Below is a look at some of the common core materials used in producing furniture, cabinetry and casegoods.

Medium density fiberboard (MDF) is manufactured with a variety of physical properties and dimensions, providing the opportunity to design the end product with the specific MDF needed. The panels typically consist of cellulosic fibers combined with a synthetic resin or other suitable bonding system and joined together under heat and pressure. The surface is flat, smooth, uniform, dense and free of knots and grain patterns, and the homogeneous density profile of the panels allow for intricate and precise machining and finishing techniques. Stability and strength also are important assets. MDF panels are widely used in a variety of applications, including: furniture, cabinetry, door parts, moulding and trim, millwork and laminate flooring.

Particleboard consists of cellulosic particles of various sizes that are bonded together with a synthetic resin or binder under heat and pressure. Particle geometry, resin levels, board density and manufacturing processes may be modified to produce products suitable for specific end uses. Particleboard panels are manufactured in a variety of dimensions and with a wide range of physical properties that provides maximum design flexibility for specifiers and end users. Common uses for particleboard include: cabinetry, countertops, door core, floor underlayment, furniture, shelving, store fixtures and stair treads.

Hardboard panels and sheets are manufactured primarily from inter-felted lignocellulosic fibers consolidated under heat and pressure. Hardboard has a uniform thickness, density and appearance and has no grain. The sheets can be cut, routed, shaped and drilled, and as with MDF and particleboard, can be laminated with paper overlays, plastic laminates and veneers. Hardboard is used in a variety of applications including furniture components, wall paneling, moulded door skins, underlayment and perforated boards.

Hardwood plywood is made up of three or more thin layers of wood veneer laid on top of each other and glued with the grain of each layer or ply running perpendicular to the one on either side of it. Hardwood plywood offers a strong, inexpensive, and environmentally responsible alternative to its solid wood counterparts. Medium-density fiberboard (MDF), particleboard, combi-core, and lumber can also be used as cores. The predominate North American hardwood species are maple, cherry, red or white oak, hickory, ash, alder, walnut, and poplar. Hardwood plywood is typically used for products like furniture and cabinets, while softwood plywood is typically used for construction and industrial purposes.

Sources: For more information on these or other panel products, as well as regulations impacting the materials, contact the Composite Panel Association, 703-724-1128 compositepanel.org; and the Decorative Hardwoods Association, 703-435-2900, DecorativeHardwoods.org.

WASHINGTON — U.S. Customs and Border Protection is cracking down on attempts to evade antidumping and countervailing duties on hardwood plywood products imported from China.

CBP's twitter feed last month noted the agency's success in rooting out merchandise misclassified as ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinetry instead of the hardwood plywood panels actually contained in the cargo.

According to Alexander Amdur, director, AD/CVD Policy and Programs Division, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, evasions  generally fall into three categories: misclassification — misclassifying entries as something that’s not subject to AD/CVD; undervaluation — undervaluing the entry so as to not pay the right amount of duties; and trans-shipments  — hiding/misidentifying the country of origin on the shipment.

"The issue of antidumping and countervailing duties is extremely important to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, not just on the plywood issue but on the well over 400 cases that we enforce," said John Leonard, executive director - Trade Policy & Programs, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "Together with the Department of Commerce, we're making sure that we collect the right duty on these shipments in order to level the playing field."

Since the final orders were issued, antidumping margins of 183 percent and countervailing duties of 23 percent and higher have been levied on shipments of hardwood plywood from China. The hardwood and decorative plywood panels are used in the manufacture of cabinetry, furniture and other products.

A representative from one domestic cabinet manufacturer said that his company ceased using imported hardwood plywood due to the tariffs, and has been heavily impacted by the competitive advantage others have gained in the "illegal" importation of the product. The crackdown at the ports on illegal shipments, estimated at more than $1 billion per year, and enforcement of the tariffs by CBP "is going to have a major impact on the industry," he added.

There are more than 300 ports of entry where cargo and people can enter the United States, approximately 60 of which are larger, commercial ports for large container shipments. While the majority of importers are compliant with regard to applying and reporting duties correctly, "there are unfortunately a significant amount of trade evasions that we're enforcing against," Amdur said.

"AD/CVD is a priority for CBP," he added. "Importers need to be very careful in their importation and do due diligence, and review all of the Department of Commerce instructions to make sure that they’re importing the goods correctly."

All shipments entering the United States are screened, with high-risk entries identified through a combination of risk management methods and automated systems at the port levels and by CBP's 10 Centers of Excellence and Expertise, which are staffed virtually by import specialists. Hardwood plywood falls under the Industrial & Manufacturing Materials Center, while cabinetry, for example, is processed through the Consumer Products & Mass Merchandising Center.

"When anomalies pop, either by our targeting algorithms or by human intervention," Leonard explained, "[CBP] will segregate it out and look at it for further action," such as opening the container, a costly, and time-consuming procedure for the importer. Both civil and criminal penalties can occur if importers are caught evading.

The hardwood plywood import issue dates back to 2012 when the Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood filed an unfair trade petition against China for "products sold in the United States at dumped prices." The petition was opposed by the American Alliance of Hardwood Plywood, which claimed the countervailing ruling would not only penalize jobs, but "severely damage American industries that depend on this unique hardwood plywood." In late 2017, the Department of Commerce and International Trade Administration determined that the domestic industry was materially injured by the lower-cost, subsidized Chinese imports.

The AD/CVD order covers all hardwood plywood from China, regardless of whether or not the face and/or back veneers are surface coated or covered. Hardwood plywood which has had minor processing is also subject to the tariff; minor processing can include cut-to-size, painted, laminated, stained, UV finished, grooved, and/or edgebanded.

Currently excluded from the scope are: structural plywood; multilayered wood flooring, as described in the antidumping duty and countervailing duty orders on Multilayered Wood Flooring; shaped plywood; fully assembled wooden furniture; RTA furniture; and assembled and RTA kitchen cabinets, which are now facing their own scrutiny. To meet the RTA exclusion, the product must be shipped with all the materials specified in the exclusion and must be packaged in a manner suitable for purchase by an end-use consumer, in a single package.

On March 26 the U.S. Department of Commerce initiated an antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigation on wooden cabinetry and vanities imported from China to determine whether they are being unfairly subsidized and dumped in the U.S. market. Filed by the American Kitchen Cabinet Alliance, the petition covers cabinets made of solid wood as well as composite panel construction, RTA cabinetry, cabinetry components including doors, drawers, back and end panels, as well as desks, shelves, and tables that are attached to or incorporated in the merchandise.

For information on AD/CVD cases and the U.S. Customs and Border Protection visit cbp.gov/trade; or cbp.gov/trade/priority-issues/adcvd.

GRAYLING, Mich. – Arauco marked the grand opening of its $450 million particleboard and lamination facility in Grayling Michigan, with an April 16 ribbon-cutting ceremony and plant tour attended by executives from Arauco, Arauco North America, as well as key customers and public officials from Chile and the state of Michigan.

Those on hand for the ceremonial ribbon included: Roberto Angelini, Arauco first vice president, Board of Directors; Gonzalo Zegers, senior vice president International & Business Development of Arauco; Cristián Infante, president and COO of Arauco; Matias Domeyko, CEO of Arauco, corporate; Kelly Shotbolt, president of Arauco North America; Tex Giddens, Grayling project director; Matt Gibbon, Arauco Grayling plant manager; Paul Krepps, Global Business Development manager, Michigan Economic Development Corp. and Elise Lancaster, state director, Office of U.S. Senator Gary Peters.

The 820,000-square-foot facility staffs more than 200 full-time employees and houses North America’s largest-capacity, continuous single-line particleboard press, two thermally fused laminate (TFL) lines and a large stocking warehouse for just-in-time delivery. The mill has a total production capacity of 452 million square feet on a 3/4 -inch basis. It is the first greenfield composite panel mill completed in the United States in nearly 20 years, and Arauco’s eleventh manufacturing site in North America.

Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, Arauco North America is a subsidiary of Arauco.  Based in Santiago, Chile, Arauco is a global producer of wood products supplying pulp, lumber, plywood, composite panels and millwork.

The first boards from Arauco Grayling were shipped to RTA furniture giant Sauder Woodworking.

Arauco said the new Grayling facility will improve the logistics of the entire chain of production and support its growing customer base in the Midwest. The panel products are used in the manufacture of commercial and residential furniture, cabinetry and retail fixtures.

The ribbon cutting ceremony comes two years after the company broke ground on the 160-acre site.  

The 820,000-square-foot facility is set on 160 acres, part of a 640-acre plot in Grayling, Michigan.

 “Today’s ceremony is designed to celebrate the successful result of literally years of hard work and cooperation by my fellow team members as well as leaders from the state of Michigan, Crawford County and the larger Grayling community,” including Grayling Charter Township, said Matt Gibbon, Arauco Grayling plant manager.

In his remarks, Arauco North America President Kelly Shotbolt also acknowledged the significant contributions of the Grayling project managers, and praised Michigan officials and local Crawford County representative for creating an environment conducive to undertaking such a large-scale business endeavor.

“Grayling is a prime example of positive collaboration between the public and private sector,” said Shotbolt. “We are grateful for the incredible support received both from Grayling community leaders and the state of Michigan. It has been vital to enabling Arauco to renew our industry in North America through what is arguably the most advanced, automated and large-scale facility of its kind anywhere in the world.”

“While known for automobile manufacturing, Michigan also is the office furniture capital of the world,” Shotbolt remarked. “We are pleased to substantially expand our production capacity to assure a strong, sustainable supply of quality, raw and finished product for this growing region.”

In his speech, Shotbolt added, “We located this mill close to our customers so we could take the freight out, and so we can support those customers that have stayed true to this area, and help them sustain their business – to grow their business. We believe that in so doing, we can be an economic multiplier in this region.”

Elise Lancaster, state director, Office of U.S. Senator Gary Peters, noted that the wood industry is a key element of Michigan’s economy, “with approximately 90,000 jobs in the state, supported by the Michigan forest products industry, generating approximately $17 billion annually.

“We welcome Arauco as the first major particleboard mill built in the U.S. in over 20 years,” she added.

Receiving a certificate are Matt Gibbon, Arauco Grayling plant manager, Kelly Shotbolt, Arauco North America president and Cristián Infante, Arauco (corporate) CEO and president.

“We saw this as a great opportunity,” Cristián Infante, CEO and president of the Santiago, Chile-based firm. “I think it is very exciting to be a company like Arauco that produces products that come from well-managed forests, that contribute to improving the lives of the people, and not hurting the planet but on the contrary, helping. And that’s our DNA – that’s what we aim for. And really, this project is part of that great dream that we have at Arauco.”

Inside the plant

The Grayling plant will produce the full range of the company’s raw particleboard, in a wide variety of thicknesses, as well as Arauco’s full Prism TFL collection of decorative panels.

The Dieffenbacher press at the Grayling mill.

The Grayling operation boasts North America’s largest continuous particleboard press. The Dieffenbacher single-line press measures 170 feet by 10 feet wide and has a maximum production speed of 1,200mm per second. The composite panels will be manufactured in thicknesses of 1/4 inch to 1-3/4 inch, in widths of 4, 5 and 6 feet. Grades to be made include M3, M3i, M2, MS, and Door core LD1/LD2.

The facility also has two 5 x 20 Wemhoner TFL press lines, capable of producing 120 million square feet annually on a 3/4-inch basis, in a wide variety of colors, styles and textures. The company said there is room for a third TFL line if additional capacity is required.

The Wemhoner TFL line.

Other equipment used in the plant includes Anthon saws, IMEAS sanding systems, GreCon and Baumer Colour Brain scanning systems used on the particleboard line and TFL lines respectively, and a Lukki automated board storage retrieval system.

Consistent with all other Arauco mills in North America, the Grayling plant is sustainably managed, with FSC chain-of-custody, CARB 2-TSCA, CPA ECC and other certifications.

“We’ve gone ahead and built this beautiful facility and we will join the community of like-minded companies that will stay true to their communities, and stay true to this industry,” Shotbolt said. “This facility will stand here for decades to come.”

With six wheels, the cooler can hold up to 270 24-foot particleboard panels.

GREENSBORO, N.C.  – Citing lost business from the sustained impact of imported Chinese cabinets and plywood, Columbia Forest Products said it will permanently close its Trumann, Arkansas hardwood plywood facility. Announced April 12, the company said the closure is projected to take place sometime this fall.

Remaining orders for panel products manufactured will be moved to other production sites within Columbia’s existing North American network, the company said.  Columbia Forest Products had been operating the Trumann facility since 1986. The mill had 50 employees.

“The decision to close Trumann is especially difficult given the skills and commitment of the employees in Trumann,” said Greg Pray, president and CEO of Columbia Forest Products. “As employee-owners, we consider them family.”

He added, “We have fought a long and challenging battle against unfair and imbalanced Chinese trade practices. First, with hardwood plywood. More recently, imported Chinese cabinets.”

NEWS U.S. Customs cracks down on hardwood plywood tariff evaders U.S. Customs and Border Protection's twitter feed last month noted the agency's success in rooting out merchandise misclassified as ready-to-assemble kitchen cabinetry instead of the hardwood plywood panels actually contained in the cargo.
NEWS U.S. launches trade investigation on Chinese cabinetry The U.S. Department of Commerce has initiated an antidumping duty and countervailing duty investigation on wooden cabinetry and vanities imported from China to determine whether they are being unfairly subsidized and dumped in the U.S. market.

“The combined and sustained impact of these and other factors have eroded our market opportunities to the point where we just couldn’t operate the facility at a loss, waiting for the market to come back,” Pray said.

Established in 1957 and headquartered in Greensboro, North Carolina, Columbia Forest Products is a leading manufacturer of decorative hardwood plywood and veneer.  Among the products offered is the EPA award-winning PureBond® formaldehyde-free hardwood plywood.

NAPLES, Fla. - The Composite Panel Association recognized more than a dozen companies for safety achievements during the group's spring meeting held recently in Naples, Florida.
 
The 2018 Safety Award was given to participating manufacturing plants with exemplary safety records, including acknowledgments for long-term, annual, safety improvement, and safety achievement. For each award, plants are categorized by low worker-hours (Class I) and high-worker hours (Class II).
 
The awards for the best long-term safety record over the past three years were given to Arauco North America, Moncure, North Carolina (Class I) and Louisiana-Pacific Corp., Roaring River, North Carolina (Class II).
 
The annual safety awards for having zero incidents in 2018 were given to Arauco North America, Moncure, North Carolina and Timber Products, Martell, California for Class I plants, and Panolam, Huntsville, Ontario and Louisiana-Pacific, Roaring River, North Carolina for Class II plants.
 
Two plants recognized for safety improvement were West Fraser Mills, Whitecourt, Alberta (Class I) and Panolam, Huntsville, Ontario (Class II).
 
Ten plants were recognized for achieving an incident rate of less than 50 percent of the industry average over the past three years. Class I plants were Arauco North America, Eugene, Oregon; Arauco North America, Moncure, North Carolina; Roseburg, El Dorado Arkansas; Roseburg, Taylorsville, Mississippi and West Fraser Mills, Whitecourt, Alberta. Class II plants were Arauco North America, Malvern, Arkansas; Arauco North America (MDF), Bennettsville, South Carolina; Arauco North America, Sault Ste Marie, Ontario; Louisiana-Pacific Corp., East River, Nova Scotia and Louisiana-Pacific Corp., Roaring River, North Carolina.
 
 
2018 Safety Innovation Award
 
CPA also awarded Arauco North America’s Malvern, Arkansas, plant with its 2018 Safety Innovation Award. The Safety Innovation Award recognizes a mill that has instituted a new policy, process or technology that has made it a safer place to work. The Malvern plant’s use of the proprietary Hit-Not System is a state-of-the-art tool for reducing the risk to pedestrians in the wood yard.
 
Hit-Not uses low-frequency magnetic fields that can pass through walls and structures. A magnetic field generator is placed on all powered equipment and a personal alarm device is worn by all pedestrians in their high-visibility vest. The personal alarm device receives a signal from the generator on the equipment warning pedestrians and the equipment operators of possible danger. With this system in place, any time a pedestrian enters the wood yard, operators of front-end loader must place their bucket on the ground until the pedestrian leaves the area.
 
CPA said it will post summaries of all the safety innovation award submittals with the hope that best practices can be adopted industry-wide.

TORONTO, Ont. – Norbord Inc. has resumed production at its OSB mill in High Level, Alberta after the evacuation order for the town of High Level was lifted. Production had been suspended since May 21 due to wildfires burning in the region.

The company said the curtailment is not expected to materially impact its second-quarter results, and the mill did not incur any damage. The High Level mill, which resumed operations in 2013, has a stated annual production capacity of 860 million square feet (3/8-inch basis). OSB is commonly used in structural building products, including wall sheathing, subflooring, stairs and joists.

Headquartered in Toronto, Norbord (TSX and NYSE: OSB) is reportedly the world’s largest producer of oriented strand board (OSB). Norbord also manufactures particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF) and related value-added products. The company has assets of approximately $1.9 billion and employs approximately 2,700 people at 17 plant locations in the United States, Canada and Europe.

LAS VEGAS– Hardwoods Distribution Inc. has completed an overhaul of its import plywood supply chain, transitioning U.S. operations supply options away from China, diversifying the origins of its flagship brand, Dragon Ply. The new Dragon Ply inventories are available at numerous HDI locations across the U.S.

The new Dragon Ply in new packaging is on display this week at AWFS at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Booth #4657.

“We have spent nearly two years rebuilding our supply chain outside of China with the primary focus of holding our vendors to the stringent Dragon Ply product specifications and 100 percent legal sourcing,” says Dan Figgins, HDI vice president imports.

“Whether it be raw material procurement, production process management, quality control or logistics, we are more integrated in our supply chains than ever before. Our supply is more diversified in its origins as well as breadth of products from around the globe, importing decorative panels from more than a dozen countries.”

The renewed Dragon Ply program has more core options to fit specific needs, and continues to offer full line of thick faced, machine composed fancy plywood, which is customizable to the end users requirements for grade and composition.

WASHINGTON — A New Jersey importer of cabinetry is the first company fined for violating the national Formaldehyde Rule. Global Sourcing Solutions, a Division of Turner Logistics LLC, has agreed to pay a settlement of $544,064 for violations associated with the importation of non-compliant composite wood products.

The Consent Agreement indicates the company submitted a voluntary disclosure to EPA and will replace the non-compliant components with TSCA Title VI compliant material.  While the Turkish-made cabinetry met European E0 and E1 formaldehyde emission standards, some of the E1 laminated particleboard was found to exceed U.S. formaldehyde emission requirements. According to a statement from the U.S. EPA, as part of the settlement GSS, although not admitting liability, has modified its practices in construction projects across the country to assure future compliance with the Formaldehyde Rule requirements.

Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Products Act of 2010 and its implementing Formaldehyde Rule (effective June 1, 2018). set limits on how much formaldehyde can be released from composite wood products. The standard also establishes a program in which independent certifying organizations will verify that composite wood panel producers comply with the limits on formaldehyde releases.
 

LEESBURG, Va. - The Composite Panel Association has submitted comments to Canada’s proposed “Regulations to limit the emissions of formaldehyde from composite wood panels and finished goods and component parts made from them” which focus on sections not aligned with TSCA Title VI of the U.S. regulation.

Canada's proposed Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products Regulations was posted for public comment in the Friday, June 28, 2019 edition of the Canada Gazette.

The CPA represents the North American composite panel industry on technical, regulatory, quality assurance and product acceptance issues. Among the larger issues raised by CPA in its the comments were:

    The lack of a third-party certification process;

    The absence of any process for managing non-complying lots;

    Concerns with extensive labeling requirements; and

    The need for a modest sell-through approach and phased-in labeling.

There were also a number of comments made to better align the definitions sections and testing procedures and requirements.

CPA said it met with Health Canada (HC) and Environment and Climate Change Canada (ECCC) in Ottawa to explain the submitted comments and reinforce the need for close alignment with TSCA Title VI.  According to CPA, the meeting was very positive and opened up the possibility for continued dialogue as the Government moves forward with finalizing the Regulations.  HC and ECCC staff indicated that work would continue on the Regulations through the upcoming federal elections but that any move to finalize them would likely not occur until approved by the new administration.

The stated objectives of Canada's regulations are to reduce potential health risks by putting limits on allowable formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products and, second, to align with similar requirements in the United States in order to create a level playing field for Canadian, American and international businesses.

Working with industry and the Government of Canada, the Canadian Standards Association (CSA) in 2016 developed a voluntary standard for formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products. This standard is effectively the same as the CARB one used in California. Products that are in compliance with the voluntary standard can be labelled as complying with the CSA standard. Most Canadian manufacturers have indicated that their products already comply with this voluntary standard.

GURDON, Ark.— Georgia-Pacific said it will invest up to $70 million to upgrade its plywood and lumber operations in Gurdon, Arkansas. The company said the upgrades in technology and systems will help sustain the more than 700 jobs at the two facilities.

"We are making state-of-the-art improvements that will transform our Gurdon facilities, greatly improving the utilization of raw materials and overall operating efficiencies, making jobs more meaningful, and turning us into an even stronger competitor," said Mike White, Western Regional operations manager.

Capital improvements at the mills include: installation of an advanced merchandiser that determines best end-product use; new panel assembly stations with state-of-the-art scanning systems; an upgraded power plant; and software and security enhancements. Work on the projects began earlier this summer and will be completed in 2020.

Forklift operators at Georgia-Pacific’s Gurdon, Arkansas, plywood operation lift strap-wrapped 90-sheet bundles of finished plywood sheathing for transport to building and lumber stores across the country.

Including the $70 million investment in Gurdon, Georgia-Pacific said it has invested more than $645 million in the past five years in its operations across Arkansas. However, the company also announced in June the planned closure of mills in Crossett and Hope Arkansas, impacting an estimated 655 workers combined.

Community investment

In addition to investments in operations, Georgia-Pacific said it is also committing $100,000 over five years to help install a multi-use playing field that will be used by the high school, as well as the middle and elementary schools and for community events.

According to Carrie Wilkins, Regional Human Resources for Georgia-Pacific's Plywood and Lumber divisions, the local schools have been instrumental in developing a strong workforce.

"The Gurdon schools have been such a cooperative, helpful and successful partner in ensuring we have the talented people we need," Wilkins said.   "We want and need them to continue to be successful which is why it is important to contribute meaningfully to the local schools and community."

Based in Atlanta, Georgia-Pacific and its subsidiaries manufacture and market building products and related chemicals, paper-based packaging, cellulose, specialty fibers, nonwoven fabrics, and consumer products, including bath tissue, paper towels, napkins, and tableware. The company operates more than 180 facilities and employs more than 30,000 people directly and creates approximately 89,000 jobs indirectly.

LYONS, Ore. - The U.S. Structural Plywood Integrity Coalition, a group comprised of 10 domestic plywood producers, has filed a Lanham Act claim of false labeling against three U.S. certification agencies: PFS TECO, Timber Products Inspection Inc. and International Accreditation Service. The coalition claims certain structural plywood panels produced in South America are being fraudulently certified and stamped as compliant with U.S. product standards.

Filed in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida, the lawsuit claims 35 plywood plants in Paraná and Santa Catarina, Brazil, are falsely stamping millions of square feet of structural plywood panels imported into the United States as meeting the U.S. Voluntary Product Standard PS 1-09 for structural plywood. The suit charges PFS-TECO and TPI of issuing PS 1-09 compliance certificates authorizing the plants to stamp plywood panels as meeting the PS 1-09 structural grade requirements — without independent testing performed — thereby making them eligible for sale as structural panels in the United States. PFS-TECO and TPI are accredited by International Accreditation Service Inc.

Structural plywood panels are used for flooring, roofs and walls in residential and commercial buildings and must meet PS 1-09 standards to comply with building codes. According to the suit, tests by the American Plywood Association in 2018, and commissioned by the coalition in 2019, show plywood panels produced in southern Brazil experienced massive failure rates when tested under the PS 1-09 standard, specifically in regard to bending stiffness and deflection. 

Shown is an APA stamp signifying that this structural panel meets industry standards for building codes. Photo: Freres Lumber.

Although the southern Brazil plantations were planted in loblolly pine, slash pine, and other North American species typically used in domestic panel manufacturing, "when these species are planted in regions they have never naturally grown, the tree's fiber no longer behaves like those grown in their natural regions. The temperate climate and full-year growing season in Brazil lead to fiber that has very little stiffness or strength when used in plywood panels," the suit states, nor can the species grown there "consistently and reliably produce PS 1-09 compliant structural plywood."

"The product standards for American plywood have serious real-world implications for all homes constructed using wood panel products," said Tyler Freres, vice president of sales with Freres Lumber, one of the coalition members. "Inferior products can endanger the health and safety of everyone who depends upon their homes to provide shelter and security for their families and loved ones. It is incumbent upon engineered wood products manufacturers to ensure that we meet all codes and that U.S. certification agencies have consumers' health and safety as their primary concern when providing their certifications."

Brazilian PS 1-09 plywood imports into the United States in 2018 and 2019 to date represent approximately 15% of total U.S. structural plywood consumption, according to the lawsuit. The plaintiffs are seeking preliminary and permanent injunctions requiring the two certifying agencies, PFS-TECO and TPI to revoke the PS 1-09 compliance certificates that each agency has issued to the 35 plywood plants. Additionally, the lawsuit seeks damages of $150 million dollars, plus an additional amount to be specifically proven at trial.

Michael Haglund (503-225-0777)  is lead counsel for the coalition, which includes Coastal Plywood Co., Scotch Plywood Co. Inc., Veneer Products Acquisitions LLC, Southern Veneer Specialty Products LLC, Hunt Forest Products LLC, Freres Lumber Co. Inc., Hardel Mutual Plywood Corp., Murphy Co., SDS Lumber Co., and Swanson Group, Inc.

"It is clear to the U.S. Structural Plywood Integrity Coalition that there was a concerted effort to defraud American consumers by misrepresenting imported panels as equivalent to domestic panels,” Freres said. “That, combined with the federally-mandated timber harvest reduction in the Northwest not only provided the opportunity, but encouraged the importation of wood products from all over the world.”

The suit,"U.S. Structural Plywood Integrity Coalition, et al. v. PFS Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation, dba PFS-TECO, Timber Products Inspection, and International Accreditation Service Inc.," was filed on Sept. 5.

COTTAGE GROVE, Wis. — PFS TECO says it will "vigorously defend" its reputation against claims that it fraudulently certified and stamped structural plywood from southern Brazil as compliant with U.S. standard PS 1-09.

Filed Sept. 5 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida by the U.S. Structural Plywood Integrity Coalition, the suit charges both PFS TECO and Timber Products Inspection Inc. of issuing PS 1-09 compliance certificates authorizing 35 plants in southern Brazil to stamp structural plywood panels as meeting the structural grade requirements when they may not. Also named in the suit is International Accreditation Service Inc., the accrediting agency of both companies.

PFS TECO said it has not been served by the plaintiff’s counsel as of Sept. 19, and the company "stands behind its independent certification procedures as fully compliant with the relevant standards."

In a statement, PFS TECO noted, "The complaint’s use of the calculated uniform load performance results for the plywood is not consistent with PS 1 sheathing test requirements. It appears from the allegations in the complaint that this testing approach relied upon by the plaintiffs is not permitted to be used under PS 1-09 as an alternative to conducting the uniform load test. PFS TECO testing uses the methods directed by the standard."

PFS TECO also refuted the allegation that "PS 1-09 quality plywood simply cannot be consistently produced from the two fast-growing non-native plantation species used by the Brazilian plywood producers,"  specifically loblolly pine and slash pine. The company noted it has "more than 15 years of data showing that plywood from southern Brazil and produced by manufacturing facilities certified by PFS TECO can meet PS 1 requirements." 

Based in Cottage Grove, Wisconsin, PFS TECO is a 100% employee-owned, independent, third-party certification, inspection, and testing agency. The company said it has been serving the structural wood products industry since 1933, and specifically the plywood industry in the United States since 1958.

PEACHTREE CITY, Ga. - Stating the allegations against the wood products accrediting agency are "absolutely false," Timber Products Inspection Inc. added it is ready "to vigorously defend” its reputation against claims that it fraudulently certified and stamped structural plywood from southern Brazil as compliant with U.S. standard PS 1-09.

Filed Sept. 5 in U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Florida by the U.S. Structural Plywood Integrity Coalition, the suit charges both Timber Products Inspection Inc. (TP) and PFS TECO, of issuing PS 1-09 compliance certificates authorizing 35 plants in southern Brazil to stamp structural plywood panels as meeting the structural grade requirements when, according to the coalition, they may not. Also named in the suit is International Accreditation Service Inc., the accrediting agency of both companies.

In a statement, President Jay Moore said"Last week, we were surprised by a lawsuit alleging our company and others have inconsistently applied the PS 1-09 standard to Brazilian plywood. The allegations in the lawsuit are absolutely false.

"We have extreme confidence in our processes. Our confidence is anchored by our standalone, accredited testing facility in Georgia where all client products – including Brazilian plywood – are tested to ensure they meet a variety of regulatory standards."

TP also denied the allegation that panels produced in southern Brazil can exhibit high failure rates due to the "fast-growing non-native plantation species used by the Brazilian plywood producers," and also the coalition's claim that independent testing has not been implemented.

"Despite the claims of the plaintiffs, our experience and testing indicate that Brazilian plywood meets all objective industry and regulatory standards outlined by the PS 1-09 standard. Clients in Brazil and elsewhere who do not consistently meet the applicable industry standard do not remain as TP clients," Moore said.

"A third party established the standard for the plywood program to ensure consistency, and our role is to inspect and audit our clients against the standard requirements. We do this through a rigorous and established qualification process, routine in-plant inspections, and periodic quality checks. These established processes, procedures, and results are reviewed by two outside, independent accreditation bodies on at least yearly intervals," he added.

"In 50 years of service, TP has never been accused of such negligence and we stand by our team, our clients, and our processes. We intend to vigorously defend our reputation in court – and as necessary, in public – in the months ahead.”

Read Jay Moore's full statement.

Timber Products Inspection is based in Peachtree City, Georgia. The company provides analytical, auditing, engineering and technical services.

LEESBURG, Va. - The Composite Panel Association elected its 2020 officers, board members and committee leadership positions during the fall meeting, held Oct. 6-8 in Denver. The new leadership takes effect Jan. 1, 2020.

Serving on the CPA Executive Committee will be: Pat Aldred of GP Wood Products, chairman; David Smith of Timber Products, vice chairman, and Steve Carroll of Arauco, secretary/treasurer. Jim Buffington of Roseburg will complete his term as CPA chairman at the end of this year and serve as immediate past chairman in 2020.

The board also re-elected Emilio Ayub of Duraplay, Steve Canary of Panolam, James Hogg of Uniboard and James Laundry of West Fraser to continue serving as at-large members of the Executive Committee. Additionally, Dan Beaty of Langboard, Marla Chappell of Weyerhaeuser and Mike Shuey of Collins were elected to the Executive Committee.

Joe Caldwell of MJB Wood Group, Steve Sauter of Hexion and Peter Stasiowski of Interprint were re-elected as associate members to the CPA Board of Directors.  

The following are CPA committee chairman and vice chairman for 2020:

• Environmental and Public Affairs Committee: Chairman Mark Avery, Timber Products, and Vice Chairman James Hogg, Uniboard
• Production-Technical Committee:  Chairman Jeff Cronin, Collins Companies, and Vice Chairman Steve Paulson of GP Wood Products
• Marketing Committee: Chairman Greg Welling, Woodgrain Composites, and Vice Chairman Dawn Garcia, Roseburg
• Decorative Surfaces Council: Chairman Tammy Polovic, Omnova Solutions

Rick Bryson of Ashley Furniture was recognized at the Chairman’s dinner for his longstanding contributions to the CPA Board, as were Peter Stasiowski and Dale Garges of Arauco North America for their contributions to CPA as outgoing chairs of the Marketing and Production-Technical Committees respectively.

Founded in 1960, the Composite Panel Association represents the North American composite panel industry on technical, regulatory, quality assurance and product acceptance issues.  CPA General Members include 30 of the leading manufacturers of particleboard, medium density fiberboard and hardboard.  Together they represent more than 92% of the total manufacturing capacity in US, Canada and Mexico.

It’s time we told the truth about composite wood decorative panels.

 A particleboard sculpture at the Milan furniture fair by designer Lorenzo Damiani: “Using resources and materials responsibly, striving to give dignity to materials normally perceived as worthless. Proposing alternative uses of existing materials: this is the challenge of today, and above all, tomorrow.  This is why I chose to use particleboard in a different way. In the future, the distinction between valuable and less valuable materials will disappear, because they will ALL be valuable. Why not get ready now?”  Photo: Kenn Busch

Wakeup calls

Easy answers

• Composite wood panels begin life as a recycled product. When trees are harvested for lumber and flooring, half of that wood fiber is left on the forest floor. We use over 99 percent of that leftover fiber in our panels. The tiny bit still left over becomes fuel for heating our plants and kilns.
• These panels are naturally “climate positive.” Trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere as they grow. Half of the chemical makeup of wood is stored carbon, which isn’t released until it decomposes or burns. Composite wood panels store more carbon than is released in its production. This is the definition of climate positive.
• Decorative composite wood panels outlast solid wood in tough applications. The longer our materials are in use, the longer that carbon is stored, or “sequestered.” And we’re not wasting energy making and installing replacements. 
• We help maintain healthy forest ecosystems. North America’s lumber-producing snow forests are designed by nature to regrow after being decimated by fire or insects every 40 years or so. Well-intentioned humans have interrupted these cycles to protect property. Modern FSC forest management restores these cycles by harvesting plots of older trees before they lose their ability to absorb carbon and produce oxygen. The resulting open meadows are perfect for the next generation of young, healthy trees.  
• Decorative surfaces save rare and fragile hardwoods. We’re not saying never use solid wood or veneers. Just don’t use them in high-use settings where they’ll quickly fail. Like elevator cabs.  
• Our panels release less formaldehyde than natural wood, or a bowl of fruit. Formaldehyde is an organic compound, produced and released by every living thing. CARB II limits are the most stringent in the world. Our panels literally emit less formaldehyde than you would encounter walking through a forest. 

Elkhart, IN – Genesis Products Inc., a leader in RV laminated panels and wood components, has announced a strategic partnership with Garnica Plywood, Europe’s leading provider of lightweight and high-quality plywood for the RV market.  This strategic partnership will allow Genesis to bring the European plantation-grown Garnica lightweight plywood to RV OEMs in the United States,

“We are committed to our partnership with Garnica, with the goal to bring custom, premium-quality, lightweight plywood to our customers,” said Jon Wenger, Genesis CEO and president.  “The Garnica plywood panels feature outstanding surface quality that is easy to machine and transport, thanks to their reduced weight.” 

Genesis said it will have Garnica products available for immediate purchase.

The company said Genesis' and Garnica's partnership will bring decades of experience and R&D capabilities to the North American market.  Genesis will lead the product specification and development process to tailor products to the unique RV functional demands.  “Other plywood mills produce standard products for many markets.  RVs are Garnica’s business and RVs are Genesis’ business,” said Jon Wenger.

Founded in 2002, Genesis Products is a leading supplier of laminated panels and wood components for a variety of industries, including cabinetry, closets and home storage, store fixture, office and education, recreational vehicle, furniture, and transportation industries. The company's products and services include: panel supply, laminated panels, panel processing, interior doors, wrapped moldings, bed parts, drawer parts, tables & bases, RV interior components, and assembled store fixtures. With a total of more than 850,000 square feet of production, assembly and warehousing space, Genesis Products employs more than 813 people at facilities in Elkhart County, Indiana and Keysville, Virginia, with nine plants across the Midwest and East Coast.

LYONS, Ore. – Freres Lumber Co. Inc. said it is the first U.S. manufacturer to install and operate the Taihei Horizontal Press Model P25-AB, a horizontal hot press for laminating plywood after the gluing and prepressing processes. The press was installed between Thanksgiving and Christmas and was fully operational on Dec. 17.

Freres said it is already reaping benefits from the horizontal press technology. According to the company, the horizontal press differs from conventional vertical presses in that the heat plates are installed vertically and apply pressure to the plywood horizontally. Production efficiency is increased, and the horizontal format maximizes the uniformity of contact pressure, is easier to install and maintain, is safer and is more energy-efficient than conventional U.S. vertical presses, the company said. The horizontal press also has an automatic feed system and does not require a dedicated operator.

The horizontal press is designed to produce 10-foot plywood, which will provide the opportunity to produce long length panels in the future, though the company said it has no plans to do so at this time. Additionally, the new system has a small footprint in relation to the number of platens, allowing Freres to install the 60-opening press, where previously there had been a 24-opening press.

“We are committed to investing in advanced technology to keep Freres current and competitive, and have always looked to the future when making equipment and product decisions,” said Kyle Freres, vice president of operations for Freres Lumber. “This new horizontal press will broaden the range of products we can offer, by freeing up two other presses to accept additional production from our spreader and our PLV (parallel-laminated veneer) line.”

Taihei, based out of Aichi, Japan, designed and produced the press. Installation crews were sourced locally, but Taihei supervised the installation. Taihei has a local shop in Eugene, Oregon, and makes other products including knife grinders, knife honers and veneer dryers.
 
Established in 1922, Freres Lumber manufactures finished plywood products, lumber, veneers and structural composite lumber, including Mass Plywood Panel (MPP). The company operates six wood products facilities, including a cogeneration facility.

ATLANTA – Arauco announced it will close its particleboard line in Moncure, North Carolina, effective April 2020. 

Arauco said the decision, announced Jan. 30, was based on an assessment over several years that the older manufacturing platform was less competitive in a challenging marketplace compared to the company’s other advanced, high-capacity particleboard platforms.

The company said the MDF line at Moncure will be integrated with a moulding line to create an advanced MDF millwork operation that will drive efficiencies and support the company’s commitment to provide customers with value-added products.

“The decision to close a line is difficult and we are working diligently to provide options for impacted personnel, including the new positions created at the millwork facility,” said Pablo Franzini, president of Arauco North America. “We will continue to serve particleboard customers with our other platforms. Additionally, the new investment will strengthen our millwork footprint to better serve our customers.”

Arauco is a global manufacturer of forest products, including composite panels, premium plywood, millwork, lumber and wood pulp. The company made news last year with the acquisition of MDF moulding and millwork producer Prime-Line Inc., the ending of particleboard production at its St. Stephen, New Brunswick facility, which also produces MDF panels, and the opening of a $450 million particleboard operation in Grayling, Michigan, featuring North America’s largest-capacity, continuous single-line particleboard press, two thermally fused laminate (TFL) lines and a large stocking warehouse for just-in-time delivery. In February 2019, Arauco also closed on a deal to purchase two Masisa mills in Mexico.

ATLANTA – Arauco has announced it will be closing its medium density fiberboard (MDF) production facility in Eugene, Oregon, as of May 1, 2020.

Arauco said the decision, announced Feb. 11, was based on an assessment over several years that the older manufacturing platform was less competitive compared to the company’s other more advanced MDF platforms. Arauco said it will continue to support customers from its other facilities.

“Decisions regarding plant closures are difficult,” said Pablo Franzini, president of Arauco North America. “We are working diligently to provide options for Eugene employees to help them through a difficult transition. We are committed to meeting our customers’ needs from our other facilities.”

News of the closure follows on the heels of last month's announcement that the company would shut down the particleboard line at the Moncure, North Carolina, facility.

Arauco is a global manufacturer of forest products, including composite panels, premium plywood, millwork, lumber and wood pulp. The company made news last year with the acquisition of MDF moulding and millwork producer Prime-Line Inc., the ending of particleboard production at its St. Stephen, New Brunswick facility, which also produces MDF panels, and the opening of a $450 million particleboard operation in Grayling, Michigan, featuring North America’s largest-capacity, continuous single-line particleboard press, two thermally fused laminate (TFL) lines and a large stocking warehouse for just-in-time delivery. In February 2019, Arauco also closed on a deal to purchase two Masisa mills in Mexico.

MDF, as the name implies is made with fibers and small clumps of fibers. The raw material is logs (short, crooked are fine) of almost any species; cost and availability are key factors. Hence, the raw material cost for MDF is not high, compared to plywood veneers. The first steps in processing are cutting the wood into small pieces and then mechanically or chemically converting the wood into fibers or small clumps of fibers. If needed, the fibers are then dried.

Dry fibers are then coated with adhesive and sometimes wax is added to help with water repellency. The amount of adhesive is a key in determining the strength of the final product. The fibers are then spread on a mat (the quantity of fibers determines the board density) and then pressed to the desired thickness and density.

Overall, an MDF panel is very uniform in properties. This provides uniform matching and finishing.

MDF can be used alone or used as a core material for a wood veneer face and back. MDF can be embossed. MDF can be printed on. Edges can be machined with sharp edges. MDF ends can made with a variety of profiles including mortise and tenon-type joints.

MDF characteristics and processing hints

MDF has many advantages and a few disadvantages.

Advantages

--MDF is generally cheaper than plywood.

--The surface of MDF is very smooth, making finishing and even printing on it quite easy and it has an excellent appearance.

--MDF is very consistent throughout, so routed and sawn edges, including curved edges, can be very smooth with sharp corners and edges.

Disadvantages

--MDF is weaker than solid wood and plywood

--MDF is heavier than plywood.

--MDF dulls tools faster than plywood.

--MDF will swell in thickness when first exposed to liquid water or high humidity.

--Conventional fasteners in the face and edges are not strong.

A. Strength. For the same thickness, MDF tends to be not as strong and not as stiff as plywood or solid wood. However, as strength is controlled by thickness, panel density (which reflects the amount off wood per cubic inch, which is controlled by the amount of pressure used) and the amount of adhesive used, MDF panels have a range of possible strength and stiffness values. However, in general MDF panels are denser than plywood.

B. Gluing. MDF can be difficult to glue because of the added wax and the heat used in manufacturing. Also, the surfaces are usually quite smooth and appear burnished. Therefore, scuffing of the surfaces to be glued is suggested to achieve the strongest joint. In many cases, the glue joint strength, even with PVA adhesives, can exceed board strength. A hot-melt PUR is attractive. Other PUR-type adhesives may not work well as the product is often very dry; PUR adhesives need moisture to help fast curing. For strong 90 degree joints, consider wood blocking that is glued into the joint, using strong, short brad nails to hold the blocking in place until the adhesive cures.

C. Fastening with screws, nails and staples.  A variety of specialized mechanical joining systems have been developed to help provide fairly strong joints. These are often the best option for fastening. On the other hand, because the MDF panel is not exceptionally strong, it is fairly easy to make a glue joint that is stronger than the board itself.

Screws have less holding power in MDF than in solid wood. MDF screws use fewer threads per inch. Counter sink to allow head to be smooth and allow room for debris. Long skinny screws would be better than short stubby ones in most cases.

When the screw enters the dense MDF, it tears or pushes the fibers apart in order to make room for the screw. The screw, especially a larger diameter screw, is acting like a wedge so the board can actually be split apart around the screw. When this separation occurs, then the screw is held by these loose, torn fibers which do not have a lot of strength, as you might imagine. Even with predrilling, the strength of conventional fasteners is not high. I have seen a drop or two of epoxy put into the predrilled hole just before screwing. This seems to be worth trying.

The high density can make small brads and other nails difficult to use without bending or damaging the panel.

D. Machining. MDF’s uniformity provides precise machining without producing splinters or chipping. Compared to solid wood, MDF’s high density and the fairly hard adhesive used mean that machining is difficult and dulls conventional cutters. Carbide and diamond tools provide good, clean cuts.

Of special note is that abrasive debris (sand, for example) in the raw material also causes sanding and machining issues such as streaks due to nicks in knives and loss of sanding mineral. A quality MDF board will have very little extraneous debris. The amount of debris is measure with an “ash test.”

E. Warping. Moisture causes wood movement. However, in MDF, the added wax, the uniformity of properties and a vapor resistant finish all help to minimize moisture changes. So, in normal use conditions, warping is not an issue for MDF unless moisture changes are large and rapid.

Liquid water that gets into the panel through the finish or through other pathways such as a fastener hole creates serious problems with glue failures and unusually swelling.

F. Finishing. The smooth uniform surfaces with the absence of knots help with finishing. With any finish and a dense wood product, some experimentation and working closely with finish suppliers is essential to assure a well bonded, durable finish. With printing, the surface can be made to look like “real wood.”