US LBM Enters Pennsylvania, Maryland

with Myers & Son

US LBM Holdings, Green Bay, Wi., has acquired sixunit John H. Myers & Son, York, Pa., boosting the dealer to 10 divisions operating 41 locations in l0 Midwest, Northeast and mid-Atlantic states.

Myers & Son will continue to operate under its current name, with its current employees and operations. The 95year-old company has five yards in south central Pennsylvania and one in Aberdeen, Md.

"My family and I are excited about this new chapter for the company," said fourth-generation owner Bob Myers [I. "Our customers, vendors, and employees will benefit from our ability to access resources made available by a partnership with US LBM."

OSHA Cites Mississippi Mill

Graham Lumber Co., Fulton, Ms., has been cited by OSHA for 15 safety and health violations following the March death of a mill worker.

According to OSHA, the employee was fatally electrocuted while troubleshooting a malfunctioning starter inside a motor power control center.

Two of the violations-failing to train employees on work safety practices and allowing unqualified employees to work on energized equipment-were classified as serious. OSHA proposed penalties of $41,310 and gave the company 15 days to appeal.

Graham is a division of American Hardwood Industries, Waynesboro, Va.

84 Seeks to Pump Up Retail

84 Lumber will remodel 70 of its stores-in mostly rural areas far from big boxes-to be more consumer friendly, but insists it isn't forsaking its contractor base.

"Clearly, it's not an abandonment of what we've been doing for the past 20 years; it's to address where the market is now," said spokesperson Jeff Nobers. "It's a more open, brighter, and friendlier environment to walk through."

The remodeled stores will have kitchen and bath design centers, door displays, plus decking and railing. Other new features are aisles of basic items such as painting supplies and plumbing hxtures, as well as gas grills, potted plants, sheds, and backyard gyms.

84 Lumber hopes the changes will increase its retail customer sales, which currently total about l0% of its income. "You don't want to walk away from 10-20% of your market at any time, but especially not at a time when everybody is frghting for every dollar that's out there," said Nobers.

Hardwood Manufacturer Secures Funds for Second Expansion

Tri-State Hardwood received tax abatements for a proposed expansion of its yard in South Milford, In.

"We are very excited to announce the expansion of our operations," said president Denver Calhoun. "The addition of the new kiln and air drying building will allow us to process more high quality hardwood lumber."

Last October, the company added new kilns and debarking equipment.

Arch Wood Protection parent Arch Chemicals has agreed to be acquired by Lonza Group of Switzerland, in a $1.4-billion cash-for-stock deal.

Lonza's offer represents a 37% premium to Arch's latest share price.

Mid-America Cedar closed its operation in Matthews, N.C., on June 24.

Roseburg Forest Products has shuttered its particleboard plants in Russellville and Orangeburg, S.C.

Schmid Lumber Co., Coatesville, In., was hit by a June 28 fire of undetermined origin, iLevel by Weyerhaeuser is now distributing Cox Industries' D-Blaze FRTW and Ecolife pressure treated wood in the Mid-Atlantic area, from its DCs in Richmond, Va.; Charlotte, N.C., and Jacksonville, Fl.

Reese Wholesale, Indianapolis, In., is negotiating to move its Lafayette, In., building products warehouse to the nearby 6.5-acre yard 84 Lumber vacated in 2009.

OMG, Agawam, Ma., has aquired Tiger Claw, aristot, Ct., to become part of its FastenMast€r division.

Johns Manville, Denver, Co., broke ground on a new commercial roofing single ply membrane manufacturing facility in Milan, 0h,, anticipating a spring 2012 completion.

The company's plant in Edinburg, Va.-shuttered since 2007-is to be auctioned off Aug. 16.

Masonite agreed to acquire Marshfield Door Systems, Marshfield, Wi., to combine with its Mohawk brand commercial door business. Marshfield c.e.o. Don Bergman will remain with the division.

Masonite is also launching a $14-million expansion at its interior panel door plant in Denmark, S.C., that will add 159 jobs by early 2013. The facility had been owned by Lifetime Doors, which Masonite acquired last fall.

Woodford Plywood, Albany, Ga., is now distributing a full line of AZEK products throughout Georgia, Alabama and the Carolinas.

Parksite is now distributing Aljoma Lumber's Abaco tropical hardwood decking from its DCs in North Carolina, Maryland, Ohio and lllinois.

Amerhart Lumber & Building Materials, creen Bay, Wi., and Babcock Lumber, Pittsburgh, Pa., are now distributing Versatex trimboard products.

Allied Building Products, EagJ Rutherford, .ry.J., completed its acquisiiion of Astro Building Supplies, with roofing/siding/window DCs in Taylor and Roseville, Mi.

PPG Industries will be the exclusive coatings supplier for Somerset Hardwood Floors' new engineered flooring plant in Crossville, Tn.

Frank Miller Lumber Co., Vandatia, oh., hired TriComB2B to reposition its brand, revamp its online presence, and refine its sales support tools.

The Galifornia Redwood Co., Eureka, Ca., has added Dream Builder, a 3-D design tool, to its website, www.californiaredwoodco.com.

CertainTeed, Vattey Forge, Pa., is offering Realscape 3D software for use with its Bufftech vinyl fence line and Big Hammer Pro Deck Design software for use with its EverNew decking and railing products.

The manufacturer has also expanded the color palette for its Wolverine Encore vinyl siding and added two new colors (Castle Gray and Tudor Brown) to its EverNew PT decking line.

Crossville Inc., Crossville, Tn., reportedly has become the first tile manufacturer to attain certification of its waste recycling programs through Scientific Certification Systems.

Crossville has also agreed to recycle pre-consumer, fired sanitarv ware from Toto USA. utorrow. da.

Mitsubishi Forklift Trucks. Houston. Tx.. has launched its new mobile website.

AZEK Building Products, Scranton, Pa., earneo NAHB Research Center's Green Approved Product seal for its him, mouldings, decking and porch lines.

S-Unit Kansas Dealer Calls lt Quits

Unable to meet its obligations to its bank, Schmidt Builders Supply, Topeka, Ks., closed its five locations July l9 after nearly 40 years.

Schmidt's primary creditor, Kaw Valley Bank, took over and began liquidating the business's assets, including two yards each in Topeka and Lawrence and one in Tonganoxie, Ks.

ProBuild Closing Regional Offices

ProBuild Holdings reportedly will close its regional offices and consolidate support operations, including marketing and human resources at its corporate headquarters in Denver, Co.

The regional centers-located in Winona, Mn.; Tulsa, Ok.; Moorestown, N.J.; Kennesaw, Ga., and Lacey, Wa.are expected to be closed by the end of this year.

Reports are that some regional staffers may remain. At Midwest headquarters in Winona, for example, ProBuild is expected to cut back from two office buildings to one, where IT and supply chain personnel may stay on.

The closures are planned to have no effect on ProBuild's 470 LBM distribution, manufacturing, and assembly centers in 42 states.

Slide in Home lmprovement Likely to Continue into 2OtZ

After showing signs of recovery, spending on home improvements is expected to remain volatile and weak over the next several quarters, according to the latest Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity by the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center for

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Housing Studies of Harvard University.

The indicator projects that annual ren.rodelin-e spending through the first quarter of 20 l2 will be down 4.0olo. The Census Bureau's improvements spending series, to which the indicator is benchmarked. was recently revised downwards as well.

"The recent slowdown in the economy has caused home improvement spending to weaken again," said Eric S. Belsky. managing director of the Joint Center. "Falling consumer confidence levels have undermined interest in discretionary remodeling projects."

"Whut looked to be a promising upturn in home improvement spending carlier this year has begun to stall," added Kermit Baker. director of the Remodeling Futures Program at the Joint Center'. "Housing :turts. exisling home sales, and house prices have all been disappointing lately, which has dimmed prospects for home improvcment spending gains this yeiir."

SRS Accelerates Acquisitions

True to its name, SRS Acquisition Corp., McKinney, Tx.. has been busy expanding its operations across the country.

Thc roofing and siding distribution holding company now operates 55 locations in 22 states. under such divisions as Southern Shingles, Pace Supply, and Shake & Shingle Supply.

ln Tulsa, Ok., SRS acquired Alley Roofin-e Supply, which will operate under SRS's Southern Shingles banner. The I 1-member staff was retained, including former owner Bucky Alley, who will take on the role of sales manager.

Another new acquisition is Century Building Supply, a roofing, siding, and millwork distributor that serves the northern Illinois area from locations in Rockland and Sycamore, Il. Century will continue to operate under its own name, ils part of SRS' Midwcst division. and retain its entire sales and mana-qement staff. Owner Ken Wolowiec will serve as branch manager.

SRS has also added a new location in Joplin, Mo.. under the Southern Shingles name. The facility will be managed by Scott Rogers and stock Tavro roofing products and Crane's Exterior Portfolio vinyl siding.

In Hartford, Ct., the company opened a new location under its Pace Supply name, to service the New England markets with residential and commercial roofing products, siding, and windows. Andy Renna will serve as branch manager.

And, in Wentzville, Mo., SRS has a new location for its Shake & Shingle Supply division. The location will serve the greater metro St. Louis market, including eastern Missouri and western Illinois suburbs, by caryin-e ar full line of residential and commercial roofing products. Branch manager is Mark Hibbeler.

Weyco Sells Hardwoods Unit

Weyerhiieuser Co.. Federal Way, Wa., has agreed to sell its worldwide hardwoods and industrial products division to New York privilte equity firm American Industrial Partners.

Northwest Hardwoods is based in Tacoma, Wa., with operations in the U.S., Cernada, China. Japan. and Hong Kon-rl.

"As a stand-alone companv. we expect to offer our customers flexibility. fast market response limes. continuity of supply and an entrepreneurial 'can do' attitude," said David Weyerhaeuser, v.p. of sales and merrketing at Northwest Hardwoods.

The division employs about I ,000 workers and manufactures l5 species of hardwood lumber. from seven sawmills, four concentration yards, four remanufacturin_9 plants, and one log yard, all in the U.S. Last year, revenues fbr hardwood lumber were $223 million. an 8.2Vo increase over 2009.

"Revenues are related to housing starts and general repair and remodeling in the housing sector," said AIP's John Stanwood. "As these deprcssed markets ir.nprove in the years ahead. the company is wcll positioned to meet the dernand with its excellent hardwood timber supply relationships and extensive. modern and low-cost manufacturing footprint."

Chris Shadday has been nunrccl lrresi clcnt of Viancc LLC. (lharlotte. N.C.. sr-rccccclin-q Ster e Ainscough. r,i lro is reliling.

I)an Polyell has been pr()llotcd to opcrations l.u-gr. lor CapitaI Lunrber. I)lllas. Tr. Starla Kepley' is neu to insicle salc: sul)port. N'Iatt l,andrunr. cr-Snurclr Forcst Proclucts. is a neu' insirlc salcs t'c1r in HoLrston. Tx.

Robert .f "llob" Raepplcr has .joirrccl Arch \\'oocl Protcction. Atllnta. Ga.. as busincss ntgr'.-Cl-rcntonite prorltrcts. He is basccl in Strnburr. oh.

John L<lvc. e r-Lou c's. is nou tr-ircling SYP ancl enginccrcd lLrntbcl fctr ENAP. Neu, Windsor. N.Y.

Bill Nocerino. cx-Folest2Murkct has .joinccl the sulcs stliff o1'I)otlatch f'orp.. Wan'cn. Ar'.

.lackic Marchant is a neu brrrcl at \'lurvin's Honrc Centels. Birminqhlnr. Al.

(ireg Abbott. cr-\\'hcclcrs 13Lrilding

Materials. has .joined thc sules tearl lt 8-l Lunrbcr-Clcl." Cartcrsr ille. Gu.

Dave Russell. er-Boisc Clascaclc. has bccn nirnrccl engincclccl noocl proclucts nrgr. at l)ixic Ply uooci & Lunrbcr. Dallls. Tr.

\Iatthc* .I. llissad has been pronlotecl t() c.e .o, of Lniversll Forcst Procltrcts. Grancl Rapids. \li. Don .lanrcs is nuu hcacl ol'lltti()ltirl

.rrle...loseph (Jranger ir e r.c.rrtirc r.p. of its Itnircrsal Consurncr l)rorl ucts und L.-FP Distribution rlii isions.

Craig Porter. cx-Plvu'oocl I)ctroit. is nc\\ to ('.i. I-ink Lunrbcr. Warrclt. N{r.. as pl\ \\ ood ancl purrcl salcs nrgr.

Ilob l)elanrartcr has rctirccl aftcr -) | vcars in sulcs at S pring Arl"ror [-unbcr & Honre Ccntcr'. Spring At'u()f ivll.

.fim Ackrol'd. c.e.o. ol' l0-unit Yision Ace Harclwarc. Nirplcs. Fl.. lLrrcl Cina Schaef'er. co-ou,ner ol scrcn Ace storr-s in Wlrsltington. I).C.. iincl Illltinrole. \ltl.. uere rcclcctccl ttt thc board ol Acc Hulrl rr arc Corp.. Oak Brook. Il.. along r,iith fi nanc ial c.\ccuti vc Jeffrer' (lirard.

L,clgerton Bronson. difector and lirrnrcr presiclcnl of Consoliclatcrl Lr,rnrber Co.. Stillr.r'ittcr'. N4n.. hrrs lctirecl altcr' (r0 r'cars o1' scnricc ttr fhc con.rpunv his griLndluthcr fbunrl cd in 190.1

Wa1'ne Andrutis hls bccn nlntctl bltsincss clevel<tpntcnt mgr. itt Aclr unccrl'[-rintWright. Bos{orr. L\ I 11.

(iar;-- Hof'l'mann has bcL-n pront()tc(l to nutionul advantlqc l)rognrnt ntsf at Do lt Best Cor1t.. Fort Waync. ln. \Iart.r ltailel is nou leurlirrg thc co ol) s Worlcl Class Conrnrcrcc Clcntcr initiativc.

Stephcn'l'ruhtrn has bccn nunrecl lrtgr-. of busincss clclcloltrucnt fbr llD Supplr Orlando. Fl Mark Yblood. cr-Nationll Nlil Co.. hls .joinccl (ilcut SoLrthcrn Woorl Prcscrvinq. lrs tcrritorv rngr. in thc I)allas,Fort Worth. Tr.. ilrca. Scolt \-ander Nlerrlen i. rr rre ri inr e ntorv planncr-at Truc Valuc Co.. ('hicago. Il.

(lhase Hennessev hus -j oinccl Menarcls. NIlrlion.Il.. us rrigr.

Steve Sieger is a new sales and management trainee at Moulding & Millwork, New Lenox, Il.

Jimmy Archer Jr., ex-Daltile, is the new Texas regional sales mgr. for Laticrete. He replaces John Streidnig, who is now director of the new Laticrete specialty products division. Dave Anzaldo is a new contractor sales rep for the Carolinas, northern Georgia, and eastern Tennessee.

Jim Ellis is now handling inside sales support at Snavely Forest Products, Houston, Tx.

Patrick Penza has joined Beacon Roofing Supply, Peabody, Ma., as outside sales rep for southeastern Massachusetts.

William Wiggs Thompson is a new market development mgr. at Louisiana Pacific Corp., Nashville, Tn.

James ";ir" Kiser has joined the sales team at Norandex Building Materials, Huntington, W.V.

Charles Wehner is now in showroom and outside sales with Stock Building Supply, Austin, Tx.

Sam Savides has joined Wojan Window & Door, as sales rep for the Greater Chicago area.

Bill Myrick has left ProBuild Holdings, Denver, Co., after one year as c.e.o. and president. Fred Marino is serving as interim c.e.o. until a permanent successor is found.

Paul Ramsay has joined Lowe's Cos., Mooresville. N.C.. as senior v.p.infrastructure & operations.

Larry Hortin has joined Kieffer Lumber Co., Mt. Carmel, Il., in sales and estimating.

Todd Baxter, Columbus, Oh., has joined Idaho Pacific Lumber Co., as an account executive serving the Midwest and East.

Tom Pagnini is new to sales at Marjam Supply Co., Wappingers Falls, N.Y.

Tony Farach, ex-Wilsonart, is now regional sales mgr. at Wurth Wood Group, Norfolk, Va.

Clemens Miller has been appointed president of building products for NSG Group, Toledo, Oh., succeeding Mark Lyons, who is now c.f.o. of parent company Pilkington.

James Bland is a new kitchen cabinet sales specialist at Carter Lumber, Hopkinsville, Ky.

Chris Martin is now assistant plant mgr. of Armstrong's ceiling facility in Marietta, Pa.

Dick Bower has retired as plywood certification mgr. for TECO, Sun Prairie, Wi., after seven years with the company and 40 in the industry.

Suzanne Aikens has joined the customer sales team at ODL. Zeeland. Mi.

Peter Dachowski, president and c.e.o., CertainTeed Corp., Valley Forge, Pa., is retiring Aug. 3l after 35 years with the company. He will be succeeded by John Crowe, currently president of Saint-Gobain's global abrasives business.

Steven R. Jette has been apointed marketing mgr.-composites for Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, promoting the Green Glue division, Granville, N.Y.

Gary Landress has joined HD Supply, Atlanta, Ga., as president of its Crown Bolt division.

Angelo Quattrocchi, 90, co-founder of Construction Building Materials, Bristol, Pa., was guest of honor at a trade show honoring the company's 65th anniversary.

Abner Mallady is now charting lumber price trends for MungusFungus Forest Products, Climax, Nv., according to co-owners Hugh Mungus and Freddy Fungus.