National Hardwood Magazine - November 2013

NHLA NEWS NHLA GRADING

NHLA NEWS NHLA GRADING SEMINARS WELCOMED IN INDONESIA September saw an event jointly held by the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) and the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) in one of Southeast Asia’s key emerging markets. “American Hardwood Lumber Grading” half-day seminars were held in Semarang and Surabaya in Java, Indonesia, being two of the most important wood processing hubs in the country which still has huge potential to grow its Hardwood imports from the USA, despite its own massive forest resources. NHLA Chief Inspector Dana Spessert conducted both seminars prior to going on to the VietnamWood Show in Saigon for an “American Hardwood Technical Seminar.” Semarang, Central Java The seminar in Semarang was opened by John Chan, Regional Director for AHEC based in Hong Kong, who referred to the growing market for American Hardwood lumber in Indonesia, one of six ASEAN countries that AHEC targets. Despite its recent currency devaluation, which has raised the cost of imports by as much as 25-30 percent, Indonesia is buying more Hardwood sawn lumber from the U.S. as manufacturers continue to switch from logs to lumber. AHEC publishes its technical brochures in the local Bahasa Indonesia language, “which provide additional choices of American species alongside Indonesia’s own beautiful woods,” said Chan. Dana Spessert established his own Hardwood credentials by referring to his start in a family lumberyard at the age of four! But NHLA had been involved even longer, “having been established in 1898 in order to regularize grading standards for the trade in Hardwood lumber,” he said. He pointed out that these standards are increasingly accepted around the world, in fact one of the few systems, and now NHLA is open to international partnership membership from overseas. “The goal of the NHLA Grading Rules is to value the Hardwood” was a key message that Spessert delivered to a professional audience of over 50 in Semarang, many of which appeared very keen to learn more in an interactive and lively Q&A session after the formal presentation. The program also included a summary of all the commercially available species. The dialogue in Semarang focused, as ever, on the issues of shrinkage and variance in quality from one supplier to another. The Chief Inspector made the point that in high speed volume production the grader may have only a few seconds to make grade decisions and even the most experienced and qualified inspector can vary. Nevertheless, variances can be up and down and should cancel out. Spessert also covered some of the differences in grading Western Red Alder and American Black Walnut as two species that, in practice, have exceptional variations from the standard rules. Surabaya, East Java There the delegates, who numbered 40, were welcomed by John Chan who said that it was good to be back after two years in a city were the market is growing so fast. He also welcomed the presence of APP Timber, a local member of NHLA, and urged new and returning delegates to ask some of the many questions that arise. “This lumber grading seminar is a platform for exchange of information in both directions,” he concluded. In fact the Surabaya seminar turned into an extended practical exercise in grading, with Spessert leading a very enthusiastic group of Indonesians who took turns to grade sample boards. Conclusions For both seminars, simultaneous translation was provided, although the level of understanding and speaking English is usually high with Indonesians involved in international trade, as was the case in both Semarang and Surabaya. Delegates were drawn from importing, trading and wood processing companies, ranging from flooring, furniture and moulding manufacturers; and initial verbal feedback was very positive. (It was one of the most attentive seminar audiences I have ever seen.) During the week, the organizing group from AHEC, NHLA and Turnstone Singapore (responsible for Public Relations in SE Asia) and a local wood industry journal made a factory visit to the wellknown P.T. Kayu Lapis integrated plywood and flooring plant near Semarang in Central Java. ■ BY MICHAEL BUCKLEY, SOUTHEAST ASIAN CONSULTANT FOR NHLA/TURNSTONE SINGAPORE 901-377-1818 www.nhla.com 12 NOVEMBER 2013 ■ NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE

HMA UPDATE HEEDING THE CALL...WITH A UNIFIED MESSAGE Later this month, tens of thousands of building professionals are expected to participate in the U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Greenbuild 2013. Touted as “the world's largest conference and expo dedicated to green building,” the annual event is a call to the design/build community to “join thousands of other people who agree that green building is a good idea and good for business.” This year, it’s being held in Philadelphia. The Pennsylvania lumber and wood products industry, a provider of nearly 40,000 jobs essential to the state’s economy, has heeded the USGBC’s call to participate and will be represented at Booth #1461 in the Wood Pavilion section of the exhibit area. In preparation, they called upon an array of industry stakeholders— executives and members of the * Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council (PHDC), *Keystone Wood Products Association (KWPA), the American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC), the HMA and others—to provide a succinct and factual “industry” message to help dispel the misinformation regarding the use of American Hardwoods in green building. We gathered in Williamsport, and it was an interesting meeting, especially because ours’ is a BIG story and honing it down to five or six talking points is unrealistic. But, the many challenges facing our industry in green building were discussed in great detail. And rest assured that the interested stakeholders who will soon be manning KWPA’s Expo Booth #1461 are prepared to discuss why specifying American Hardwoods is indeed a good idea for the environment, a good idea for green building and a good idea for business. How did we assist? Anticipating that “certification” will be a significant topic of discussion, we offered the following “pushback” comments if and when a specifier says, “Wood has to be certified.” or “I only specify certified wood.” ■ Why? Why is wood the only material required to demonstrate environmental and social responsibility in management, extraction, production, etc.? Why are such assurances NOT required for other building materials? ■ Science clearly documents the significant and less than favorable environmental impact associated with the production of steel, aluminum, concrete, plastic, glass, bamboo, yet NO such “certification requirements” pertain to them. ■ And if the United States of America confirms the sustainability of our forests and also recognizes the responsible extraction and production practices of our industry, why is certification important? ■ Couple that with today’s Cradle-to-Grave, Life-Cycle-Analysis which clearly demonstrates, to the entire world, the environmental preference of wood. With all of that, why is certification important? For the enthusiastic and brave souls manning Booth #1461, I hope we’ve armed you sufficiently for the challenging conversations you are about to engage in. Remember, there will indeed be naysayers wanting to challenge our message. But there will also be those seeking information and even others who will admiringly touch the Hardwoods displayed in the booth. For the readers outside of Pennsylvania, in the coming months other architectural and design events will be taking place in your backyards–Chicago, New Orleans, Washington, D.C. I hope you and other industry stakeholders will make a similar investment, and heed the call with a unified industry message like these hardy Pennsylvanians have done! ■ *(The Keystone Wood Products Association is charged to strengthen and expand the base of lumber and wood products manufacturers in the Central Pennsylvania region in order to maintain and enhance the industry’s competitive position in today’s global economy. The Pennsylvania Hardwoods Development Council is responsible for the development, expansion and promotion of the Hardwoods industry in Pennsylvania and involved in promoting public knowledge of the state’s forest products industry.) BY LINDA JOVANOVICH, EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT, HMA HARDWOOD MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION PITTSBURGH, PA 412-244-0440 www.HMAmembers.org About the Hardwood Manufacturers Association The Hardwood Manufacturers Association is a national trade organization with membership limited to U.S. Hardwood lumber producers and processors. HMA is a member-driven association; providing member companies peer-networking opportunities, valuable information exchange and strategic management tools. The Association also conducts a focused, far-reaching promotion campaign, directed to both consumers and build professionals, extolling the beauty, environmental preference and lasting value of American Hardwood flooring, furniture, cabinetry and millwork. www.HMAmembers.org NOVEMBER 2013 ■ NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 13