NELMA Archives - Page 8 of 15

In Between Linus, Marcus and Brady, a Retail Lumber Trade Show Happens!

Posted on February 18, 2015 by

Obstructions and distractions were the key words surrounding this year’s NRLA’s Lumber and Building Material (LBM) Expo, held February 4-6 in Boston at the Hynes Memorial Convention Center. Sandwiched between two major snowstorm weekends and housed next to the parade route for the World Champion New England Patriots on the event’s first day, LBM ’15 got off to an unplanned slow start. However, day two ramped up nicely with a good showing of attendees seeking the latest information from the show’s 122 exhibitors.

NELMA’s 10’x10’ See the Stamp, Trust the Quality exhibit was utilized for this Convention, where the 2015 Membership Directory, the Standard Patterns for Eastern White Pine booklet, the Northeastern Softwood “Map”, and the Eastern White Pine “Grade Swatch” were the popular takeaways with visitors. Visuals on the Association’s new online Grader Academy™ also attracted attention and touted as an excellent educational tool for salesmen to become familiar with lumber grades or refresh their knowledge on specific grade requirements. This was NELMA’s 34th year of exhibiting at NRLA’s annual exposition, one of the show’s oldest exhibitors

“NELMA has a long standing presence at this show and an excellent relationship with the lumber retail industry in the Northeast,” reported Jeff Easterling, NELMA President. “We enjoy showcasing our latest reference and lumber product sourcing information to this important customer group on behalf of our manufacturing membership.”

The Tough gets Tougher – Grader Academy 300 Series

Posted on January 21, 2015 by

The next level of NELMA’s Grader Training program is now up and running! Level 300 courseware for Eastern White Pine is the latest installment to this unique online educational series designed as an online resource for lumber graders in-training, experienced graders that wish to maintain their skills, or individuals that want to learn more about the lumber grading.

The 6 courses within the Level 300 series for Eastern White Pine is the next logical step in the learning process, providing guidance on how to handle defects and anomalies within lumber that require further information. These courses follow the contents of NELMA’s General Definitions and Instructions for Grading Eastern White Pine supplement to the grade rules book.

Remember, any of the individual courses within Level 100, 200, or 300 may be viewed and studied at any time, however, the course quizzes must be taken in sequence. A simple login is necessary to access this no-fee educational program available from NELMA. And don’t forget to apply your grader skills in the Above Board game!

Ostrem Promoted to NELMA’s Coordinator for the Wood Packaging Inspection Program

Posted on January 20, 2015 by

Jason Ostrem, NELMA Inspector, has been promoted to fill the position of Wood Packaging Inspection Program Coordinator within the NELMA organization, effective February 5. This position was vacated with the retirement of Dennis Cornelius in 2014. Requiring a minimum of 5 years of export wood packaging inspection experience, the Coordinator provides a key role in the Association’s continual efforts to ensure the continuity and consistency of inspections performed by the NELMA staff within the program. Jason will also assist the Director of Inspection Services with implementation of new inspection policies and procedures in addition to new technologies developed to streamline and economize the inspection process.

Jason has been with NELMA in the position of Inspector since September 2007, hired during the organization’s expansion needs within the Upper Midwest Region. He was previously employed by Wal-Mart where he worked for 13 years at the company’s Distribution Center in Menomonie, Wisconsin with his latest position in the Management of Functional Areas. In his 7+ years with NELMA, Jason has expanded his lumber knowledge and duties to include lumber inspections for Studs, NGR, and Timbers, officially certified in 2013. He will continue his role as an inspector for wood packaging and lumber within his territory, modified to allow for performing the duties of the Coordinator position.

Jason received a Bachelor of Science degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Wisconsin – Stout in 1994 and resides in Cochran, Wisconsin with his wife (Cindy) and two children (Isabelle and Tristan). Please welcome Jason to his new position with the Association.

2015 Sustainable Versatility Design Competition Announced

Posted on December 2, 2014 by

Details of NELMA’s 4th Annual Design Competition exclusively for architect and design students is set to go out this month to 75 of the top architecture schools around the country. This year’s challenge calls for a design of a contemporary, single-family home that significantly features Eastern White Pine, incorporating at least 3 different grades.

Students are encouraged to incorporate “Build-ability” while integrating other sustainable features within the project. A demonstrated knowledge of Eastern White Pine, including a cost estimate for all wood products used in the design is part of the entry requirements.

“Students have certainly been creative with the use of wood within their projects over the past 3 years of the competition”, according to Matt Duprey, NELMA’s Marketing Committee Chairman and competition judge. “The Committee firmly believes this unique NELMA marketing activity will benefit the industry as these students enter their professional lives having been exposed to the use of wood products.”

The “Call For Submissions” 11”x16” poster-mailer includes all the necessary information for student participation, with a February 1, 2015 deadline for registration and March 1 submission date. The first-place design will receive a $1,000 award, with second place set to receive $500 for their efforts. In addition, details of the winning recipients’ designs will be displayed during NELMA’s Annual Convention in April.

NELMA @ NAWLA Traders Market

Posted on December 2, 2014 by

NELMA’s “See the Stamp, Trust the Quality” 10’x10’ trade show exhibit greeted 1,300 registered attendees at this year’s Traders Market, hosted by the North American Wholesale Lumber Association (NAWLA) November 12-14 in Chicago. The 3-day annual event drew around 250 exhibitors on the show floor which included NELMA and 7 of its member mills and/or associate members.

“This is certainly the place to be when it comes to getting in front of lumber wholesalers, an important target group for our Association members”, according to Jeff Easterling, President of NELMA who represented the Association at the exhibit. “Our objective is to provide product sourcing information along with useful reference and educational tools that will assist buyers in choosing northeastern softwood lumber products.” The NELMA Membership Directory, the Northeastern Softwood “Map”, and the Eastern White Pine grades “Swatch” were popular distribution items during the show. In addition, details on NELMA’s new Grader Academy were provided to attendees as a useful online educational tool for wholesaler sales staff.

3Q Lumber Shipments by NELMA Mills

Posted on December 1, 2014 by

NELMA’s lumber mills shipped a total of 631 million board feet (MMBF) of softwood lumber through the first 9 months of this year according to reports received by the Association. This total was down slightly (-1.3%) compared with the same third quarter figures for 2013, but ahead of 2012 by 4.8%.

Of the 631 MMBF total, Dimension lumber produced primarily from the Spruce-Pine-Fir species grouping accounted for 322 MMBF or 51%, with Eastern White Pine lumber accounting for the remaining total of 309 MMBF (49%). Looking at overall Dimension Lumber shipments, the 9 month total was down 4.1% from 2013 comparatively, while Eastern White Pine edged up slightly 1.7% from the previous year’s shipments. As indicated by the graph below, Eastern White Pine has a string of the best 5 month shipment totals (May through September) since 2007.

Please see the charts below for additional comparative information for both the Dimension species group and Eastern White Pine: