ASSOCIATION UPDATE

Western Building Material Associ-

ation is returning to in-person events, with an “Introduction to Building Material Sales” seminar Sept. 14 and an estimating workshop Sept. 15-16, both at its Kincaid Learning Center in Olympia, Wa.

WBMA has also debuted Foundation LMS—an online learning platform designed specifically for the lumber and building material industry. Whether you need content to onboard new employees or need to train/educate existing ones, the association promises it will be an invaluable resource for your business.

Foundation is continually evolving with new courses always in the works. By the end of summer, WBMA will have added courses on Forklift Safety Training, Customer Service, and Estimating/Blueprint Reading & Takeoff.

Mountain States Lumber & Building Material Dealers Association

will hold an “Introduction to Building Material Sales” class Oct. 5, followed by an estimating workshop Oct. 6-7 at the DoubleTree by Hilton Tech Center in Denver, Co.

Attendees to the first will receive a basic understanding of building material operations, product usage in residential construction and customer service. This workshop is designed for personnel new to the industry, employees with limited training, as well as those more experienced desiring additional industry knowledge.

At the estimating workshop, attendees will learn the basics of floor, wall and roof framing while developing a material list. Contractor salespeople, inside sales support, and anyone desiring to learn the basics of how a take-off is developed are the targeted audiences.

North American Wholesale Lum-

ber Association has enlisted motivational speaker extraordinaire Mark Scharenbroich to keynote the NAWLA Traders Market Nov. 10-12 at the Kentucky International Convention Center, Louisville, Ky.

Other speakers will include Ryder Systems’ Kevin Askew, Doss Logistics’ Sheldon Doss, Timber Products’ Tom Gennarelli, J.B. Hunt Transport’s Steve Guthrie, Manufacturers Reserve Supply’s Tina Breen, Patrick Lumber Co.’s Chelsea Brown, and Capital Lumber’s Bethany Doss.

NAWLA’s Vancouver, B.C., regional meeting is set for Sept. 21 at Mahoney’s Tavern in False Creek, Vancouver.

National Hardwood Lumber

Association has booked Chick-fil-A chief marketing officer Steve Robinson and Euler Hermes chief economist Dan North to keynote its annual convention Sept. 22-24 in West Palm Beach, Fl.

Themed “Turning the Tide with Innovation,” the event will also offer presentations on new markets for hardwood by Virginia Tech’s Dr. Henry Quesada, NHLA rules changes by chief inspector Dana Spessert, exports by AHEC executive director Mike Snow, and avoiding becoming a cybersecurity victim by MindSprout’s Scott Raba.

BC Wood will hold a pair of online Global Buyers Missions—Sept. 29-30 for North and Latin America market buyers and Sept. 14-15 for Asian market buyers.

Hoo-Hoo International has canceled its annual convention planned for September due to COVID.

As part of a restructuring of its western operations, Roseburg will launch a multi-million dollar investment in new technology at facilities within the region, while shuttering its particleboard plant in Dillard, Or.

The closure of the Dillard Composites plant, which has operated since 1965, will affect 179 current team members, who will be offered employment opportunities elsewhere in the organization. Some machine centers will continue to operate into late October.

Roseburg undertook an extensive study of strategic investment opportunities to enhance its integrated business model in the West. “The analysis led to the decision to close Dillard Composites and look toward the investment, growth and continued modernization of our western integrated business model,” said president and CEO Grady Mulbery. “The coming investment in automated technology will create a more competitive business and allow us to maintain a robust, long-term presence in Douglas County, the state, and the industry as a whole.”

The company will continue to produce particleboard at plants in Missoula, Mt.; Simsboro, La.; and Taylorsville, Ms.

Cornerstone Adds Cascade Windows

Cornerstone Building Brands, Cary, N.C., has agreed to purchase vinyl window and door manufacturer Cascade Windows, Spokane Valley, Wa., for $245 million.

Cascade has roughly 800 employees at six manufacturing and three distribution locations throughout the West and Pacific Northwest.

“Cascade is an excellent strategic fit for our company and advances our strategy to grow in the large, deep residential windows market,” said James S. Metcalf, chairman and CEO. “Additionally, the acquisition expands our manufacturing presence across the rapidly growing west coast region and enhances our tailored solutions offering for our customers.”

The deal is expected to close during the third quarter.

Other door/windows brands held by Cornerstone include Ply Gem, Silver Line, Simonton, Atrium, American Craftsman, Great Lakes Window.

Investment Firm Secures Trimlite

Door and doorlite manufacturer Trimlite Manufacturing, Renton, Wa., has been acquired by private equity firm Wynnchurch Capital L.P.

“Wynnchurch shares our commitment to putting the customers first and we are excited to partner with them as we pursue our next phase of growth,” said Patrick Hooper, CEO of Trimlite.

LMC Hosts Online Hardware Express

LMC hosted 60 exhibitors with nearly 300 attendees Aug. 9-11 at the second consecutive virtual edition of the LMC Hardware Express.

Matching the attendance of last year’s virtual event, dealers were able to maximize buying opportunities with access to exclusive show specials from exhibitors.

The Express also hosted sponsor presentations and gave the dealers the flexibility to meet with suppliers and the LMC team over the course of three days.

The 2021 virtual edition hopes to be the last of its kind for LMC for the foreseeable future. The 2021 LMC EXPO, planned for November, is to be in person at the Pennsylvania Convention Center in Philadelphia.

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CROWN ACE Hardware’s three stores in Newport Beach and Corona del Mar, Ca., raised $7,000 this summer to help build a new Junior Lifeguard facility near the Balboa Pier. Left to right: Newport Beach Junior Lifeguard Foundation’s Graham Harvey, Crown president Mark Schulein, and Ben Carlson Foundation’s Jake Janz. Crown’s six OC locations also expect to raise over $100,000 this year for CHOC Children’s Hospital.

Katerra Sells Milling Facilities

Bankrupt cross-laminated timber manufacturer Katerra has found buyers for its two main manufacturing facilities.

The bankruptcy court approved the sale of its two-yearold, 270,000-sq. ft. CLT plant in Spokane, Wa., to Mercer International, Vancouver, B.C., for $50 million.

“We are very pleased with our impending acquisition of the facility,” said Mercer CEO David Gandossi. “It represents an attractive entry point for us into the CLT business with a near-new, state-of-the-art facility.”

Katerra’s two-year-old, 577,000-sq. ft. component facility in Tracy, Ca., is being purchased by Volumetric Building Companies, Philadelphia, Pa.

“With the continued growth and success of VBC, we were exploring options to expand our manufacturing footprint and industry infl uence,” said CEO Vaughan Buckley. “Katerra’s Tracy location provides an exceptional opportunity to bring our hands-on construction and manufacturing expertise to a state-of-the-art facility and build our presence on the West Coast.”

Ace Adding Central California DC

Ace Hardware Corp. will open a new Retail Support Center (RSC) in Visalia, Ca., to occupy more than 1 million sq. ft. and serve more than 300 Ace-affi liated stores in multple western states.

Centrally located between Sacramento and Los Angeles, the new facility will augment the company’s Rocklin, Ca., and Prescott Valley, Az., distribution centers. Construction is scheduled to begin later this year; the distribution center will be fully operational in early 2023.

The Visalia RSC will feature new technology, a climatecontrolled environment, improved automation to help streamline and enhance operations, and room to expand.

Modesto Yard Fire Ruled Arson

Arson has been determined as the cause of a June 18 fi re that caused approximately $2 million in damages to American Lumber Co., Modesto, Ca.

Thus far, no arrests have been made in the case.

The blaze destroyed four older, lesser-used buildings, but also forklifts, materials and a mill that will take months to rebuild.

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HPM Celebrates Centennial

HPM Building Supply, Hawaii’s local, fi fth-generation, family-founded building industry retailer, manufacturer, and supplier, is celebrating its 100th year anniversary in 2021.

HPM has a long, storied history in Hawaii’s building industry and is a leader in the community. The company has survived two devastating tsunamis, which wiped out whole facilities and inventory, each time rebuilding and reestablishing itself.

“HPM is grateful for the support of generations of customers who have chosen HPM as their main source for building supply materials over the last century,” said Jason Fujimoto, president and CEO, HPM Building Supply. “We look forward to continuing to grow and innovate our business to help others build and live better.”

After a century in business, HPM is now a statewide organization, with branches and services on every major Hawaiian Island and 14 locations across the state. HPM is also 100% employee-owned by their more than 400 owneremployees, who share in the company’s success.

HPM could not have accomplished this milestone without the support of its local communities. To show appreciation, and in honor of their centennial year, they are giving back on an even larger scale this year. Their celebration includes a commitment to accomplish 100 community acts of service, special centennial-related benefi ts and activities to thank professional partners and customers, and statewide giveaways—the most recent of which will award one lucky winner with $20,000 of building materials from HPM towards a home project of their choice.

HPM Building Supply was founded in Hilo in 1921 by Kametaro Fujimoto, the great-great-grandfather of the current CEO. HPM specializes in lumber, building materials, paint, tools, trusses, wall panels, metal and composite roofi ng, kitchen and bath design, and pre-designed house plans. HPM was one of Hawaii’s fi rst businesses to establish an employee profi t-sharing plan in 1959 and, in 1977, became one of the fi rst companies in the state to be employee-owned.

Humboldt Taps Global Sales Agent

Aspen Pacifi c Industries, Vancouver, B.C., has been named the exclusive international sales agent for Humboldt Sawmill and Allweather Wood.

Humboldt Sawmill, located in Northern California, owns and operates three sawmills and 440,000 acres of redwood and Douglas fi r timberland. Allweather Wood is the largest manufacturer of preservative treated lumber in the western U.S. with annual production of over 500 million bd. ft.

Aspen Pacifi c, a leading Canadian manufacturer and global exporter of softwood and hardwood lumber, will market a wide range of premium redwood, Douglas fi r, and preservative-treated lumber products into Europe and PanPacifi c markets such as Vietnam, China, India, Southeast Asia, Japan, Taiwan, French-Polynesia, and Guam.

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While construction companies continue to face supply chain disruption as a result of the pandemic, these companies are more optimistic (56%) than the national average (52%), expecting overall economic conditions in the U.S. will improve, according to a new study from Umpqua Bank.

The survey shows that construction fi rms tend to see improving fi nances in the year ahead. About 66% said they expect revenues to increase, compared with an average of 55% for all sectors, and only behind that of retail (67%). The construction industry also expects profi ts to rise, with 52% saying so, compared with an average of 45%, and trailing only retail (67%) and manufacturing (57%).

Construction fi rms also said they will continue to retool their approaches over the next year. Remarkably, 73% said they plan to make signifi cant changes to pricing, more than any other sector, with others trailing well behind, such as manufacturing (50%), business services (49%), and wholesale (48%). About 34% said they are likely to take on debt to grow in the coming 12 months, versus 29% of all those polled. About 31% are considering increasing their real estate footprint, similar in inclination to other industries (32%).

“Construction fi rms of all sizes have shown remarkable resilience during the pandemic, and generally appear optimistic about the economy and their prospects for growth,” says Richard Cabrera, executive VP at Umpqua Bank. “They have faced volatile commodity prices and labor shortages, but strong demand for real estate, such as housing and warehouses, has allowed operators to pass much of the rising costs on to buyers.”

Like many enterprises, businesses in the construction industry have made changes and adapted in response to the pandemic. However, they are less like than other business to keep changes made long term: only about 37% of fi rms said they will maintain most or all of the changes they put in place since March of last year, the lowest among all sectors in the study. The national average was 54%.

About 95% of the construction industry said they had supply issues over the last 12 months, compared with an average of 88% for all sectors.

Roughly 20% of construction fi rms said they are more likely to acquire another business in the coming year, versus 26% of all companies.

Only 33% of fi rms said they would likely automate repetitive tasks over the next year, below the average of 44%, but 58% they would look for ways to digitize the business to improve effi ciency, in line with the average of 59%.

“We see very encouraging signs despite some macroeconomic adversity,” Cabrera says. “We’re likely going to see strong growth in construction for the foreseeable future.”

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CatchMark Timber Trust, Atlanta, Ga., has completed the sale of 18,063 acres of Oregon timberlands for $100 million in cash to Roseburg Resources Co., Springfield, Or.

The land—known as the Bandon property—had been purchased by CatchMark three years earlier for $88 million.

Online Tool Opens Up New Doors

Simpson Door Co., McCleary, Wa., launched a new Find A Door interactive selection tool. With a user-friendly interface, the new tool makes it easy for homeowners and builders to search for and purchase a truly one-of-a-kind door.

Find A Door offers multiple ways for a consumer to find their perfect door, regardless of whether they are an expert or a novice. For example, the Architectural Style sort functionality pairs users with a specific door number based on their home’s design aesthetic. Once they select a door, they can personalize it and send it directly to an authorized dealer of their choosing to request a quote.

“For years, we have been telling homeowners they can have any door design, style, wood type or glass type— there are no limitations. That said, it can be difficult for homeowners to envision the customizations they can make and then communicate their vision to a retail dealer,” said Brad Loveless, marketing and product development manager. “Our Find A Door tool gives homeowners the freedom to design exactly what they want, see it on the screen in front of them, and then quickly and easily receive a quote from their dealer.”

Hardie Issues Sustainability Report

James Hardie has released its first global sustainability report. Hardie’s 2021 Sustainability Report, Building Sustainable Communities, outlines its sustainable future, company commitments and significant progress made to date in four key areas: communities, environment, innovation and zero harm. It is supported with measurable goals and metrics in each of the four areas, including goals for greenhouse gas reduction, diversity, environmental product declarations, and safety.

“Our commitment to building better, more sustainable communities starts by building better homes, with the homebuilding materials of the future,” said Hardie CEO Dr. Jack Truong. “Our commitment to a sustainable future extends to our James Hardie community, the local communities in which we operate, and across the largest shared community of all, our global ecosystem. At James Hardie, we are transforming the way the world builds by offering better, safer and more sustainable products.”

Videos Tout Gypsum Roof Board

Georgia-Pacific has launched the first of a four-part video series demonstrating the value of choosing a gypsum roof board to help protect against fire, wind, puncture and hail.

The “Four Dimensions of Durability in Roofing” series debuted with the introduction of the first dimension—fire— and illustrates the advantages of adding a gypsum roof board to a roof assembly. The three other videos will be released in the months to come.

Each video will focus on one of the four dimensions of durability that roofing contractors should expect from their coverboard, referencing testing methods and results.

Huber Buys Consulting Firm

Huber Resources Corp., Charlotte, N.C., has purchased certain assets of Sewall Forestry & Natural Resource Consulting LL, which will expand its capabilities globally in key service areas including timberland appraisals, forest inventory management, and forest modeling.

The SFNR business was formerly owned by James W. Sewall Co., a 140-year-old Maine-based consulting firm providing renewable energy site design, environmental permitting, transportation engineering, geospatial data analysis, and natural resource economic analysis.

Strong-Tie Updates Two Guides

Simpson Strong-Tie, Pleasanton, Ca., has released two updated publications—its 2021-2022 Wood Construction Connectors catalog and the latest edition of its Strong-Rod Design Guide. The new Wood Construction Connectors catalog is a comprehensive guide to SST’s most recent innovations and product line expansions for wood construction applications.

Available in print and online, the catalog includes

allowable load tables for all products and was updated to comply with the 2021 IBC and IRC building codes. In addition, it features product illustrations and installation notes designed to assist engineers, architects, designers, pro suppliers, and contractors in selecting the right wood connector products for improved performance, efficiency and productivity.

“We take pride in putting together great catalogs for our customers because we know they depend on this information to design and build safe, strong structures,” says Sam Hensen, Simpson Strong-Tie vice president of connectors and lateral systems. “For 65 years, customers have relied on our Wood Construction Connectors catalog as a one-stop resource for the latest information on our newest innovations as well as any changes related to building codes or new testing.”

Among the new innovations featured are two patent-pending connectors— the LTTP2 light tension tie and LSSR slopable/skewable hanger series.

The updated Strong-Rod Design Guide helps engineers, architects and builders achieve continuous load paths in multistory and mid-rise light-frame wood buildings.

Seismic and wind events are serious threats to the structural integrity of all wood-framed buildings. For one- and two-story structures, straps, hurricane ties, and holdowns are often sufficient for resisting shearwall overturn and roof-uplift forces. Taller multistory structures frequently have more complicated designs, including larger window and door openings, that create the need for continuous rod tiedown systems to better resist both lateral and uplift loads.

Instead of using metal connector brackets as in a holdown system, continuous rod tiedown systems consist of a combination of rods, coupler nuts, bearing plates and shrinkage- compensation devices that work together to create a continuous load path to the foundation.

Featuring the Strong-Rod ATS anchor tiedown system and the StrongRod URS uplift restraint system, the Strong-Rod Design Guide provides detailed instructions for achieving maximum resistance to both seismic and high-wind forces while ensuring installation efficiency on the jobsite.