2012 International Wood by Surface & Panel

I n t e r n at I o n a l W o o d â&#x20AC;˘ t h e g u I d e t o a p p l I c at I o n s , s o u r c e s a n d t r e n d s

WOOD

InternatIonal

the guide to applications, sources and trends

Man Caves

Well-Versed in Baltic Birch Cumaru: a tennessee t nnessee te Country Music Star

Featuring: I nte r n atI o n a l

FLOORS &deckS Buyers guIde IW2012.indd 1

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VeneeRS • PlaTFoRmS • PanelS

Sixty-Five Years of International Trade in Rotary Veneers

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Tradelink

I M p o R t

North AmericA

E x p o R t

Imported Lumber & Dimension from South America, West Africa and S.E. Asia

American Hardwoods for Export and Domestic Sale in Rough Sawn Lumber and Dimension

Direct Importers and Manufacturers of Hardwood Flooring from South America

Direct Importers of Hardwood Decking from South America

w w w. t r a d e l i n k- g r o u p . c o m tRADELInk USA

Tel:

4180 MorrIs drIve #2

GreensBoro, nC 27406

BurlInGton, on l7l 5l6

336.230.2220 e.mail:

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tRADELInk CAnADA

215- B IndustrIal avenue Fax:

336.230.2207

usa@tradelink-Group.com

Tel:

905.333.5111

e.mail:

Fax:

905.333.5171

Canada@tradelink-Group.com

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E C UR

O S LE

G N I S your

th r o .f

’s d l r wo

S D OO

W D R HA

responsiveness satisfaction reliability integrity

. . .that’s the

BAILLIE

way

RESPECT FOR OUR CUSTOMERS IN EVERYTHING WE DO AND HOW WE DO IT, THAT’S THE BAILLIE WAY. OUR LONG-TERM RELATIONSHIPS HAVE BEEN BUILT ON YEARS OF RESPONSIVENESS TO OUR CUSTOMER’S NEEDS.

baillie.com

www. 4002 LEGION DRIVE / HAMBURG, NEW YORK 14075 USA /

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PHONE

716.649.2850 / 800.950.2850 /

FAX

716.649.2811 / E-MAIL:

INFO@BAILLIE.COM

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Wood Advertisement 10.875x9 v2.pdf 1 7/12/2012 10:51:41 PM

Over the past 27 years Liberty Woods has established itself as the industry leading, reliable source for imported hardwood plywood. Our expertly trained overseas inspection team ensures our customers receive high quality products at competitive prices. As the only plywood importer to charter exclusive vessels, Liberty Woods has a distinct advantage over our competition when it comes to providing on-time delivery and inventory for the spot market. Capable. Reliable. Liberty Woods. Since 1985

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WOOD

copyright© 2012 International Wood is produced annually by the international Wood Products association (iWPa) and its cUre (conservation, Utilization, reforestation, education) program. cUre is the educational outreach program of iWPa.

InternatIonal

Please direct all advertising, circulation, or subscription questions to: iWPa, 4214 King Street, alexandria, virginia 22302 USa. Ph: 703/820-6696 www.iwpawood.org.

the guide to applications, sources and trends

58 I W PA O f f I c e r s

Buyers GuIde

Warren Spitz

iWPa’s Membership directory highlights the leading suppliers to the north american market of hardwood and softwood lumber, flooring, decking, veneer, plywood and other composite wood products. this one-stop resource guide also provides contact information for ports, shipping companies, third-party certifiers and others that are helping to advance international trade in wood products.

President:

UcS Forest group Vice-President

Cindy Bergin newman lumber company secretary/treasurer

Chris Connelly Wood Brokerage international immediate Past President

Alan McIlvain, Jr. alan Mcilvain company I W PA s tA f f

Brent J. McClendon, CAE executive vice President

Annette Ferri

editor, International Wood director, Finance & administration

From the Forest A message from the International Wood Products Association.

Wood: Another Look If you think you’ve seen it all when it comes to wood, take another look. International Wood’s open inquiry to architects, designers and craftspeople attracted stunning examples of innovative uses of tropical woods.

Drafting and Design Two prominent leaders in their profession, architect Robert Gurney and celebrity interior designer Lori Dennis are profiled in a Q&A on trends influencing architecture and interior design.

Winning with Wood IWPA Awards Program celebrates environmental, aesthetic design and innovative excellence. This year’s winners display the kind of collaboration throughout the supply chain that sustains the global wood network.

Advertisers Index

I n t e r n at I o n a l

Manager, government & Public affairs

Well-Versed in Baltic Birch Architect John Ronan takes a simple, ordinary material, like Baltic birch plywood, and makes it special in Chicago’s new Poetry Building.

Branding: The In-Store Experience Safeway and Louis Vuitton are two among many retailers showing how wood used in new stores and remodels makes an emotional connection with their patrons.

I n t e r n at I o n a l

Lance Clark

Bedford Falls communications jaufderhaar@surfaceandpanel.com GraPhic desiGn

Karen Leno

Leah Wheeler leahwheeler@cox.net

George Butters georgeb@newmediadrive.com

Divesh Singh diveshsingh_6@yahoo.com

Justin Wiswell

Baltic birch was the sole wood used for shelving and paneling throughout Chicago’s new Poetry Building. Natural light plays off the glass and amber-hued wood, infusing the atmosphere with a soft golden glow. Ph otog r a Phy: Ste v e h a ll © hed rich BleS Sing .

international wood products association 4214 King Street, WeSt alexandria, va 22302 Ph: 703-820-6696 Fax: 703-820-8550 www.iwpawood.org

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d e c k s

Jatoba and Beech, From Floor to Door Curve Appeal Ipé Renews an Urban Heritage A Tapestry of Exotics Cumaru: A Tennessee Country Music Star Straight Lines, Stunning Beauty

I n t e r n at I o n a l

On the Cover:

F l o o r s

Authenticity, value and lifestyle are key drivers for today’s flooring and decking choices. The beautiful residential and commercial designs reflect the expanding use in indoor and outdoor spaces. Peruse these case studies, along with species information and styling trends. Page 29 Page 30 Page 32 Page 38 Page 40 Page 43

Publisher

John Aufderhaar

contributinG Writers

V e n e e r s

Going Global: International Sourcing Drives U.S. Manufacturing High-end architectural and design applications are benefitting from the diversity of wood and wood products available from global wood suppliers.

Manager, Membership & Marketing

KMl design, inc. kmldesign@mchsi.com

66 28

Ashley A. Amidon

P ly w o o d

l u m b e r

I n t e r n at I o n a l

FLOORS &deckS

m I l lw o r k

Man Caves Man Caves are moving from the basement to dominate the entire home. A Manhattan penthouse showcases dark wenge flooring and complementary accoutrements for this man-cathedral.

Blue Jay, The Green Way HGTV designer Lori Dennis creates an artfully seamless indoor-outdoor experience with ipé and tigerwood for this Hollywood Hills home.

Passionate About Purpleheart Architect Ted Touloukian selected the amethyst-colored hardwood purpleheart for the pergolas and pavilion at Center City Park in Greensboro, North Carolina.

Bringing Bali to LA Balinese architecture inspired the use of red balau to clad this spectacular Los Angeles residence.

IWPA/CURE would like to thank the advertisers on page 80 who provided the financial support that made this publication possible. In addition, we thank the following organizations for their support and cooperation, insight and energy, in producing and distributing this annual publication: The American Home Furnishings Alliance, Architectural Woodwork Institute, ARE-Association for Retail Environments, Moulding & Millwork Producers Association, National Marine Manufacturers Association, National Wood Flooring Association, North American Wholesale Lumber Association and the Sarawak Timber Associationn.

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Panels / Lumber / Moulding / Decking / Flooring Sourcing wood overseas is one thing. Getting it delivered reliably is another. With our in-house customs and logistics team, Bridgewell Resources takes the hassles out of importing the world’s highest quality hardwoods and the headaches out of keeping up on the current, complex regulations. Enjoy a trusted, longterm resource for paneling, ﬂooring, decking, plywood, moulding, timbers and more, in all grades and sizes. When it comes to importing, we make it painless.

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N AT UR AL

VALUE

Photo courtesy of Fetzer Architectural Woodwork.

There’s simply no match to the authentic beauty and durability of real hardwood. Pollmeier German beech complements any design style. It’s subtle grain pattern and light, uniform color takes a variety of finishes beautifully; creating an expensive look at a faction of the cost compared to cherry, walnut, mahogany and more. PEFC Certified Pollmeier beech is a renewable resource that is readily available now – and will be for thousands of years to come.

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Value you can see. Value you can profit from. Value you’ll want to experience. POLLMEIER VALUE ADDED GERMAN BEECH™ •■ The 3 largest, most efficient and modern hardwood mills in Europe, The 3 largest, most efficient and modern hardwood mills in Europe,

200,000,000 BF capacity 200,000,000 BF capacity

•■ 3/4 – 12/4 thickness, 6 ft – 11 ft lengths 3/4 - 12/4 thickness, 6 ft – 11 ft lengths •■ 11 grade and color sorts 11 grade and color sorts •■ KD 6-8%, sanded 36 grit, well edged and trimmed KD 6-8%, sanded 36 grit, well edged and trimmed •■ Sorted to width 4-5", 5-6", 6-7", 7-8", 8" & wider Sorting to width 4-5”, 5-6”, 6-7”, 7-8”, 8” & wider •■ Ripped to width strips in each grade available on request Ripped to width strips in each grade available on request •■ Consistent supply – over 120 distribution locations in North America Consistent supply – over 120 distribution locations in North America. •■ Three just-in-time warehouses in North America Three just-in-time warehouses in North America. •■ Consistent quality and service Consistent quality and service •■ PEFC certification to meet your certified wood needs PEFC certification to meet your certified wood needs •■ Available, sustainable, versatile Available, sustainable, versatile •■ Durable, machine-able, color uniform, flexible finishing Durable, machine-able, color uniform, flexible finishing •■ Increased yield and throughput = lower outbound cost Increased yield and throughput = lower outbound cost

European Beech – the most available and sustainable temperate hardwood on the planet. North American Sales Office Portland, Oregon U.S. 503-452-5800

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Call us today!

www.pollmeier.com/perfect-hardwood (INtrO VIdeO) www.european-beech.com At least 70% of our production www.pollmeier.com is PEFC-certified.

Intro Video

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From the Forest

elcome to the 9th edition of International Wood, IWPA’s award-winning publication. It is my pleasure to present to you a magazine months in the making – showcasing woods from around the world in everything from man caves to custom-built houses. In the past we have always shown you how sustainable global sourcing makes it easy for you to create beautiful objects, furniture, homes and public spaces, whether indoors or outside. This year, more than ever, we see the interplay between many different types of wood from across the globe that are brought into our lives and interacting in new and exciting ways. What often goes unseen are the millions of jobs created in the U.S. and Canada that these woods support. I am truly proud to see our products make such a difference for so many, from forest dependent communities overseas to the woodworkers across our continent whose talents are unrivaled. Furthermore, I am constantly inspired by the projects that architects and designers are now developing that celebrates the use of wood in new and innovative ways. Enjoy reading about the stunning applications created with imported wood products. If you find yourself wanting to use any ideas you see, simply peruse our Buyer’s Guide (beginning on page 66) to locate a supplier. The projects and companies profiled in these pages are the best of our industry. Whether this is the first time you have picked up International Wood or the ninth, I know there will be something in these pages you can appreciate and use. If you would like to learn more about our industry, I invite you to attend the IWPA Annual Convention in my hometown of Vancouver, Canada from the 17th through the 19th of April, 2013. A full schedule awaits that mixes education, legislative updates and time for business. It is my fantastic pleasure to serve as the elected President of IWPA during a time of so much innovation in this industry. Join IWPA as a member today or become active in our online community at iwpawood.org as a designer or architect, and share in the exploration of new species, new projects and new possibilities. A great journey awaits! Sincerely,

’

The forests provide a natural, wondrous and renewable palette of wood species in an amazing multitude of colors and grain patterns. There are literally thousands of species globally that spark the imagination of our readers. Each edition of International Wood provides insight into the wide range of projects that successfully incorporate imported species. We have made every effort below to identify the species referenced in this edition by its more common name and Genus species. Clearly communicate your needs with a U.S. importer, manufacturer or supplier who can best assist you in locating the most appropriate species for your project. • Anegre (Aningeria spp.)

• Ayous (Triplochiton scleroxylon) • Balau, Red (Shorea spp.) • Beech (Fagus sylvatica)

• Birch, Baltic (Betula spp.)

• Birch, Karlian (Betula spp.)

• Bloodwood (Brosimum paraense)

• Bocote (Cordia spp.)

• Brazilian cherry/jatoba (Hymenaea courbaril)

• Bubinga (Guibourtia spp.)

• Cedar, Spanish (Cedrela odorata)

• Cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa) • Cumaru (Dipteryx odorata)

• Doussie (Afzelia spp)

• Ebony (Diospyros spp.)

• Elm, Carpathian (Ulmus spp.) • Garapa (Apuleia leiocarpa) • Ipé (Tabebuia spp.)

• Iroko (Chlorophora excelsa)

• Khaya/African mahogany (Khaya spp.) • Limba, Black (Terminalia superba) • Macassar ebony (Diospyros spp.)

• Mahogany, Honduran (Swietenia macrophylla) • Maple (Acer spp.)

• Massaranduba/Brazilian redwood (Manilkara spp.)

• Meranti/lauan (Shorea spp.)

• Obeche (Triplochiton scleroxvlon)

• Okoume (Aucoumea klaineana) • Padauk (Pterocarpus spp.)

• Paldao (Dracontomelon dao) • Pau ferro (Machaerium spp.)

• Primavera (Cybistax donnell-smithii)

• Purpleheart (Peltogyne spp.)

• Rosewood (Dalbergia spp.)

• Rosewood, Madagascar (Dalbergia baroni)

• Santos rosewood/pau ferro (Machaerium spp.) • Sapele (Entandrophragma spp.)

• Shedua (Guibourtia ehie)

• Spruce, Sitka (Picea sitchensis) • Teak (Tectona grandis)

• Walnut (Juglans spp.)

• Wenge (Millettia laurentii)

• Zebrawood (Microberlinia brazzavillensis)

Warren Spitz • IWPA President 2012-2013 • UCS Forest Group

refereNces:

– USDA Forest Products Lab: www.fpl.fs.fed.us/search/commonname_request.php – The Wood Database: www.wood-database.com international wood

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Tropical & European Hardwoods Producer and Exporter Sustainability

High Reputation

Just in Time Reliability

Quality Full Service

Romea is a family company with over 300 years of history in the processing of timber, our timber history has led us build the right know-how to help our customers find the right timber and solution for their projects, building a long lasting relationship and mutual trust with them. We are specialized in delivering full service and we are flexible to respond to any custom-made enquiry. Our main products are: African Mahogany (Khaya), Afrormosia, Black/White Limba, Bubinga, Chestnut, Doussie, Edinam, Sycamore Maple, European White Oak, Iroko, Kosipo, Shedua, Padouk, Pearwood, Sapele, Sipo, Teak Burma, Wenge, Venetian Walnut, Zebrawood, European Beechwood, and much more.

ROMEA LEGNAMI S.p.A. Italy-30034 Gambarare di Mira (Venice)- S.S. 309 Romea – Ang. Via Onari – Ph. +39 041 562 9811 – Fax +39 041 562 9810 www.romealegnami.com – info@romealegnami.com

For any enquiry please contact our Sales Team at +39 041 562 9816

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Man Caves

iant TV screen with surround sound. Check. At least one wet bar trimmed in mahogany with a touch of teak. Check. Plush leather chairs and sofas against the lush richness of jatoba or wenge wood flooring. Check. Pool table, poker table, assorted signs and pendants. Check. It’s a long way from a primitive cave, but just right for the modern man. So how did this all get started?

In the BegInnIng

“For a man’s house is his castle, and each man’s home is his safest refuge,” said Sir Edward Coke, The Institutes of the Lawes of England, in 1628. The problem with Sir Edward’s famous quote, of course, is that most men share their castles with wives and children. When Turkish tobacco became all the rage in Victorian England, smoking was considered too indelicate for feminine tastes. The logical thing for the well-to-do gentleman was to create a smoking room: a place where the men could be boys and the women could be elsewhere.

ii n n tt ee r rn n aa tt i i oo nn aall wwoooodd

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Photogr aPhy: Evan JosEPh

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There’s plenty of wood on display in this stunning photo, but let’s be honest: it’s the gianormous flat screen that turns this stunning man cave into a private movie theater or a box seat at the big game. Notice the lack of doilies and frilly curtains. And no shopping channel. This is a guys’ lair with a fabulous window into the world of sports, games and entertainment.

Velvet smoking jackets and heavy velvet drapes were designed to absorb the smoky fumes and keep them from the more sensitive parts of the household, while weapons, armor and the heads of various beasts adorned many dark wood paneled walls. It didn’t take long for the concept of man’s home as his castle to make it across the pond, but nearly 150 years passed before the creation of the first American man cave: the secret lair in the basement of the Wayne Mansion where Batman first kept a filing cabinet and some lab gear, then later outfitted with a collection of gadgetry, space-age weaponry and pimped-out crime fighting vehicles. “Let’s call the basement, man cave,” is the first credited use of the term that appeared in a 1992 guest column in the Toronto Star. That same year, author John Gray’s ‘Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus’ hit the bookshelves and suddenly the man cave was a respectable place for the male members of the tribe to chill out. No longer a lounge or smoking room, and no longer the exclusive purview of the ruling class, the man cave – whether it’s a garage or basement retrofit or a highly customized original build – is a place to get your man on with your bros and watch the game, down some beer or some prime single malt, share some Turkish tobacco or dare we say Cuban, secure in the knowledge that the male space is off limits to the ladies. Most of the time. As seen on TV

Pulling the curtain back on upscale homes in shows like MTV’s ‘Cribs’ series that launched in the fall of 2000, eventually led to the DIY Network’s 2007 launch of ‘Man Caves’ with hosts Super Bowl winner Tony Sigarusa and contractor Jason Cameron teaming up to transform spaces into mantuaries and help extend interest in the trend. According to the DIY Network, “Guys need an exclusive space to hang out in their homes – a refuge where they can enjoy what they love, whether it’s a soundproofed basement used as a rock ‘n’ roll lounge and adorned with limited edition guitars; a room where diehard ski fans can

osEPh

chill out with a roaring fireplace and alpine atmosphere; or a lush golflover’s paradise, featuring a state-of-the-art virtual reality driving range, media center and top-notch equipment storage space.” noT Your AVerAge room

Some academics have called mantuaries the male reaction to female dominance in decisions about décor in the majority of North American households: a place to hang posters that would never make an appearance over the living room fireplace, for raucous cheers and jeers when the team is playing, for music and video games cranked just a touch too loud. But that doesn’t mean turning a spare bedroom, basement recreation room or half the garage into a man cave has to become a battle between man and wife. “A well-built, well-cared for man cave can add value to your home, like any other improvement,” says Steve Gagliano of mancavegifts.com. “Mine is a combination game room, media room with a pool table, a hockey table and a bar,” he says. “Everyone enjoys the space.” Although the sharing generally stops for special events like game day for his beloved Longhorns of the University of Texas in Austin, a town where even man cave walls wear the team’s trademark burnt orange. If you do decide to sell your house, the man cave can add value as long as it’s clean and tidy. “You can keep your sports memorabilia,” Gagliano says, “but you might want to repaint the walls a more neutral color.” The mAnhATTAn ProjecT

Brian Creekmore thinks he’s seen the Grand Pooba of Man-Caveliness: it is part of a three-story penthouse that sits atop a tall building in Manhattan. Behind nine-foot high antique oak doors imported from France is an enormous man cave worthy of any caped crusader. His company, Creekmore Industries LLC, is a wholesale hardwood supplier specializing in flooring and other specialty wood products. The company sourced and milled the wenge (Millettia laurentii) flooring used throughout the space. international wood

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Photogr aPhy: Evan JosEPh

“This is one of the most expensive penthouses in Manhattan for a very exclusive client,” Creekmore says. “It’s a beautiful project with the big, dark floor styling that you would expect with this clientele.” He says the client had seen wenge in other locations and insisted on it for this project. The wood was milled into different lengths and widths of up to 10 inches from planks that were up to 20 inches wide. The Janka hardness rating for wenge is 1630 (as comparison, red oak has a rating of 1290). This indicates the wood’s prime suitability for use as flooring given its higher natural resistance to wear and abrasion, says Creekmore. However, the primary reason for choosing wenge for the Manhattan project is its inherent beauty and color range. “Wenge gives a classic, chic look. It is exclusive and extremely strong. Other woods can be stained to emulate the look of this exotic hardwood, but it’s just not the same,” adds Creekmore.

AromAtic ic Accessory

if you ou guessed that a humidor has something to do with humidity, give that man a cigar from the man cave humidor, where a precious bounty of hand-rolled cigars sits snugly in perfect comfort at 68 to 72 percent relative humidity. Humidors can be small enough to hold and preserve a dozen of your favorite cigars or large enough to be called a room-idor. the e outer shell of this beauty is made from bocote (Cordia spp.). inside you’re likely to find Cedrela spanish cedar (Cedrela ), which holds odorata), moisture better than most woods and imparts a sumptuous aroma to cigars as they age. 14

international wood

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RaCk ‘eM uP!

no man cave is really complete without a billiards table with rails of Carpathian elm burl (Ulmus spp.) or african shedua (Guibourtia ehie) and inlaid mother-of-pearl accents. In fact, there are dozens of woods used in these custom cues: cocobolo (Dalbergia retusa) can be seen in a kaleidoscope of different colors ranging from yellow, orange, red and shades of brown with streaks of black and purple, or the yellowish brown body and dramatic striping of bocote (Cordia spp.). For pool sharks who prefer solid black, then ebony (Diospyros spp.) is the perfect choice. Photo courtesy of shurtz custom cues

The attraction to wenge is the stunning, natural color range from dark brown to black, which helps accentuate steel and other colors. “Dark colors are currently what drive the import of exotic wood,” Creekmore says. RIP Man Caves?

mancavesite.org

According to LA Times writer Adam Tschorn in a March 2012 commentary titled, ‘Death of the Man Cave (1992-2012)’, the “safe house for the Y chromosome is no longer safe.” He writes that the term man cave became so overused that it lost any meaning, even spawned the term ‘mom cave’ with Martha Stewart overtones, then suffered what he considers a fatal blow with the inclusion of a man cave at the 2012 Philadelphia International Flower Show.

international wood

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Pitch Perfect

The resonance of these magnificent guitars “opens up” as they age and are played. Most stringed-instruments feature multiple exotic species to give them perfect tonal (acoustic) properties. Mahogany (Swietenia macrophylla) is used in the tops of guitars as well as the back, sides and necks, or in the solid bodies of electric guitars. The back and/or sides of guitars are often created from rosewood (Dalbergia spp.), and ebony (Diospyros spp.) is designed in the fretboards, fingerboards and tailpieces. You’ll find softwoods too. Spruces (Picea spp.) are favored for the tops of stringed instruments because of the high stiffness-toweight ratio. Guitars improve with use and play; hopefully so do the man cave guitar players. This beauty uses Madagascar rosewood (Dalbergia baroni) for the back, sides, headplate and heelcap. The guitar top and internal braces are crafted from Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis).

Photo Courtesy of C.f. Martin & CoMPany

“Yes,” writes Tschorn. “The man cave has gone from sacred space to flower-show bait.” Michigan’s Lake Superior State University included ‘man cave’ in the 2012 edition of its annual List of Words Banished from the Queen’s English for Misuse, Overuse and General Uselessness. But Mike Yost, a retired U.S. military intelligence officer, co-author of ‘The Man Cave Book’, and founder of mancavesite.org, thinks the rumors of the man cave’s demise are premature. The site features hundreds of photos of man caves ranging from the incredibly creative to the bizarre and ridiculous. Yost admits the passion displayed by the site’s man cave aficionados surprised even him. “A lot of people do a lot of the work themselves,” Yost says. “They bust out their power tools and their wood tools. It’s great to see the craftsmanship.” Asked about the most amazing man cave he’s ever seen, Yost says it’s a bit of a blur: “I’ve seen so many, some that are way off the beaten path. Some rooms look like they’re made out of rock, that they are a real cave. Most are pretty traditional though.” One thing for sure, what self-respecting man cave would be complete without the natural richness of fine, durable wood? And a huge TV. IW

Providing Premium Hardwoods from Around the World

When you think of wood, think of us.

Corporate Sales office: 11701 McCord Rd Huntersville, NC 28078, USA 800-248-4393 704-875-6587 www.hardwoodweb.com

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Hardwoods Specialty Products Your Global Resource Delivering the Highest Quality, Highest Value Solutions in Plywood, Lumber and Veneers.

Hardwoods Specialty Products is the Importer of these Quality Brands:

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The Preferred Hardwood Source For more information please visit www.hardwoods-inc.com

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GREAT LAKES GROUP Brampton Grand Rapids Elkhart Mattoon Rogers

PAXTON GROUP Denver Kansas City Cincinnati Chicago San Antonio

Frank Paxton Lumber Company A Division of Hardwoods Specialty Products www.paxtonwood.com

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Photo courtesy of eggers IndustrIes

Going Global international Sourcing DriveS u.S. Manufacturing

above: For the rSA project in AlAbAmA, plywood

pAnelS were creAted with A-grAde quArtered primAverA veneer bAlAnced with okoume to mAtch the SunburSt Sketch FAce pAttern.

aB In et ry de sI gn +c el lI of Bo rr ur te sy Ph ot o co

igh-end architectural and design applications are benefitting from the diversity of wood and wood products available from global wood suppliers. In today’s economy, retailers and consumers are pressuring suppliers to provide ultimate value for the dollars expended on plywood and other building materials. Fortunately there is a wide range of wood options from which to choose, both from the U.S. and abroad.

The United States, for example, has abundant reserves of oak, maple, birch and other hardwoods available for use as plywood faces and backs. Meranti/lauan (Shorea spp.) from Indonesian and Malaysian suppliers is plentiful and is valued by American manufacturers for its smoothness, lightweight and structural soundness. Okoume (Aucoumea klaineana) from Africa is another smooth, lightweight species that is used extensively by American hardwood plywood manufacturers. Many domestic manufacturers have developed unique value propositions that incorporate imported components into their production processes, providing specialty and/or custom products for high-end applications. As a result, U.S. consumers are benefitting from the wide variety, affordability and availability of species from virtually all parts of the world. Eggers Industries, a diversified wood products producer located in Wisconsin, is one company that incorporates imported components with great success. Eggers recently provided custom plywood to create balance, strength, durability and lasting appeal in a project in Mobile, Alabama for the Retirement Systems of Alabama (RSA). Barry Schoening, regional sales manager, explained the application. “The RSA project contains plywood panels made with A-grade quartered primavera (Cybistax donnell-smithii) veneer from Central America with a sunburst sketch face pattern,” said Schoening. “The sketchface plywood panels for this project were manufactured at either 0.75" or 0.125" finished thicknesses. Both thicknesses consisted of a three-ply construction with an MDF substrate, veneer faces and veneer backs.”

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Photo courtesy of Wood trends, a division of sound seal

NORTH AMERICA’S LEADING PROVIDER OF HARDWOOD VENEER FACES AND PUREBOND PLYWOOD WITH MANUFACTURING OPERATIONS STRATEGICALLY LOCATED IN THE WORLD’S PREMIER WOOD BASKETS.

above: The mulTi-culTural marTha miller

cenTer aT hope college in holland, michigan feaTures khaya veneer wiTh an mdf subsTraTe

Phot o cour tesy of Borr elli desig n+ca Binet ry

and roTary-cuT okoume back.

To maintain a balanced construction, Schoening added that a veneer species with similar material properties to that of the decorative face was used. “In this case, okoume from Africa was selected. To further balance the product, the veneer back was constructed with a similar grain orientation to that of the sunburst face design.” Another trend that gives the plywood industry an opportunity to differentiate itself is the growing popularity of exotic veneers, as designers and architects vie to create ever more striking and creative concepts in panels, furniture and other architectural elements. Species such as jatoba/Brazilian cherry (Hymenaea courbaril), black limba (Terminalia superba), sapele (Entandrophragma spp.), paldao (Dracontomelon dao), pau ferro (Machaerium spp.) and Karelian birch (Betula spp.) are just a few of the exotic woods that are highly prized for today’s highend applications. These exotic woods and wood veneers are often spectacularly figured, with grains that are burled, curled, dimpled, peanut-shaped, fiddlebacked, bees winged, quilted or otherwise twisted, kinked or torqued.

THE SOURCE FOR NORTH AMERICAN HARDWOOD LOGS, DECORATIVE VENEERS AND PUREBOND PLYWOOD.

www.cfpwood.com 800.808.9080

FSC® Certified wood available upon request.

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