International Paper plans to sell approximately 1.5 million acres of Southern U.S. forestland over the next five years through Southeast Timber Inc., a company controlled by International Paper, with an interest held by a private investor. This company will be International Paper’s primary vehicle for selling Southern forestland over the next five years. As part of this plan, International Paper transferred these acres to Blue Sky Timber Properties, LLC, a subsidiary of Southeast Timber Inc.

Increased fiber recovery following the installation of a rebuilt scragg mill is allowing Cascade Hardwood to utilize smaller logs, increasing its competitiveness in alder and maple lumber markets that vary from high quality furniture stock to fruit box and pallet parts—even paintbrush handle material. The mill currently produces 330MBF/day, running two shifts. Production is 90% alder, with the balance in maple products.

The winter of 2002 has been unusually wet across much of the U.S. This has kept log supplies seriously low and caused significant downtime, especially in the Southeast. T&S Hardwoods responded by temporarily abbreviating its two-shift operation to eight hours per shift from nine and cutting back to four days a week at its Milledgeville hardwood sawmill and at sister company, Sylvan Hardwoods LLC, McRae, Ga.

In the last few years I have read many stories in the media that violate my lifelong learning of scientific fact and common sense. Obviously our reliance on fossil fuels causes an increase in carbon dioxide in the earth’s atmosphere. Carbon dioxide is also generated from natural sources. If you look at the distant mountains on a hot summer day, most of the haze you see is caused by the breakdown of forest plants that are in the process of decay.

Some of the real highlights of the Wood Technology Clinic & Show held at the Oregon Convention Center here March 19-21 came at the very beginning. That’s when Plum Creek’s Mike Covey gave the keynote address, which was preceded by the presentation of the Wood Technology Industry Award for Excellence to Optimil Machinery President, Bob Chapman.

It has been 104 years since family patriarch J.W. Langdale first planted the seed that would grow into one of Georgia’s most diversified, independently owned forest products companies. From turpentine to lumber to engineered wood products, the pioneering Langdale family continues to grow and adapt to opportunities as they develop. Today’s family of Langdale companies includes sawmill, wood preservation, panel and molding operations.

Hyster Co.’s S70-120XM lift truck series, designed to handle loads ranging from 7,000 to 12,000 lbs., features a large radiator with core design to provide cooling efficiency in dusty or fibrous applications. S70-120XM series offers a new operator compartment as well as upgrades to the styling, hydraulics and brakes. Hyster’s exclusive VISTA masts further enhance visibility and productivity, while the EZXchange swing out/drop down LPG tank bracket facilitates easier removal of tanks from the truck.