A wave of Chinese hardwood plywood.The International Wood Markets Group, Inc., based in Vancouver, BC, Canada, is a leading authority and consultant to the wood products industry on a global scale. Their latest publication, The China Book: Wood Products Industry and Market Review, is the definitive source for data on wood fiber coming in to and out of this fast changing country. Russell Taylor Russell Taylor (born 8 July, 1960) is a British writer, journalist and composer. He is best known as half of the team (with Charles Peattie) that creates the comic strip Alex. , their president, recently spoke to the management team of Timber Products Company about Chinese hardwood hardwood: see wood. hardwood Timber obtained from broad-leaved, flower-bearing trees. Hardwood trees are deciduous trees, except in the warmest regions. plywood plywood, manufactured board composed of an odd number of thin sheets of wood glued together under pressure with grains of the successive layers at right angles. Laminated wood differs from plywood in that the grains of its sheets are parallel. coming to the USA: "In 2000, China exported 100,000 cubic meters Noun 1. cubic meter - a metric unit of volume or capacity equal to 1000 liters cubic metre, kiloliter, kilolitre metric capacity unit - a capacity unit defined in metric terms to the States," Taylor said. "In 2005, that number had grown to 1,400,000 cubic meters, or about 40,000 truckloads of hardwood plywood. The trend line shows a sharp increase for at least the next several years." In fact, US Department of Agriculture statistics for the first six months of 2006 show a 37% increase in cubic meter volume of Chinese hardwood plywood shipped to America over the same period a year ago. A tidal wave tidal wave, term properly applied to the crest of a tide as it moves around the earth. The wavelike upstream rush of water caused by the incoming tide in some locations is known as a tidal bore. of Chinese plywood has hit our shores. Riding the Wave Hardwood plywood manufacturing in China has had a rocky ride over the past decade. The first products were average to poor quality with high moisture content and a tendency to warp warp: see weaving. (1) See OS/2 Warp. (2) A parallel processor developed at Carnegie-Mellon University that was the predecessor of iWARP. Warp - OS/2 and delaminate de·lam·i·nate intr.v. de·lam·i·nat·ed, de·lam·i·nat·ing, de·lam·i·nates To split into thin layers. . There are literally thousands of hardwood plywood mills in China, most making a lower grade product. But a select few mills have gradually begun to improve their factories, the processes and the quality as they get a better understanding of market demands. "We have invested a lot of resources over the past five years to find the best mills in China and to build long-term relationships with them," said Gail Overgard, Vice President, International Division of Timber Products Company. "Today we are importing a cost-effective, consistent product that our customer can count on for certain applications." Overgard continued, "However, Chinese panels will never replace much of what we make at our own mills here in the US. Thicker face veneers, panel stability, customized face and back grades, and shorter lead times are available domestically from producers like Timber Products, better meeting the demands of our more discriminating customers." Chinese hardwood plywood is being used by the American woodworking industry in many ways. One application is in making lower grade cabinet boxes, especially when the product will be painted. Chinese hardwood plywood has replaced domestic softwood softwood Timber obtained from coniferous trees (mainly of the pine and fir families). With the exception of bald cypress, tamarack, and larch, softwood trees are evergreens. plywood in many applications, such as deck core for recreational vehicle components. Some upholstered furniture manufacturers have switched from an all hardwood frame to hardwood plywood from China. But regardless of the specific use, Chinese hardwood plywood has found a home where it meets the price and quality demands of the customer. Mixed Results Timber Products Company distributors have had mixed experiences. Norm Roberts Norman Roberts (July 21, 1965 – ) is a men's college basketball coach and the current head coach at St. John's University, New York. He succeeded Mike Jarvis, who was fired midway through the 2003-04 season. , owner of Roberts Plywood in Long Island, NY, summarized it this way, "Prices are going up, lead times are too long and often the quality is just not there. Many of the Chinese mills are low-tech with no dryers. Here in the Northeast, the Chinese material does not have the stability to stand up to our extreme weather changes." For some of Robert's customers, lower quality imports work fine for the uses they are put to. "Some decisions are solely based on price," he said. David Hogan For the missionary, see . For the writer, see . David Hogan (born July 1, 1949 in Nokesville, Virginia; died July 17, 1996 off East Moriches, New York) was a composer and musical director of CIGAP -- Le Choeur Int'l Gai de Paris -- a choir made up of men who loved , President and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Hogan Hardwoods based in Ruston, LA, has had better luck. "When availability was limited to mostly lower quality, lower priced birch plywood, our customers used the material for substrates and cabinet box material As Chinese manufacturers move into higher grade panels with higher grade faces, our customers are finding more uses for these products," he said. International Wood Products Association President J. Gibson McIlvain, III might have put it best when he said, "Rapid globalization globalization Process by which the experience of everyday life, marked by the diffusion of commodities and ideas, is becoming standardized around the world. Factors that have contributed to globalization include increasingly sophisticated communications and transportation is allowing North American North American named after North America. North American blastomycosis see North American blastomycosis. North American cattle tick see boophilusannulatus. manufacturers to benefit from the smart incorporation of imported wood products into their production while architects are increasingly turning to new species to add warmth and diversity to their designs." A Tremendous Choice At Timber Products Company, we will continue to devote ourselves to meeting the needs of our customers. For some, that will be a panel from China imported by our International Division. For others, it will be a panel from one of our three hardwood plywood facilities here in the US. Our customers deserve to have access to the best product that meets their needs, regardless of where in the world it might come from. THE TREMENDOUS GLOBAL RESOURCE Timber Products Company's International Division is a major importer of hardwood panels and specialty wood products sourced from around the globe. Our product offering from China is extensive. We partner with the best mills in China to give our customers consistent quality and a product they can count on. Timber Products International--your tremendous global resource. International Division, Western Office (800) 547-9520 International Division, Eastern Office (800) 477-6195 |
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