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(Continued from page 16) ink systems. The white opaque material is 5-mil polypropylene with a two-sided matte finish. The construction offers strength and rigidity, so the tags will not rip or tear from being stapled to the boards.

“Protecting the Culpeper brand identity and reinforcing their positioning is always top of mind,” said Ben Schneider, senior account manager, MidSouth Design. “These tags provide instant brand recognition with visual consistency in both layout and the use of color as a distinguisher of the product category.

“We use every bit of available space on the tags to effectively leverage the Culpeper graphics and detailed user information. And with a label that’s just seven-eighths of an inch by 2 inches, we have to be extremely precise. There is no margin for error.”

The tag material and inks are engineered with added durability to withstand full exposure to the treatment chemicals. In addition, tagged lumber on a job site is subjected to all types of weather conditions. The printing cannot fade or smear, so there is a higher level of UV resistance and added protection from abrasion.

COLOR CODING—such as orange for #1 Grade Ground Contact and green for #2 Ground Contact—makes the grades easily identifiable and enriches the Culpeper brand.

For example, Culpeper has a treating operation in Lancaster, Ma. They treat year-round at the facility, so when the wood comes out of the treater in the winter, it freezes. Still, the tag must hold up against all the elemental conditions.

As for the tagging process, that’s done in the lumberyard. Culpeper uses the MidSouth Tagger, a pneumatic stapler engineered by MidSouth Design that automatically feeds a single tag from a roll and simultaneously staples it in place. Compared to holding a stapler in one hand and a roll of tags in the other, the MidSouth Tagger combines both elements into a single action. This increases productivity and speedto-market for Culpeper.

Lumber end tags do not require approval from Underwriters Laboratories, but they do offer compliance elements about the chemical preservative, affiliation with a third-party inspection agency, industry standards regarding use, warranty statement, and treating plant location.

“While some people might look at Culpeper products as just wood boards, we take our packaging and branding efforts very seriously,” Brown said. “It comes down to how we represent the Culpeper brand with customer support. And that support begins with the end tags.”

“They have to confirm the customer’s decision to use our products. That’s why every tag must be completely readable. They also have to be front and center on the end of every board at retail and the job site. When you consider the level of information those tags have to carry, legibility is a must and losing even one in transit is not acceptable,” he added.

– Michael Vejar is VP of sales & marketing for MidSouth Design, Birmingham, Al. (www.midsouthdesign.net), manufacturer

DATE Book

Listings are often submitted months in advance. Always verify dates and locations with sponsor before making plans to attend. Northeastern Retail Lumber Association – Nov. 3, fall roundtable,

Beauport Hotel, Gloucester, Ma.; www.nrla.org. Northwestern Lumber Association – Nov. 3, sales seminar,

BlueLinx, Brooklyn Park, Mn.; Nov. 9-11, Estimating 1-2-3, Delta

Hotels, Menomonee Falls, Wi.; www.nlassn.org. Midwest Building Suppliers Association – Nov. 3, Roadshow annual meeting, Grand Rapids, Mi.; Nov. 4, Canton, Mi.; Nov. 11,

Carmel, In.; www.thembsa.org. Building Material Suppliers Association – Nov. 7-9, purchasing manager roundtable, Savannah, Ga.; www.mybmsa.org. Eastern New York Lumber Dealers Assn. – Nov. 9, annual meeting/ tradeshow, Holiday Inn, Saratoga Springs, N.Y.; www.nrla.org. Florida Building Material Alliance – Nov. 9, blueprint reading workshop, Mt. Dora, Fl.; www.fbma.org.

North American Wholesale Lumber Association – Nov. 10-12,

annual NAWLA Traders Market, Louisville, Ky.; www.nawla.org. Western New York Lumber Dealers Association – Nov. 12, annual meeting, ARTISANworks, Rochester, N.Y.; www.nrla.org. Northern New York Lumber Dealers Association – Nov. 13, annual bowling tournament, Market Lanes, Potsdam, N.Y.; www.nrla.org. Northeastern Retail Lumber Association – Nov. 15, Rising Women in the Lumber Industry roundtable, Lenox, Ma.; www.nrla.org. Construction Suppliers Association – Nov. 16-18, estimating training; Residence Inn Bricktown, Oklahoma City, Ok.; www.gocsa.com. Deck Expo – Nov. 16-8, in conjunction with International Pool Spa Patio

Expo, Dallas, Tx.; www.poolspapatio.com. Eastern Building Material Dealers Assn. – Nov. 18, annual meeting,

Hilton Garden Inn-Inner Harbor, Baltimore, Md.; www.nrla.org. Rhode Island Lumber & Building Material Dealers Assn. – Nov. 19, holiday party, Downtown Marriott, Providence, R.I.; www.nrla.org. New Jersy Building Material Dealers Association – Dec. 1, holiday lunch & board meeting, Wolfgang’s Steakhouse, Somerville, N.J.; www.nrla.org. Northwestern Lumber Association – Dec. 1, contractor sales seminar, Sioux Falls, S.D.; Dec. 6-7, Estimating 2 & 3, Omaha, Ne.; www.nlassn.org. Northeastern Retail Lumber Association – Dec. 7-9, fall roundtable;

Dec. 8-9, 128th LBM Expo, Rhode Island Convention Center, Providence, R.I.; www.nrla.org. Mid-America Lumbermens Association – Dec. 8-9, Estimating 2 & 3,

Kansas City, Mo.; www.themla.com. Northwestern Lumber Association – Dec. 14, contractor sales seminar, Lake Delton, Wi.; www.nlassn.org.