On March 17, EPA granted the voluntary cancellation and use termination requests affecting nearly all residential uses of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) treated wood. Under this action, affected CCA products cannot be used after December 30, 2003 to treat lumber intended for use in most residential settings, including play structures, decks, picnic tables, landscaping timbers, residential fencing, patios and walkways/boardwalks.

Straight and narrow—that pretty much describes the layout of Gulf States Paper Corp.’s new timbers mill, which measures some 700 ft. in length and a mere 40 ft. wide in most places. The straight-line layout is designed to keep things simple and easy to maintain. “We looked at other mills and we looked at what we knew in our own mill,” states Complex Manager J.W. Cole.

Long-time independent lumber producer SDS Lumber recently installed and started up a new USNR edger with Perceptron scanning and optimization package here, the initial phase of a major addition that will more than double the mill’s current 50MMBF annual production capacity of mostly KD 2x4-6 studs 8-10 ft. long, plus some green 4x4 and 4x6 timbers and 1 in. material.

The decision to add or convert to new generation treating chemicals has weighed heavily on minds of many wood treaters in recent months. Is it worth the trouble to invest the saved or borrowed capital? Will the new chemicals meet the needs of their customers? Will the needs of the future ensure a reasonable demand?

The Forest Products Machinery and Equipment Exposition (Expo 2003), now in its 27th year, has long been a key event in the forest products industry. The show is sponsored by Southern Forest Products Assn. in cooperation with APA—The Engineered Wood Assn., and is held every two years. This year, visitors will note a few changes to the show.

Many have experienced the frustration with management or support personnel making quick visits to the mill floor and criticizing how individuals are doing their job. They can be quick to point out errors made by an operator. Possibly they see something from the catwalk that the operator has a poor view of from his booth. Complaints may be made that the operator does not pay attention to a particular item (ignoring the fact that the operator’s attention is divided among many such items).

PSI Sales, Inc. is positioning itself to become a leader in the manufacture and supply of log handling and merchandising machinery. It’s an aggressive posture spearheaded by President and co-founder Van Woodham, who comments, “We want to be known as the wood yard specialist.” Indeed the company’s product line runs from electric log cranes to bucking systems, along with singulators and conveyors—basically a range of products that prepare and move stems to the sawmill floor for primary breakdown.