Softwood Forest Products Buyer - July/August 2019

Dan Decker of Oregon

Dan Decker of Oregon Industrial Lumber Products preps Yellow Cedar flitches for the resaw. Canadian Yellow Cedar Shines as Oregon Industrial’s Star By Zach Miller “The most outstanding feature of our products is that all of the processing takes place at our facilities, from green to kiln dried and surfaced. This allows for great quality control.” –John McDowell, Vice President, Oregon Industrial Lumber Products Inc. Springfield, OR – Oregon Industrial Lumber Products Inc. (OILP), located here, opened for business as a sawmill in the 1940s. Now under owners Murray McDowell and John Mc- Dowell, this mill has hitched its star to Canadian Yellow Cedar and foresees significant growth. The company offers Douglas Fir in addition to Yellow Cedar, selling from 12 million to 15 million board feet of lumber per year total. At a given time, the company carries about 3 to 4 million board feet of both types of lumber combined. “OILP has grown a great reputation as a topquality manufacturer that can be counted on by its customers to provide timely products that consistently meet or surpass their expectations,” observed John McDowell, vice president. “The most outstanding feature of our products is that all of the processing takes place at our facilities, from green to kiln dried and surfaced. This allows for great quality control.” John McDowell stated that, when his father, Murray McDowell, bought the company in 1983, “It was primarily dealing just in Doug Fir and a little bit of Hemlock” with some Red Cedar included. Andrew Jones, Yellow Cedar sales manager, recalls the change of emphasis to Yellow Cedar. “The current dynamics of the Yellow Cedar market has its roots in Japan after World War II. The Japanese planted massive plantations of Hinoki Cedar, a substitute for Yellow Cedar. Eric Christopher checks clear vertical grain Douglas Fir at the Oregon Industrial Lumber Products planer chain. They had natural forest stands of those trees,” he remarked. However, the Japanese widely cut down those trees. In their place, Jones stated, the Japanese imported Yellow Cedar from Canada. But 60-70 years later, the Hinoki Cedar stands in Japan had grown back, and the Japanese importers told forest products groups in Canada, “We don’t need your wood,” or only half of the previous shipments, according to Jones. (The Japanese government subsidizes the use of wood fiber grown on Japanese soil, crowding out Yellow Cedar.) Producers of Yellow Cedar were forced to look for new markets with wood they had expected to export to Japan. The Hinoki Cedar is “just not going away anytime soon,” Jones explained. At that time, some larger producers of Yellow Cedar looked to the North American market to move Yellow Cedar clears are pulled at the green chain. Canadian Yellow Cedar is the company’s primary product. Continued on page 38 Page 4 Softwood Forest Products Buyer n July/August 2019

Yellow Pine is Among the Species That Kirkwood Stair & Millwork Uses to Craft Distinctive Designs Pacific, MO–Technology blended with old world craftsmanship is the recipe for excellence at Kirkwood Stair & Millwork, which has crafted staircases and balustrades for almost 120 years. The company’s attention to detail, customer service, and ability to stay abreast of trends has kept the family-owned business at the forefront of the industry. “Kirkwood Stair is known for its quality and service,” company president Brian Berger said. “Most of our competitors are smaller and don’t have the machinery needed to do intricate, custom work.” Kirkwood Stair uses two Biesse 5-axis CNC routers with proprietary software to engineer and mill complicated staircases. One router is a pod and rail, while the other is a 21-foot table. “Having two routers allows us a backup and lets us provide quicker service and shorter lead times,” Berger said. “It also enables us to react more quickly to clients’ needs.” “Kirkwood Stair is known for its quality and service. Most of our competitors are smaller and don’t have the machinery needed to do intricate, custom work.” By Kathy Brooks The company procures over 300,000 board feet per year of Yellow Pine, in addition to various other domestic and imported wood species. pany was based in Highland, IL, until the 1920s when it moved to the Kirkwood area. After a devastating flood almost wiped out Kirkwood Stair in 1982, the company moved to Pacific, 30 miles West of St. Louis. Continued on page 44 A.W. Stiles Contractors, Inc. A.W. Stiles provides a full line of Modern Day Equipment serving both Softwood and Hardwood markets. New Installations and Complete Rebuilds on Existing Equipment: High Temp Track Kilns, Hardwood Package Kilns, Predryers, Walnut Steamers (Left) A recently completed project for T. R. Miller Mill Co. in Brewton, AL. A.W. Stiles Contractors fabricated and installed two steam-heated patented dual path kilns each kiln consisting of 94’ center chambers and 62’ extension chambers. The engineering firm over the project was Tinsley Consulting Group of Hot Springs, AR. –Brian Berger, President, Kirkwood Stair & Millwork With the CNC machines, Kirkwood Stair can handle tight radiuses, wreathing, complicated “S” and elliptical stairs, and carvings that “meet just about any design an architect can come up with,” Berger said. “We can also design and show the stairs in 3-D, thus allowing clients to get a feel for what the stairs will look like before we build them.” Kirkwood Stair purchases nearly 300,000 board feet per year of Yellow Pine in a variety of high grades with thicknesses ranging from 4/4 up to 8/4. This joins a long list of domestic and imported species that the company works with also. All lumber is kiln-dried to furniture specs, and skip surfaced with no straight line. Founded in 1899, the com- (Right) A recently completed project for Charles Ingram Lumber in Effingham, SC. A.W. Stiles Contractors fabricated and installed a patent pending dual path kiln consisting of a 60’ center chamber and 40’ extension chambers. The engineering firm over the project was Tinsley Consulting Group of Hot Springs, AR. Complete Rebuilds Including: • Roof Replacements/Complete Reskins • Heating Coils and Complete Steam Systems • Energy Efficient Upgrades - controls, insulation additions, wind flow, heating capacity, door seals, etc. • Doors and Carriers • Structural Repairs • Protective Coatings • Complete line of replacement parts Lee Stiles Cell: (931) 409-0144 Email: lee@awscontractorsinc.com Glenn Thompson Cell: (615) 372-4261 Email: glenn@awscontractorsinc.com Casey Miller Cell: (931) 607-7451 Email: casey@awscontractorsinc.com Office: (931) 668-8768 • Fax: (931) 668-7327 286 Bass Lane, McMinnville, TN 37110 Softwood Forest Products Buyer n July/August 2019 Page 5