News Releases

The following letter was received from Andres Sosa of CMPC's Georgia Office:

Dear friends,

Last Saturday, February 27, 2010 some of us woke up at 4:00 or 5:00 am with an emergency call from our families in Chile. An earthquake had hit our country. A few minutes later phone lines were down and we lost all communication. Through Chilean TV, we were able to stay informed, to then realize that a Tsunami had hit the coast of Chile and that many towns were devastated. The images, the devastation and losses of this tragedy looked unreal. The helpless feeling was becoming unmanageable.

When one lives abroad, your friends become your family, support and network. We started receiving calls, emails and messages of compassion, prayers and contribution offers. After a couple of days, a group of friends got together to start a campaign to raise funds to help the victims of this catastrophe. To formalize this effort, we contacted and received the support of the Chilean Government through the Chilean Consulate in Atlanta, ProChile and the Chilean Chamber of Commerce of the South.  Our company CMPC is one the founders of this chamber and an active member.

Since we are not a Charitable Organization, we worked on finding options to properly collect and distribute contributions. In order to provide options that best fit yours or your organization’s contribution effort; we have selected the following charity organizations:

Please note that 100% of your contribution will be sent directly to Chile in support of the victims of the earthquake and tsunami.

Un Techo para Chile is Chilean foundation dedicated to building temporary emergency homes for the poor and victims of catastrophes. This contribution will be collected by the Chamber of Commerce and it is not tax deductible. Please make sure you fill out and follow the instructions of the attached form and that you properly write the name of the foundation in the subject line (bottom left corner) of your check. The Chamber of Commerce will be forced to return your contribution if your donation does not specify the foundation.

We also have a Tax Deductible option via UMCOR a not-for-profit organization that is responding to the needs of people affected by the 8.8 magnitude earthquake that struck Chile

The official Campaign letter, instructions and contribution forms are detailed in a PDF file you may request from the Moulding Association office by sending an e-mail titled CHILE to info@wmmpa.com.

In America we are passing through very rough economic times. Therefore, we understand that our request comes at a very difficult time. Thank you for your support, prayers and compassion.

Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions

Regards,

Andres Sosa 

1050 Crown Pointe Pkwy

Suite 1590

Atlanta, Georgia 30338

Tel: 770-551-26 43 

Fax: 866-760-6114 

The following letter is from Francisco Figueroa and Arauco's US office:

Dear Friends and Partners of Arauco,

First, the entire Arauco team appreciates your messages of condolences, thoughts and prayers. As you are aware, a megathrust earthquake measuring 8.8 occurred just offshore of Concepcion on Saturday morning. Over 700 fatalies have been confirmed in Chile and we expect more to be reported. Unfortunately, we are sorry to report that we have three casualties within Arauco (two workers from sawmills and one worker from a pulp mill that was at his home). The rest of our colleagues and their families are relatively OK as we all continue to cope with this tragedy. Please realize that communications within our company and throughout Chile is still extremely limited.

All of our manufacturing facilities in Chile are shut down as of now. Preliminary reports show significant visual damage to many of our facilities. The immediate priority is the safety of our personnel. Our next priority will be to assess the damage to our facilities and determine the safety of the country's infrastructure (ie roads, rail, and port operations, etc) from our facilities prior to conducting future business.

Our team will continue to update your organization on a regular basis as more information becomes available.

Again, thank you for your support during this difficult time for our country and our company. Please do not hesitate to contact your sales manager for more information or you can contact me at 770-350-1610.

Regards,

Francisco Figueroa

Reuters

WASHINGTON, Feb 25 - U.S. Rep. Barney Frank said on Thursday he would postpone a hearing on the future structure of U.S. housing finance and mortgage funding giants Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac until March 23. Frank told a U.S. House Financial Services Committee that he rescheduled the hearing from March 2 to allow for a field hearing on commercial fishing issues in Massachusetts, and to allow the Obama administration more time to prepare for the hearing.

ABC News

One year after its inception, the Obama administration's $75 billion housing help program has failed, Republican lawmakers said Thursday in a new report obtained by ABC News. The report, released by two GOP lawmakers on the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, asserts that the Home Affordable Modification Program (HAMP) is harming the country's economic recovery. The administration's program provides incentives for mortgage companies to modify the loans of qualifying borrowers. When the administration unveiled the program last March, officials said the plan would help 3 to 4 million homeowners avoid foreclosure. As of the end of January, the Treasury Department said 116,000 borrowers had received permanent loan modifications.

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/Politics/republicans-obama-mortgage-modification-program-failed/story?id=9937260

Freddie Mac loses $7.8 bln; says housing "fragile"

Reuters

NEW YORK - Freddie Mac, the second-largest provider of U.S. residential mortgage funds, on Wednesday said it lost $7.8 billion in the fourth quarter and warned it would need continued government support as housing remains fragile. The government-chartered company said its loss came as rising defaults kept credit-related expenses elevated at $7.1 billion, and as it wrote down the value of low-income tax credit partnership investments. The loss was $6.5 billion before including a $1.3 billion dividend payment on senior preferred stock owned by the U.S. Treasury. Freddie Mac has been struggling to contain losses sustained from its massive exposure to the U.S. housing market that is in the throes of its worst downturn since the 1930s.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2417959620100224

CNN Money

NEW YORK -- Lowe's reported a better-than-expected profit for the fourth quarter on Monday, and the nation's second-largest home-improvement retailer indicated that 2010 would be a better year for the housing market. It's tempting to dismiss more good news about the housing market as simply another head fake -- "The boy who cried housing recovery!" But it might be finally time to say the market is slowly but surely getting better. Just don't get too excited about the news. Lowe's said it now expects sales to be up 4% to 6% this year. Wall Street had been expecting a 3% jump.

http://money.cnn.com/2010/02/22/markets/thebuzz/

Reuters

SAN DIEGO - The U.S. economy still needs extraordinarily low interest rates, as inflation is "undesirably low" and growth will likely be sluggish for several years, a top Federal Reserve offical said Monday. San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank President Janet Yellen told the University of San Diego's business school that the U.S. economy will likely grow at a pace of about 3.5 percent this year and 4.5 percent next year. Unemployment, currently at an "unacceptably high" rate of 9.7 percent, will likely only decline to 9.25 percent this year and 8 percent by the end of next year, she said.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2219329420100222

Reuters

NEW YORK - U.S. mortgage rates dropped for a second consecutive week, remaining below 5.0 percent, a key level that may boost home loan demand, a closely watched mortgage survey showed on Thursday. The lowest mortgage rates in decades and high affordability helped the hard-hit housing market find some footing last year after a three-year slump. Attractive rates bode well for the housing market, which remains highly vulnerable to setbacks and heavily reliant on government intervention. Interest rates on U.S. 30-year fixed-rate mortgages, the most widely used loan, averaged 4.93 percent for the week ended Feb. 18, down from the previous week's 4.97 percent, according to a survey released by Freddie Mac, the second-largest U.S. mortgage finance company.

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN1835835620100218

Wall Street Journal

The long-ailing U.S. housing market is facing a new headwind—a jump in the cost of lumber. Lumber prices have climbed 32% on the futures market this year, a sudden and unexpected surge that could raise construction costs or force builders to swallow an added expense. "That's the last thing we need right now," Stephen Melman, director of economic services at the National Association of Home Builders, said of the recent price hike. Lumber's price rise contrasts with a decline in most other commodities, such as fossil fuels and industrial metals. Those are dragging due to fears of weaker demand amid a fragile recovery from the financial crisis. But lumber prices shot up because of a shortage of supply.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703562404575067750815490316.html?mod=WSJ_latestheadlines

Reuters

Demand for home loans rose to a six-week high on a mini refinance wave, with borrowers pushing to lock in rates before they climb later this year, the Mortgage Bankers Association said on Wednesday, Applications to buy homes and refinance loans jumped last week to mid-December levels as average 30-year mortgage rates held near 5 percent.

http://www.theusdaily.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=975183&type=Business

By Dan Walters

Sacramento Bee

As California imposes tough new emission rules – particularly on business – to reduce its carbon footprint, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger insists that "cleaning the environment, fighting global warming … it's also great for the economy" by fostering green technology. A few days earlier, his Employment Development Department had announced that the state's unemployment rate in December was 12.4 percent, with employers having eliminated 38,800 jobs in just one month. Notwithstanding chronic budget deficits, the governor proposes a sales tax exemption for green technology manufacturing equipment, warning last week that as green investment expands, "it's going to be competitive, (and) California has to be competitive."

Wall Street Journal

Forget that better-than-expected GDP number this morning, the best news for banks this week may have come out of California. There were fewer homes foreclosed last year than in 2008, according to a report Thursday from housing research firm, DataQuick. California was at the heart of the loan losses that crippled Countrywide Financial and were inherited by Bank of America, which bought the mortgage lender in 2007. Lawler says the decline highlights how modification programs and a sharp jump in short sales have worked to whittle down the foreclosure supply.

http://blogs.wsj.com/deals/2010/01/29/california-housing-is-healing-can-banks-breathe-easier/

Wall Street Journal

The housing market isn't yet in the clear, but it's also not as weak as Monday's home-sales report might suggest. The National Association of Realtors is expected to announce an 11.6% drop in December existing-home sales to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 5.78 million, according to economists polled by Dow Jones. But there are scattered signs of improvement. Home-price declines have slowed; the S&P/Case-Shiller index out Tuesday is expected to show prices in 20 major cities down about 5.4% in November from a year ago, compared with a trough of nearly 20%. Residential construction added to gross domestic product in the third quarter for the first time since 2005, and is expected to provide additional support to GDP this year and next.

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703415804575023151304859446.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Forbes

The U.S. government has pushed hard to make homeowners out of one-third of Americans who still rent their homes. It introduced and later extended a tax credit for first-time home buyers, and has kept federal interest rates at their lowest levels since the 1940s. Market conditions are such that now is a particularly good time for some renters to take the hint. In Portland, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Washington, D.C., the premium to buy--the spread between what you'd spend on renting and what you'd pay each month for a mortgage--is far narrower now than its 15-year average. And economists predict a significant home-price hike in five years. So upgrading will cost much less than usual, and home buyers are likely to get a good return on their investment.

http://www.forbes.com/2010/01/21/buying-versus-renting-lifestyle-real-estate-homes.html?boxes=Homepagelighttop

Housing Wire

Residential real estate showed some signs of life in November, according to Radar Logic’s monthly Residential Property Index (RPX). November home sales volume increased year-over-year in all of the 25 metropolitan markets the RPX report covers. Sales volume increased 46.7% year-over-year and 1.5% month-over-month. Sales volume nearly doubled in Seattle and Philadelphia year-over-year. Las Vegas experienced an 88.4% increase. Sacramento experienced the lowest increase in sales volume at 7%, followed by San Diego (12.1%) and Los Angeles (18.2%) in the bottom three markets.

http://www.housingwire.com/2010/01/21/radar-logic-says-housing-market-is-poised-for-recovery/

CNN Money

NEW YORK -- Home construction fell in December, government data showed Wednesday, while the number of building permits issued in the month rose. Construction of new homes fell to an annual rate of 557,000 during the month, down 4% from the revised November rate of 580,000, the Commerce Department said. Economists surveyed by Briefing.com expected December housing starts to decline to an annual rate of 572,000. But starts were up 0.2% versus the 556,000 rate in December 2008. It was the first year-over-year increase since March 2006, when starts rose 5.6%. The decline in new home construction was led by a 6.9% drop in single-family activity, which offset gains in the multi-family sector.

January 15, 2010 — The Management Team of Michael Weinig Inc. announced today that the company will not exhibit at the IWF 2010 Show in Atlanta in August.

“WEINIG has enjoyed a strong and mutually beneficial relationship with IWF for many years and we continue to wish the exhibitors a successful event.  But we see every day the impact that the economy has on our market.  Our woodworking industry customers need and deserve all the support we can provide during the recovery from this unprecedented economic recession,” explained Peter Lohmeyer, Vice President of Sales for Michael Weinig Inc.   “By redirecting the resources typically allocated to a show event of this magnitude, we will offer beneficial and timely support in helping our customers find solutions to their production challenges.  We want to ensure our customers’ long-term survival by assisting them in finding ways to thrive, even in today’s economy.”

WEINIG is one of the ten hosting companies for the NexGen Event which will conduct concurrent open houses throughout North Carolina during the week of February 8-12, 2010.

WEINIG will also host its annual Technology EXPO / Open House in Mooresville in Spring 2010.

Los Angeles Business

A total of 3,957,643 foreclosure filings -- default notices, scheduled foreclosure auctions and bank repossessions -- were reported on 2,824,674 U.S. properties in 2009, according to a report from Irvine's RealtyTrac Inc. That represents a 21 percent increase in total properties from 2008 and a 120 percent increase in total properties from 2007, RealtyTrac reported. One in 45, or 2.21 percent of all U.S. housing units, received at least one foreclosure filing during the year, up from 1.84 percent in 2008, 1.03 percent in 2007 and 0.58 percent in 2006. Four states accounted for more than 50 percent of the nation’s 2009 total, with more than 1.4 million properties receiving a foreclosure filing in California, Florida, Arizona and Illinois combined.

Nation's Building News

This year promises to be a happier one for both the economy and housing. More pain from a battered and bruised U.S. economy may lie ahead but the general trajectory has turned from down to up. The worst is over, but the economy and housing in particular will remain subpar and unable to perform at normal, healthy levels. Looking into our crystal ball for 2010, we see a long haul back to full health following a long, brutal recession. The national economy will continue to gain strength throughout the year, but at a slower pace than is characteristic for the early stages of recovery.

http://www.hgtvpro.com/hpro/nws_econ_fin_econ_ind/article/0,2624,HPRO_26527_6024084,00.html

Los Angeles Times

Environmental groups are mounting a last-ditch effort to derail key elements of the state's first-in-the-nation green building code -- a major initiative of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's administration. The proposed code, likely to be adopted Tuesday, would slash water use, mandate the recycling of construction waste, cut back on polluting materials and step up enforcement of energy efficiency in new homes, schools, hospitals and commercial buildings statewide. But critics say the rules fall short of rigorous standards adopted by Los Angeles, San Francisco and more than 50 California jurisdictions in league with the U.S. Green Building Council, a national nonprofit group of architects, engineers and construction companies.

New York Times

The financial crisis and Great Recession have their roots in the housing bust. When it comes, a lasting recovery will be evident in a housing rebound. Unfortunately, housing appears to be weakening anew. Figures released last week show that after four months of gains, home prices flattened in October. At that time, low mortgage rates (courtesy of the Federal Reserve) and a home buyer’s tax credit (courtesy of Congress) were fueling sales. That should have propped up prices. But it was not enough to overcome the drag created by a glut of 3.2 million new and existing unsold single-family homes — about a seven-month supply.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/05/opinion/05tue1.html

Vancouver, BC — International WOOD MARKETS Group announces the release of its latest strategic report, U.S. Moulding Market Outlook 2010 – 2014. This report has been based on WOOD MARKETS’ 20 years of involvement in the clear pine lumber and moulding sectors and highlights many of the dramatic market shifts that have occurred in both Shop & Better clear lumber and mouldings – finger-joint, MDF, solid lineal, plastic – since its 2008 Clearwood (Pine) Lumber & Moulding Report.

Total moulding consumption in 2009 is projected to drop by roughly 20% from 2008 due to the continued collapse in housing starts and residential remodeling. When 2007 and 2008 consumption declines are added to 2009, the total consumption decrease is about 50% less than the peak volume achieved in 2006. “Despite the dramatic number of domestic and offshore plant closures and curtailments in recent years, moulding producers simply could not reduce their capacity fast enough to prevent prices from falling to below break-even for extended periods in 2008/2009,” explained Vice President, Peter Butzelaar, the principal report author. “With U.S. producers having absorbed significant consolidation prior to 2007, most of the recent capacity reductions have fallen on the shoulders of offshore producers.” Since peaking in 2006 at 1.3 billion lineal meters, imports of softwood mouldings are projected to contract to 570 million lineal meters in 2009, a net reduction of 62%. “Due to 2009 currency exchange rates appreciating as much as 40% against the U.S. dollar combined with  weaker U.S. prices, and, rising manufacturing and ocean freight costs, offshore producers have had to back away from the U.S. to purse opportunities in Asia, Europe, and Latin America,” observed Mr. Butzelaar.

Looking out to 2010 to 2014, the fifth edition of the U.S. Moulding Market Outlook Report calls for housing starts and repair and remodeling usage to show slow but steady growth. For 2010, the recovery should translate into a modest 5% increase in total moulding demand but a 10% increase in the average annul price of finger-joint mouldings. Given that the majority of imported softwood mouldings are finger-joint, and since finger-joint moulding consumption is linked closely to usage by new home builders, the WOOD MARKETS forecast anticipates that offshore producers will enjoy rebounding volumes and price gains as the recovery in the housing market takes hold.

“However, due to the reluctance of companies to risk cash flow on replenishing depleted inventories, we are predicting periodic supply chain shortages and unusually erratic price spikes in 2010,” commented Butzelaar. “Moving out to 2011 and beyond, our forecast assumes that moulding demand and prices will move even higher as the U.S economy and housing market starts to accelerate into full gear.”

From a strategic perspective, market-share battles are predicted to be intense, with domestic producers benefiting from their timely delivery capability and offshore producers competing on their advantage in scale/integration back to the forest. Market share battles between consumer-friendly MDF and builder-loyalty towards finger-joint will also create interesting dynamics and strategic implications for channel players. As well, an emerging trend towards factory pre-finishing versus factory primed is only just beginning to play out. In such dynamic times, those with an accurate vision of what to expect from their competition and from the consumer will have the greatest potential to capitalize on the emerging opportunities. The information in our U.S. Moulding Market Outlook Report is produced in an Executive Summary Format and is intended to provide subscribers with an independent, third party perspective on what to watch for and what to expect in moulding supply, demand and prices over the next five years as the market moves back into a growth phase. A full brochure and table of contents can be found at http://www.woodmarkets.com/p_clearwoodreport.html

About WOOD MARKETS

International WOOD MARKETS Group Inc. (www.woodmarkets.com) provides leading market information and consulting services to the global wood products industry, specializing in wood products research, analysis, and business and corporate strategies. Its consultants provide research, analysis, forecasts, due diligence, operational assessments, strategic direction and guidance to the world’s top moulding and millwork companies. They travel to major producing and consuming countries to provide comprehensive, real-world perspectives based on current trends, issues and developments.

For more information, please contact:

Peter Butzelaar peterb@woodmarkets.com

Russell Taylor retaylor@woodmarkets.com

International WOOD MARKETS Group Inc., Vancouver, BC, Canada  (+1) 604 801-5996

www.woodmarkets.com

Softwood lumber outlook calls for gains as the U.S. economy and housing starts to recover slowly and steadily - but still some risks ahead

November 11, 2009 — Vancouver, BC. 

The worst is almost over for the North American softwood lumber market as improving demand in 2010 is expected to breathe some life back into a beaten up industry. While the coming winter will likely be a tough one, rising housing starts, lean distribution channel inventories and some lingering government stimulus programs should kick-start lumber demand and even prices. After facing declining markets and prices since 2006, the 2010 outlook predicts that there will be enough building blocks in place to allow for some much needed market improvement. But it is in 2011 - and especially in 2012 and 2013 – that a real housing recovery is forecast to take hold, creating higher prices with significant price volatility occurring as sudden demand surges catch the lumber market by surprise.

By; HEATHER GADONNIEX

April 7, 2009

What Is Sustainability?

This merging of environment, society, and economy brings us to the idea of sustainability.

Sustainability can also describe a society or business that energizes people to be productive contrributers to their communities. By applying the same cyclical approach to our business systems, we can help ensure that we will have a continuous supply of resources, rather than depleting them.

Stay tuned for Weekly "how to" post and prepare your organization for the New Economy.

http://www.triplepundit.com/pages/sustainability-101-preparing-for-the-new.php

March 31, 2009, Chicago, IL — Jordan, Knauff & Company, a middle-market investment bank with a specialized practice in the building products industry, has announced the publication of the inaugural issue of the Foreign Competition Report for the U.S. Building Products Industry.  The report summarizes import statistics and growth rates of the top importing countries in eleven different building products categories.  The report includes information on the following industry segments:  windows and doors, vinyl profiles, glass, flooring, fencing, siding, roofing, decking, columns, cabinets and engineered wood products. This report will be published annually in order to inform building products manufacturers of the level of risk of foreign competition faced by the various building products segments.

Complimentary copies of the Foreign Competition Report have been posted to Jordan, Knauff & Company’s recently launched Window & Door Industry Research Portal, which is located at www.jordanknauff.com/windoor.   In addition to the Foreign Competition Report, the portal contains all of the firm’s window and door related blogs, articles, research reports, Industry Update webinars and industry trade association presentations.  All of these documents are available for a complimentary download.

Leesburg, VA – March 10, 2009 – The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) has approved revised national voluntary standards for ANSI A208.1-2009 Particleboard and ANSI A208.2-2009 MDF for Interior Applications.  Sponsored by the Composite Panel Association (CPA), the standards include new grades as well as harmonization with the formaldehyde emission ceilings and other requirements recently enacted by the California Air Resources Board (CARB).   

“After a multi-year initiative, these standards were approved using consensus procedures of due process, openness and balanced participation of interested stakeholders.  More than 120 organizations were invited to participate in the revision process, including panel producers, customers, government, academia and research institutions,” said Gary Heroux, CPA’s Vice President of Product Acceptance. “The standards provide an excellent example of the composite panel industry’s commitment to producing high quality, safe products that meet today’s market demands.”

The revised standards are now available in the publications section of CPA’s web site.

Founded in 1960, the Composite Panel Association (CPA) is dedicated to advancing the North American wood–based panel and decorative surfacing industries.  CPA represents both industries on technical, regulatory, quality assurance and product acceptance issues.

CPA General Members include the leading manufacturers of particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF) and hardboard, representing about 95% of North American manufacturing capacity. 

CPA Associate Members include manufacturers of decorative surfaces, furniture, cabinets, mouldings, doors and equipment, along with laminators, distributors, industry media and adhesive suppliers. All are committed to product advancement and industry competitiveness.

For more information please visit www.pbmdf.com or call toll free 1-866-426-6767.

###

Chicago, IL (01/07/09)—Jordan, Knauff & Company has made available a free download, including slides and audio, of its Fall 2008 Window & Door Industry Update webinar.  The topics covered in the presentation included an overview of the window and door industry, including transactions, expansions, plant closings and recent bankruptcies.  Also included was a discussion of current industry trends, the state of the residential and commercial real estate markets and a review of the capital markets as they pertain to the window and door industry.  The final section of the presentation covered current trends regarding competition from Chinese companies, including recent import statistics and some of the trends being reported by companies sourcing components from China. Please click the link below to request a complimentary copy of the presentation. www.jordanknauff.com/windoor

The National Safety Council just reported OSHA recently detailed its enforcement of the agency's occupational exposure to formaldehyde standard (1910.1048) in light of concerns about dangerously high levels of the chemical compound found in  trailers manufactured for hurricane victims. After a campaign of continued criticism, FEMA reported the temporary housing it provided following the 2005 hurricane season had formaldehyde levels far beyond that typically found in indoor air last February. An OSHA letter of interpretation — dated on Sept. 9 and posted on OSHA's website one month later — responded to a July 25 letter from Senators Hillary Clinton, D-NY, and Mary Landrieu, D-LA, expressing concerns that employees who manufactured the trailers were exposed to formaldehyde levels "higher than allowed" by OSHA. OSHA stated that although employers are required to keep written records on employee exposures, they do not have to turn them over to OSHA unless a safety and health inspection is conducted. Additionally, "no inspections were conducted in response to employee complaints of alleged overexposure to formaldehyde," but indicated that if the agency receives a complaint of the standard having been violated, an inspection will take place.

In light of this situation, manufacturers may want to consider whether they should utilize dosimeters to test their plant workers once a year to avert problems on this issue. Testing one or two employees would probably be sufficient if the test came back negative.

Production Series for Millwork Manufacturers

A new approach to delivering operations education

By Kellie A. Schroeder

This coming March, a new approach to delivering information to millwork manufacturers will be launched in Lake Las Vegas. The Moulding & Millwork Producers Association (MMPA) has outlined a Production Series for Millwork Manufacturers—a program which targets educating manufacturers on all aspects of operations in a series of short bursts of educational sessions—to be presented during their March Winter Business Meeting. With the blending of PVC, Wood and MDF manufacturers into the organization, the MMPA recognized a new direction would be required to meet all of the manufacturers’ educational needs. The Production Series for Millwork Manufacturers is a collaborative effort amongst the association’s supplier members and staff in direct response to the manufacturing members’ desire for well-rounded and focused education.

The Production Series for Millwork Manufacturers gives the MMPA the opportunity to tap into a range of expertise in the supplier field to educate millwork manufacturers on topics they have requested. The MMPA developed a Wish List approach to education during 2008 while cultivating its new Poly Blends Group made up of PVC, polystyrene, polyurethane, polypropylene, polyethylene and poly cellulose mixed manufacturers. The Education Wish List grows each month as more MMPA members send in their topic requests to be added to the Production Series line-up along with speaker names they think will deliver a dynamic and informative session.

The Productions Series initial approach was to take a millwork manufacturer through the issues affecting their operations beginning with procurement of raw material, receiving the material, efficiently utilizing the material, storing the end product, and shipping the end product. During discussions as to how to best disseminate the information, the MMPA acknowledged other areas of operations would need to be addressed in order to produce a complete informational package for its members. Hence, the MMPA added layers to the Production Series to include Human Resources, Cost Analysis & Management, Return on Investment, Byproducts, Green Issues, Energy Analysis, Customer Relations, and more.

Topics and speakers will not be presented in a linear fashion from raw material procurement forward to end product shipment. Instead, sessions will be selected from various areas of the Production Series for each MMPA business meeting. The MMPA does not want to present the information as Step 1, Step 2 and then Step 3. Issues affecting operations do not rise up at convenient times or in the order of how a manufacturer pushes its raw material through its plant.

The MMPA will deliver the Production Series for Millwork Manufacturers over two days during their Winter Business Meeting on March 19 - 20, 2009. Sessions will be held at the MonteLago Village Resort on Lake Las Vegas, located thirty minutes from the Strip. Manufacturers of PVC, MDF and Wood moulding and millwork are invited to attend. Detailed information regarding the MMPA’s Winter Business Meeting may be found on the association’s website at www.wmmpa.com by clicking on the News & Events, Events Calendar page. Registration information will be available in December; however, the discounted one-bedroom condo with full kitchen rate is available to be reserved at this time. The discounted group code is on the website and must be given at time of reservation. Attendees with children will be happy to know the one-bedroom condo sleeps four; a sleeper sofa will accommodate two persons in the living room area.

Interaction amongst the varied manufacturers gathered at one of these events is interesting to say the least. MDF, Wood and Poly Blends are eager to talk amongst themselves regarding the millwork market and the challenges they face as manufacturers. Curiosity regarding opposing products leads to networking, which in turn leads to information sharing a manufacturer may ultimately use to assist in strategic planning or operations analysis.  I encourage members that have not been active in the association meetings to contact me to obtain a better feel for what to expect during the Winter Business Meeting. As an example, the Buddy Pairings is an activity one should not miss as the Winter Meeting kicks off. You may reach me in the MMPA office at 530/661-9591. Get yourself to a MMPA meeting, your fellow manufacturers want to talk to you!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

August 5, 2008

Contact: Kellie A. Schroeder

Phone (530) 661-9591

 WMMPA ELECTS NEW OFFICERS AND A NEW ORGANIZATION NAME

Association gives welcoming nod to PVC and Poly Blend Millwork

      WMMPA (Wood Moulding & Millwork Producers Association) located in Woodland, CA is pleased to announce John Morrison as their new President. John Morrison is currently the President of Sunset Moulding Company headquartered in Live Oak, CA. Newly appointed Officers serving under Morrison are:  Vice President Ted Smith of Smith Millwork; Treasurer Craig Young of TLC Mouldings; Executive Vice President Kellie A. Schroeder of WMMPA; and Immediate Past President Tom Williams of Yuba River Moulding & Millwork. John Morrison will serve as the association’s leader through the March 2010 Winter Business Meeting when the organization meets in Cancun, Mexico.

      Mr. Morrison’s succession took place during their recent Summer Business Meeting held in Newport, Rhode Island. It was during this meeting the association elected to drop the word “Wood” from its name to become the Moulding & Millwork Producers Association (MMPA). The gesture by the membership to drop the reference of wood from the organization’s title was to acknowledge the opening up of the association to PVC and/or composite millwork manufacturers.

      “Two years ago, the membership elected to invite the PVC millwork manufacturers to our meetings. Our membership realized the moulding and millwork substrate may be different, but the same marketing, freight, human resource and distribution challenges face wood, MDF and PVC producers,” states Kellie Schroeder, Executive Vice President.    

        As the organization readies itself for its Winter Business Meeting in Lake Las Vegas this coming March, the new MMPA finds itself researching educational topics to present to four similar—but different—types of manufacturers. “Raw material supply sourcing and predictions for solid, finger joint, MDF and PVC mouldings cannot be rolled out in one session, obviously,” Schroeder laughs. “Knowing we will have four types of manufacturers looking for education from us, we have elected to instigate a Wish List from the membership. As we grow our Poly Blends Group (PVC, polyurethane, polystyrene, composite, plastic, etc.), we ask new members and visiting guests what their objective in attending or joining the group is. We then incorporate that feedback into our meeting sessions to entice the interest of the Poly manufacturer for our next Business Meeting.”

         Schroeder notes an open invitation to all Poly manufacturers and their suppliers is on the table for their next Winter Business Meeting in Lake Las Vegas. Poly manufacturers interested in attending a Poly Blends Session, should contact Kellie Schroeder at the association office (530) 661-9591. Ms. Schroeder will send out an invitation to register for the upcoming meeting at the appropriate time, and will refer all inquiries to the association’s current Poly Chairman Pete Delaney of Omega Tek (Israel) and Poly Secretary Bob Simon of Gossen Corp. (Wisconsin). Delaney and Simon have been key components in growing the Poly membership. Delaney is keen to speak to all potential Poly attendees so he may outline his enthusiasm in sitting down with other Poly producers. Knowledge is power, and this new Poly Blends Group desires to share their experiences in order to advance the Poly moulding and millwork market.

         “Meeting participation only within your substrate category has been replaced,” Schroeder said. “Our members recognize the unique opportunity they have each time they attend one of our Business Meetings. The wood and MDF producers are intrigued by the Poly Blends session and vice versa. The Poly producers sit in on the wood and MDF sessions to gain insight into what is affecting those markets, and are taking that information back to their companies to share in future marketing and business plans.”

         The MMPA has extended its hand to the PVC manufacturers, and their suppliers.  The next two years should prove an interesting time as the four types of manufacturers sit down together and share their views on the moulding and millwork market. For more information about the MMPA and their upcoming Lake Las Vegas Winter Business Meeting, visit their web site at www.wmmpa.com .

Silica Exposure—Manufacturers Urged to Read Their MSDS Forms

House approves combustible dust bill

   In a 247-165 vote on April 30, the House approved legislation that would compel OSHA to issue new rules aimed at preventing dust accumulations in industrial workplaces. The Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act (H.R. 5522) moves to the Senate for consideration. To read the Combustible Dust Explosion and Fire Prevention Act of 2008 Click Here.

   The House's action comes in the wake of a Feb. 7 explosion at the Imperial Sugar refinery in Port Wentworth, GA, that killed 13 workers and injured more than 60 others. The bill would force OSHA to issue an interim final rule within 90 days of enactment and a final rule within 18 months. OSHA has resisted promulgating a rule and instead initiated a National Emphasis Program to ramp up inspections of workplaces where dust hazards may be likely, the agency said.