Portland plays host to western lumber industryns annual conference

tTt"t wESTERN LUMBER industry's largest gathering of I leading wood products companies will return to Portland, Or., this spring with the Western Wood Products Association's 20 l3 annual meeting.

The North American Wholesale Lumber Association will also hold its yearly Pacific Northwest regional meeting on March 5 in conjunction with the WWPA event and is planning activities to complement the gathering.

The conference will be held March 3-5 at the Embassy Suites Hotel in downtown Portland. The meeting draws the western lumber industry's top professionals, ranging from senior-level executives to sales managers and production personnel. As an added draw, member companies will be inviting key customers to the meeting. You can review more information about the meeting on the WWPA website at www.wwpa.org.

The annual meeting will kick off with the industry welcome reception on Sunday March 3. Monday morning sessions get underway with the industry forecast breakfast featuring the association's outlook for 2013 lumber markets, before getting down to business with WWPA standing committee meetings, followed by the industry luncheon. The afternoon features a speaker session with guest speakers covering a range of topics important to western lumber producers and their customers. The day will close with the chairman's reception, which offers many opportunities to network with other industry professionals.

Registration is $300 for WWPA members, $350 for associate members, and $425 for all others. Fees for registrations received after February 15 increase by $50. For those who would like to just network with industry folks, WWPA is offering a special registration for the welcome and chairman's receptions only on Sunday and Monday nights for $ 100 each.

Registration and hotel reservations for the meeting can now be completed online, using links on www.wwpa.org. Last year's room block quickly sold out. For 2013, the association has secured a larger block of rooms at the Embassy Suites. The reservation deadline to take advantage of the special WWPA rate is February 3. Those needing overnight accommodations are urged to make hotel reservations early.

Swanson Upgrades Planer

Swanson Group, Glendale, Or., is updating its planer mill to improve throughput, recovery, and the value and grade distribution of its products.

Supplied by USNR, the 20-ft. line will receive a full-featured THG system, revolver lug loader, multi-track fence, WinTally sorter management system, True-Read XL grade mark reader, grade projector system, and associated trim line lumber transfers.

The line's controls system will also be updated to the Controllogix platform.

States Industries Buys Component Firm

Hardwood plywood manufacturer States Industries, Eugene, Or., has acquired Drawer Box Specialties, Orange, Ca.

Founded in 1987, DBS produces drawer boxes, drawer storage systems, shelving units, and specialty accessories.

States' president Mike Taylor called the addition of DBS a strategic extension of its existing value-added components business. "We are focused on continued growth by integrating toward the end-user with an innovative mix of products and solutions," said Taylor. "DBS has a great brand franchise that we think will be a perfect complement to our business moving forward."

DBS will retain most of its management and its existing sales team in Southern California. DBS president Cathy Blankenship will continue to manage the business unit for States Industries.

PPG Buying AkzoNobel U.S.

PPG Industries, Pittsburgh, Pa., agreed to pay $1.05 billion for AkzoNobel's North American architectural coatings business.

The deal includes its North American architectural coatings production and distribution facilities, paint stores, and product lines, including Glidden, Flood, Liquid Nails, SICO. and CIL.

Weyco Sawmill Won't Reopen

Weyerhaeuser's sawmill in Dallas, Or.-shuttered since 2009-will not restart under its new owner.

After paying $1.4 million at a Sept-ember auction for the 66-acre site, Northwest Demolition & Dismantling, Tigard, Or., was unable to find anyone interested in running

Building-Products.com the mill, so has begun selling off the equipment.

Siding Giant Buying Kleer

Tapco International Corp., a subsidiary of Headwaters Inc., South Jordan, Ut., has agreed to acquire the assets of PVC trim manufacturer Kleer Lumber, Westfield, Ma.

Headwaters' brands include Builders Edge trim, Foundry siding, Mid-America siding components, Tapco siding tools, and El Dorado manufactured stone.

Headwaters aims to add Kleer's products to its nationwide distribution network. Kleer's current distribution is concentrated on independent lumberyards and home improvement centers in the Northeast and mid-Atlantic regions.

The deal was expected to close by Dec.31.

Clarification

At Capital Lumber's recently expanded DC in Tacoma, Wa. (Dec., p.20),Mark McClain will oversee EWP activity. Matt Yates remains branch manager.