ANNOUNCINC ...AN OPPORTUNITY YOUR coMPANY'e*flNOt Arf[{}nb To Mtss...

THE CAROLINA PLUM, o*ned and operated by Andy and Maria Freeman, specializes in reloading and transporting wood products for companies wishing to penetrate the Southeast via the Carolinas.

Centrally located in North Carolina, The Carolina Plum (TCp) is only 45 miles from Charlotte, 135 miles from Asheville, 55 miles from Creensboro, and 130 miles from Raleigh. This prime location offers your company accessibility to markets in an area that is one of the hottest building spots in the U.S.

TCP has the ability to unload centerbeam railcars, flat bulkheads, and boxcars. TCP can also handle your transportation needs at a competitive price with prompt dependable service.

Service is the main part of our business at TCP. We encourage you to consider THE CAROLINA PLUM for your RELOAD and TRANSPORTATION needs.

Blaze Strikes Jordan Redwood

Lee Roy Jordan Redwood Lumber Co., Dallas, Tx., lost a 30,000-sq. ft. warehouse in an Oct. l8 fire.

The blaze, reportedly caused by spontaneous combustion, burned for hours, fueled by the amount of lumber in the structure. When it was all over. the building was reduced to a pile of metal and charred wood.

"Any and everything that could have gone wrong did go wrong," said Dallas Fire-Rescue spokesman Lt. Joel Lavender. "You have the wood, which is combustible, the temperature, and the humidity, and you have the automatic ignition."

No injuries were reported. Damage was initially estimated at more than $l million. The rest of the facility remained operational and, within a day, Jordan was back filling orders.

AHMA Gancels 2005 Show

The American Hardware Manufacturers Association's board unanimously voted to kill the 2005 AHMA Hardware Show in Chicago, Il.

AHMA had sponsored the National Hardware Show since 1974, but last year split with show owner/promoter Reed Exhibitions. Both had agreed to move the event from summer to spring, but Reed also wanted to relocate it to Las Vegas, Nv. AHMA, which is based in Chicago, instead decided to hold its own competing event. Its Chicago show in April, however, attracted far fewer exhibitors and attendees than did Reed's show in Las Vegas.

The association will now "proactively focus on creating alternative, optimally valuable and relevant events for its members and its industry," said AHMA's Timothy S. Farrell, rather than "holding on to something that was valuable to them in the past."

Louisiana Gets Martco Plants

Ending its lengthy search, Roy O. Martin Lumber, Alexandria, La., has decided to add two manufacturing plants in Louisiana (see Sept., p.42).

The company will locate a $185 million OSB mill in Allen Parish and a $38.5 million dry veneer plant in Chopin. Construction is expected to begin in January.

Louisiana had lobbied hard to get the plants. The governor's office offered tax incentives to the company, including a partial tax equalization of $20 million over l0 years, to locate the facilities in the state.

Huttig Plans Northeast DC

Huttig Building Products will open a new building supply warehouse and regional headquarters this spring in Hooksett, N.H. The new warehouse will be Huttig's main supply depot for New Hampshire.

The $6 million warehouse, expected to open in April, will house windows, doors, and other products. The 160,000-sq. ft. building is being built on 20 acres, and will feature 15,000 sq. ft. ofoffice space.

Whistleblower Files Suit

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission filed suit against the owners of Eastern Engineered Wood Products, Allentown, Pa., for terminating the company president after he substantiated allegations that one of the owners had allegedly sexually harassed an employee.

Verne Orth claims he lost a $500,000 bonus and then his job due to what owners Steve and Doug Colson termed "disloyal conduct."

According to EEOC attorney Jacqueline McNair, one of the owners allegedly approached an employee, made inappropriate sexual comments and requested sexual favors. Orth said he learned of and reported the incident in December, and soon after the owners began acting hostile toward him. Orth claimed that in January Doug Colson informed him he would not receive his bonus because of potential litigation over the alleged sexual harassment. In March, Orth was suspended then fired.

"They terminated him from a company that he had really devoted his life to," said Orth's lawyer, Jon Petrakis. "He is now out of work."

The commission filed the suit in U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania after completing its own investigation.

Lowe's Opens lmport Facility

Lowe's will open a new $5 million import holding facility in Stokesdale, N.C.. to complement its existing 550,000-sq. ft. site in North Wilkesboro, N.C.

The facility will be located in an existing 480,000-sq. ft. warehouse, and will consolidate merchandise imported from overseas, which will then be distributed to Lowe's regional distribution centers.

The facility is expected to begin receiving shipments in December.

TruServ Reentering LBM

New merchandise and a new name dominated the talk at TruServ's fall market in October.

The co-op announced it is planning on re-entering the lumber and building materials business. While plans are still in the development stage, TruServ has already hired commodity traders and is currently searching for suppliers to drop-ship directly to members.

TruServ will also be re-evaluating its product categories and merchandise. The co-op has conducted line reviews of 25 different product categories representing more than $80 million in co-op purchases. The reviews and upcoming resets will result in more than $17 million in cash and product cost savings for the co-op and members. TruServ plans to review another l0 categories by year's end, 50 more in 2005 and complete a review in all categories by 2007.

The company is looking to get more of its members to upgrade and modernize their stores, rather than just putting new products in old stores.

TruServ is also revamping its corporate identity by changing its name to True Value Company, effective Jan. l, 2005. "The True Value brand is readily recognized, understood and respected because it stands for quality and value and expertise," said c.e.o. Pamela Forbes Lieberman.

Fire Destroys New York Yard

Kark Lumber, Fenton, N.Y. suffered between $40,000 to $50,000 in damage due to a fire.

The Oct. 5 blaze destroyed lumber, siding, pallets and tools located in the storage barn.

When firefighters arrived at the scene, the barn had already lost its roof. Since the barn was not located close enough to anything to spread, firefighters decided to let it burn to the ground rather than extinguish it. Charles Kark Sr., who owns the land the lumberyard was on, said allowing the barn to burn would make it easier to clean up and rebuild.

Kark Sr., and his son, Charles Kark Jr., owner of the yard, had been planning on building a sawmill in the barn. Luckily they had not yet installed the equipment. The two men said once the cleanup is complete, they will continue their plans to build the sawmill.

SYP Manufacturer Moves On

Jordan Lumber & Supply Inc., Mt. Gilead, N.C., is expanding operations in Barnesville, Ga., rvhile putting on hold a proposed mill in Robbins, N.C.

Its Jordan Forest Products mill in Barnesville-acquired in June from Weyerhaeuser-is installing a nelv 84ft. Phoenix double-track dry kiln and a 25,200-sq. ft. lumber storage and shipping facility. The additions support the increased production from a second shift that began Nov. 1.

Another $3 to $5 million will be invested over the next 12 months to add add and upgrade equipment.

Meanwhile, due to the economy, Jordan has tabled plans to move into a 220,000-sq. ft. mill in Robbins and begin manufacturing furniture by Nov. 2 and in time expand to rvall panels (see Oct., p. I8).

Post-Hurricane Helping Hands

After four hurricanes. lumberyards and home improvement stores are doing their best to help communities with clean-up and reconstruction.

Home Depot donated $3 million to non-profit organizations to help rebuilding efforts in Florida, plus tools, supplies and grants. Its volun- teer nctrvork, Team Depot, also assisting in the storm rebuilding efforts. Team Depot associates began work Oct. 2 repairing a YMCA in Orange County and a Girl Scout facility in Seminole County.

Depot enlisted the help of logistics firm Kuehne Nagel to managc a 530,000-sq. ft. Orlando DC, which rvill supply 145 storcs in areas hit hardest by the hurricanes. The operation is expected to run for six months.

Humicanes also slightly delayed the opening of Lorve's $7-5 million, 1.3 million-sq. ft. regional DC in Osceola County, Fl. The facility will service approximately l2O stores throughout Florida and Southern Georgia with more than 25,000 different products.

Lorve's marked the Oct. l9 opening by donating $100,000 to the state's Hurricane Relief Fund, follorving earlier contributions of $1.3 million by the chain and its customers to thc Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund.

Salvage work also remains in the forests. In Alabama. a 24-member Forest Recovery Task Force was created to help owners whose timberlands were destroyed by hurricane. lts flrst goal is to salvage as much timber as possible before it deteriorates.

Tarp The Truck

A powerized truck tarping system from U.S. Metal Works reportedly reduces the exposure to incidents and claims due to driver falls and accidents resulting from hand tarping loads.

The tarping system minimizes the time it takes to lay tarps on top of loads by allowing a single user to tarp a load and never leave the ground.

The system lifts and spreads up to 60 ft. of tarp in one operation, and comes with bridge, drive rails, support frame, corrugated sheet metal roof and siding. In some cases, the device can be installed in an existing building.

- Please contact (800) 523-5287 or v i sit www.u sme ta lw o r ks.c om

Boots Of Steel

To meet the demands of craftsmen and professionals, Timberland PRO has created the Titan Oxford work boot with titanium alloy toe.

PowerFit Comfort System, which uses zoned insoles and flex grooves to allow greater range of motion. support and cushioning.

- Please visit www.timberland.com

Rain Delay Housewrap

A woven housewrap with water drainage channels that move bulk water down to the base of the exterior wall has been introduced by Pactiv.

Outdoor Gel Stain

Thomoson's new Water Seal No Drip Ge[ Stain delivers the control and ease-of-application associated with interior gel stains in a formula designed to stand up to the elements. Reportedly the first gel stain specifically for outdoor wood, it delivers fade-resistant color, superior waterproofing protection, and mildew resistance. Its latex formula allows easy clean up, while the thicker consistency and pad applicator ease control while applying, including placement and transparency of the stain.

It comes in cedartone. redwood. sierra brown, and pure white.

- Please contact (800) 367-6297 o r v is it www.thomps onsonline.com

Instant lnsulation

GreenGuard RainDrop housewrap features vertical cords every few centimeters along the face of the housewrap, creating drainage channels that divert water straight down. Once the water has been drained away, the drainage planes air dry. It breathes to allow moisture vapor to release, comes in 9'x100'and 9'x150' rolls, and can be used with most common exterior finishes.

- Please contact (800) 241-4402 or visit www. green- guard.com

Nail Something

Collated brads and finish nails in 500 count job packs are new from Swan Secure Products, Inc.

The fasteners are ideal for trim, finish work, and coastal construction.

CertainTeed's EZR Fiber Glass Insulation is reportedly easier to cut, install and use than other traditional kraft-faced products.

The boot features waterproof leathers, titanium steel toes, Outlast Adaptive Comfort regulated temperature, nylon diffusion shank for torsional rigidity, and Timberland's

They are premium grade 316 stainless steel, and are available in 15, 16 and I 8 gauges and in lengths from 314" to 2-I/2".

- Please contact (800) 966-2801 or v is it www.swansec ure.c om

The insulation friction-fits into a wall cavity, eliminating the need to staple. It can be installed as a roll or a batt, comes in a 31' long by 12-114" wide roll, and is perforated every 93" to easily separate to install as a batt.

- Please contact (800) 233-8990 or v i sit www.certainte e d.c om

Stud Center Solution

Electronic stud finders that pinpoint the exact center of a stud in one pass are new from Zircon.

The TriScanner OneStep and MultiScanner OneStep take the guesswork out of locating the best place to drill or nail into a stud.

gThe scanners use CenterVision technology to locate the center of studs up to 4" wide, and feature an ergonomic design, non-slip grip, and high-impact case. They see through surfaces up to l-112" thick for studs, metal such as water pipes, and electrical wires. They can scan up to 3" of concrete and locate rebar.

- Please contact (800) 245-9265 or visit www.zircon.com

Decking Goes The Distance

Vinyl decking from Edge Building Products offers the fade, stain and scratch resistance of vinyl and the weight and workability of cedar.

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Adjustable N.tminum Post Mounts

DurationDeck is made of fiberreinforced cellular vinyl, reportedly making it lighter, stronger and easier to install than other composite decking. It is half the weight and stiffer than solid composites.

It does not contain any harmful chemicals, is highly mold, mildew and insect resistant, flame resistant, and the "DuraSkin" is stain, wear and scratch resistant. The lower density and moisture resistant fiber combine to make a very stable decking.

- Please contact (717) 567-2311 o r v i s it www.duratio nde c k.c om

Airtight Paint Tray

A resealable paint tray with a plastic lid that locks on the tray to form an airtight seal is new from Prazi USA.

SealPro's non-stick polypropylene paint tray holds as much as a gallon of paint and can be sealed airtight with an much asall2 gallon inside.

A magnet in its sidewall secures a brush when it's not being used, and a tow feature helps move the tray around the work area.

Dependable Decking

A new composite decking system from Correct Building Products provides professionals with a labor-saving installation method that will consistently deliver a great looking and high-performance deck.

The CorrectDeck System is reportedly the strongest decking system available because its components are made from UV-stabilized polypropylene and reclaimed hardwood fiber. Components include RapidRail, fascia, post caps and skirts.

The Signature Series deck boards work in conjunction with the Correct TY hidden fastener system.

It is available in coastal gray, cedar, Acadia and mahogany.

- Please contact (877) 332-5877 or visit www.c omectde ck.c om

The lid, when not covering the tray, provides the painter with a place to rest other accessories such as rags, pad-edgers and mini rollers. The lid's pocket system displaces 95Vo of the air in the sealed area, keeping paint and rollers fresh for months.

- Please contact (800) 262-021 I or visit www.praliusa-com equiprne4lis:,kiiibd: and workeG ara iniured by dangereus metal banding. Your bottom line is threatened by damaged product, expensive repairs, and rising insurance rates. Sweed Choppers turn this profit-sucking menace into valuable scrap that you can easily recycle. Increase safetyl Out-of-control insurance claims, repair bills, and storage problems will become a distant memory once Sweed's money-making choppers are put to work.

SAFEIY

Turn

Walk The Plank

The new TwinFinish 5/4 plank from TimberTech creates a fine detail and bold shadow lines from either side, since each features an entirely different surface texture.

One side of the plank features TimberTech's brushed surface, while the other side is a new woodgrain surface, providing the look of top-quality vertical grain lumber, and ensuring that no repetitive patterns are seen on the deck.

The planks are made from pure plastic resins and wood flour. Each board is straight, has no knots, splinters or curves, won't rot or warp, and comes in cedar, gray and redwood. No sanding. sealing. painting or restaining is required. The planks are available in 12-,16- and 20-ft. lengths and are 5-112" wide by l" thick.

- Please contact (800) 307-7780 or visit www.timbertech.com

All-Purpose PVC Railing

L.B. Plastics' new Sheerline PVC railings offer an alternative to traditional railing products that reduces installation times and minimizes maintenance.

in lengths of 38" and 54" in white.

The ready-to-assemble PVC gates are fully adjustable during installation. They feature rigid reinforced aluminum corners for maximum strength and durability.

- Please contact (800) 752-7739 or vis it www.lbp last ic s.c om

Formidable Forms

Durand Forms' new Classic Series product line offers aluminum forms for pouring concrete walls, which require less hardware and labor than wood forms, decreasing the amount of time spent on each project.

The forms are easily stripped and can be used for smooth and architectural finishes.

Designed with the builder and contractor in mind, the forms are available in several models and are constructed by certified welders to ensure years ofperfofinance.

Designed by Universal Forest Products, Latitudes has a richly textured embossed woodgrain on one side and a smooth brush surface on the other. It reportedly won't splinter or warp, can be installed with standard tools, and comes in 8-, l2-, 16and 20-ft. lengths.

The Sheerline 3000 railing series is designed for porches, balconies, decks and other applications. The series is extruded from l00%o UV stabilized, high impact rigid PVC. It is available in beige and white.

The molded newel post is designed to complement Plantation porch posts and Colonial spindles. Railing comes

- Please contact (800) 545-6342 or v i s it www.dur andforms.c om

Reversible Decking

Latitudes, a new line of reversible composite decking boards, reportedly offers^greater design flexibility and ease or use.

The boards come with two matching rail systems. The co-extruded railings feature a composite base with a PVC cap stock, and comes in a kit which includes brackets. insert rails. trim rings and hardware.

- Please contact (877) 463-8379 or visit www.ufui.com