The string of four consecutive years of record lumber demand should end in 2006, as the red-hot home construction market begins to cool, according to a forecast released by Western Wood Products Assn. Preliminary estimates show lumber demand reached a record 63.9 billion BF in 2005, rising 3.4% from the previous year. For 2006, WWPA forecasts lumber demand to slip a modest 2.1% to 62.6 billion BF.

Walt Wirfs knows his way around the lumber business, but more importantly, he knows how to increase sawmill and planer mill production numbers with a minimal infusion of capital. It’s a skill that he is utilizing to help give Pony Lumber Co., LLC here a new lease on life. Just a few years ago, the Pacific Northwest stud mill was destined to be permanently shut down, putting more than 100 people on the unemployment line.

What if? That’s the question that gets batted around a lot at J.W. Jones Lumber Co. Inc. In many cases, the answers are relatively easy to simulate thanks to today’s optimization technology and the skilled team J. Wilson Jones Jr. has amassed over the years.

My name is Bill Kluting and I live in Monmouth, Ore. I am the Legislative Representative for the Western Council of Industrial Workers, which is affiliated with the United Brotherhood of Carpenters. Our Council represents more than 10,000 workers in the lumber and wood products industry in Oregon, Washington, Montana, Idaho and northern California.

According to the official web site of the East Coast Sawmill and Logging Equipment Exposition, a trade show can be one of the most effective marketing tools for manufacturers and service providers. This year’s Richmond Expo, scheduled for May 19-20 at the Richmond Raceway Complex in Richmond, Va., is shaping up to be another important event for lumbermen, pallet manufacturers and loggers, as well as equipment manufacturers and suppliers.

Cut Technologies has opened a new Sales and Service center in Quebec City,  Can. The new office, warehouse and shop facility will serve the lumber industy in Quebec, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia and Newfoundland. Daniel Bolduc has been named manager of Eastern Canadian operations.

The JM-100A automatically mills composition Band Guide Blocks and offers dust-free operation in the filing room using the unique power adapter for a standard shop vac. Its fine finish is achieved using a heavy duty dual carbide cutter head which travels along a precision set of linear rails. A quick change block fixture switches between straight and angle blocks in seconds.