 1F & Btr, 1 Com and/or FAS/1F grades in truck load or container load quantities only. ATT: PALLET - STAKE - INDUSTRIAL MFRS! Hardwood Lumber Rough Green 4/4xRWxRL • 4/4x6xRL • 8/4xRWxRL • 6/4xRWxRL SYP Heat Treated 1x4x40 • 1x6x40 • 2x4x40 • 2x6x40 2x4x48 • 1x2x12”-36” SYP KD Stakes Other sizes from can to cant! All inquiries welcome! Dense HDWD Stakes, Chisel Point 1 1/8x1 1/8 Truckload lots available, quoted F.O.B. your yard. (866) 629-9089 Fax: 601-671-0736 e-mail: mwood@marshillinc.com www.marshillinc.com We accept major credit cards JUNE 2015 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 63