Quolity Western

2x4 Ml6 in 8-10' both rough ond surfoced

Cedor 4x4 P05TS in 4,5,6,7 ,8,9 ond l0'lengths lx4 B0ARDS in 4, 5 ond 6'lengths

Private equity firm Atlas Holdings LLC, Greenwich, Ct., formed a new subsidiary, Bridgewell Resources, to acquire assets from North Pacific's hardwood & industrial products, utility & construction, and food & agriculture divisions.

Bridgewell and its hardwood & industrials division will be run from North Pacific's former office building in Tigard, Or. Utility & construction will be supported by satellite offices in Virginia, Utah and Arkansas, and food & agricultural will operate from its DC in Clackamas, Or.

Dan Cromie, an Atlas partner, will serve as president of Bridgewell, joined by numerous former North Pacific executives, including Curtis Noteboom as c.f.o.; Brian Smith, v.p.lumber & boards; Jack Henderson, v.p. domestic wood products; Gregg Wilkinson, v.p.-international sales; Leonard Greer, sales manager-industrial products, and Joe Passadore, v.p.utility & construction. In all, Bridgewell now employs more than 100 former North Pacific associates.

Last year, Atlas was among three suitors that came close to buying substantially all of North Pacific, but each of the deals eventually collapsed.

North Pacific also may be close to parting with its Missouri division, which includes an office in West Plains, Mo., and three manufacturing plants in Missouri and Arkansas. Bids were being accepted until March 16 for the inventory, accounts receivable, equipment, and real estate.

Agwood Mill & Lumber, Ukiah, Ca., was approved for $2 million in federal stimulus funds that will be used to refinance existing loans at lower rates so the company can keep operating.

Simpson Lumber Co.'s mil in Shelton, Wa., escaped significant damage when firefighters quickly extinguished a 3 a.m. blaze March 28.

Investigators are searching for a cause, but note the roof was beino worked on.

Gonifex, Fort St. James, B.C., acquired a Mackenzie, 8.C., sawmill and planer from AbitibiBowater.

Eagle Materials, Dalas, Tx., has temporarily suspended production at its 20-year-old American Gypsum wallboard plant in Bernalillo, N.M.

Its Albuquerque, N.M., facility remains operational.

International Forest Products Ltd., Vancouver, 8.C., has completed the acquisition of a timber tenure in B.C.'s Kamloops region from Weyerhaeusor Co., proviiing supply for its 1-year-old Adams Lake sawmill.

Pacific Western Wood Pro. ducts, Los Angeles, Ca., has been Forest Stewardship Council chain-of-custody certified by Scien. tific Certification Systeins.

Weyerhaeuser Co., Federal Way, Wa., was named to Corporate Responsibility Magazine's annual list of 100 Best Corporate Citizens.

84 Shuts 10, Abandons ldaho

84 Lumber has shuttered its final location in Idaho, as well as nine other underperforming stores across the country.

The chain now operates 289 yards in 34 states, following the closures in Post Falls, Id.; Wrightstown, Wi.; Lancaster, Pa.; Rocky Mount, Va.; Cliffwood, N.J.; Haines City, Fl.; Concord, N.C.; Spartanburg, S.C.; Minooka, I1., and Moss Point, Ms.

Jeff Nobers, v.p. of marketing & public relations, said most of the closures were in markets where 84 operates multiple locations. "Some of the lessons we've learned in the last three years is we are capable of servicing the market with fewer stores." Nobers said. "We are consistently reviewing markets where we have multiple locations, and if we see where one store is not doing well and there are two others that are doing well, they could be consolidated."

Obdyke Pursues Acquisitions

At a time when the construction industry seems to have little positive to report, one building products manufacturer is looking to aggressively grow its business with a strategy to acquire new product ideas, patents, product lines. and companies.

Benjamin Obdyke is actively searching for new opportunities that will position it for maximum growth as the construction sector recovers from its current downturn.

"For us to achieve the company's growth objectives, we will need to look outside the organization for new product ideas that we can synergize with our internal product development processes," said Geoff Ehrman, director of business development.

Specifically, the Horsham, Pa.based firm is placing renewed empha- sis on acquiring intellectual property, manufacturing capabilities, information technology, and new ideas that will allow it to leverage its core competencies in residential and light commercial roof and wall products.

"By moving into an acquisition mode. we see it as a way to improve our current products, introduce new products, or expand our market reach so we can continue to provide our customers the specific products they need," Ehrman said.

He pointed out several reasons why a company or inventor might want to partner with a company like Benjamin Obdyke. "First, we have a well-established and respected brand of products for the building's exterior envelope. Second, we have established channels to access the market that are built upon our reputation for quality. And third, we have the technical expertise to help the contractor/builder build better. We have spent a great amount of time working with code officials and building scientists to make sure our products align with cunent building science practices," Ehrman said.

Potlatch Sells ldaho Plant

Potlatch Corp., Spokane, Wa., has sold its particleboard plant in Post Falls, Id., to former sawmill operator Plummer Forest Products.

New owner Todd Brinkmeyer had previously owned a sawmill in Plummer, Id., that specialized in small-diameter logs. He sold the facility in 2006.

Operations in Post Falls resumed March 22 after a four-week layoff.

Potlatch's Mark Benson said that the small-scale plant no longer fit the company's core mission, which is tied to 840900 acres of forestland in Idaho and operation of a lumber mill and plywood plant in St. Maries,Id.

Trex Co., Winchester, Va., inked a licensing deal for Dri.Deck Enterprises, Englewood, Co., to develop and market Trex RainEscape, an above-joist deck drainage system to be available this month.

Advanced Environmental Recycling Technologies plans to roll out new MoistureShield trim and fascia products this year and move to national distribution of MoistureShield products through a nationwide network of independent distributors.

GertainTeed, Valley Forge, Pa., now distributes four new wood-plastic composite decking and railing products trom Fiberon's EverNew line.

AFPA's Sustainable Forestry Initiative program recently notched its 2.000th chain-of-custodv certified location.

Versatex, Pittsburgh, Pa., has a new green building section at its website, www.versatex.com/green.

ProBuild Opens #4 in Utah

ProBuild Holdings, Denver, Co., has opened a new location in Orem, Ut., its fourth in the state.

The facility serves lumber and millwork customers and boasts Forest Stewardship Council chain-of-custody certification.

At the same time, ProBuild bought a facility in Virginia and recently opened a yard in Sacramento, Ca. "We continue to see opportunities where we can expand into new markets to better serve our customers," said Michael Mahre, senior v.p. of corporate development. "These new locations are great instances where we can bring the market-leading value of ProBuild's products and services to serve strong and growing markets."

Oregon Dealer Cuts Bend Yard

Pacific Lumber & Truss, Lake Oswego, Or., closed its yard and truss plant in Bend, Or., at the end of March. The company will try to lease out the l0-acre site.

"There's just not enough business," said co-owner Jim Morse. "It's just a shame."

He said that the plant opened in 2003 and brousht in close to $25 mil- lion a year from 2005-2007, but revenues dropped to about $2 million last year.

"We just kind of looked through the numbers and said it's not going to get any better," he said. "We need to do twice what we're doing right now to just cover utilities, training costs, and bare essentials."

The consolidation leaves the chain with a yard, remodeler's center, door/millwork shop, and truss plant in Lake Oswego and a yard in Hillsboro, Or.

Libby Mill Destroyed by Fire

Stimson Lumber's shuttered plywood mill in Libby, Mt., was destroyed by fire Feb. 25.

"At this point, all we know is that everything in that building went up," said sheriff Daryl Anderson. "That whole building, and everything connected to that building, burned right to the ground."

Anderson called the blaze a "blessing in some ways." He said that the abandoned plant had become an "unsafe" party spot and officials had been unsure what to do with it. "That old plant has been a real pain in the neck. to be honest." he said.