84 Lumber Cuts Even Deeper

A month aftcr closin-l nine stores. 84 Lumber has pulled the plug on 30 more locations in l7 states from coast to coast.

The chain is completely abandoning six markets-Tucson, Az.; Gilroy. Ca.; Forest Grove, Or.; Meridian. Id.; Corpus Christi, Tx., and Milton. Fl.afier determining that it does not have the level of resources required to serve them efficiently and profitably.

Fourteen yards were closed in markets that have low to housing growth, including Sidney. Greenvillc,

Marysvillc and Zancsvillc. Oh.: Ann Arbor and Flint. Mi.; New Castle, In.: Bluff City. Tn.; Harrisonburg. Va.; Lafayette. N.J.; Williamstown, W.V.; Cabot. Ar.: Kingsland. Ga., and Albertville. Al.

Othcr facilitics in California, Missouri. Ne w Jcrscy. North Carolina, Ohio and Tcxas werc cor.rsolidated into ncarby locations. such closing a yard in Visalia. Ca.. and covering the territory frorrr its units in Clovis and Bakersfield.

"These moves allow us to deploy our asscts into core markets that are prcsently maintaining a reasonable lcvcl of housing activity and we view as solid -srowth areas when the buildin-g market recovers." said Frank Cicero, executive v.p. of storc opcratlons.

84 said that scvcral storcs and plants were "nrothballed" and will reopen when nrarkct conditions lmprove.

The closings affectccl about 230 workers.

McFarland Cascade To No. Ca.

McFarland Cascade. Tacoma. Wa.. is now scrving Northern California.

Mikc Whitc, thc company's area sales manager, is based out of Sacramento. Products will be shipped llonru distribution center in McClellan. Ca.

The center is placing zi special emphasis on ExtraGreen copper azoletreated wood. Other products include pref inished tropical hardwoods, Terratcc Naturuls corupositcs. Stonedeck tiles. DrySnap and Rain Escape deck accessorics. and Royal Trim Board.

The company also scrvcs Washington. Oregon. Idaho. Utah. Montuna, Allrskl untl Huurrii.

ldaho Sawmill Cuts Back

Threc Rivcrs Tirnbcr, Kamiah. Id.. cut I [3 jobs on April l7 and another l7 positions will be climinatcd within the ncxt 90 days.

Bosed in Annopolis, MD, Fletcher Wood Solutions is ihe lorgest monu{octurer of defect-tree, oppeoronce srode rodiotc'IIEICHER' oine oroducts in New Zeolond. Dis- lvlOutDlNcs tributing our cleor boords, mouldings, LIFESPAN treoted wood, ond lumber to the North Americon morket throuqh our proven ond completely integroted supply choin, Fletcher wood Solutions mcintoins direct occess to one of thei!,, lorgest FSC certified pine plontotion forests in the world.

According to president Herb Hazcn. thc reductions will allow the rnill to remain open and continue processing between 80 and 90 million bd. fi. of tir-nber a year-with 85 workers instead of 120.

He also said that the mill had been operating on reduced shifts. but the cuts should allow the company to return to ,l0-houl weekly shifts.

James Hardie Moving Again

James Hardie plans to Iiquidate its Dutch parent company and relocatc operations to Mission Vicjo. Ca.

Hardie was accuscd of moving from Australia to thc Ncthcrlands in 2004 allegedly to avoid paying multimillion-dollar compensation claims firr asbestos products sold in Australia. Now thc company may sell its operations in Australian and New Zealand.

About 80% of the company's busincss is in the U.S., with about 200 workcrs in Mission Viejo, and another 200 in Fontana. Ca.