2017 International Forest Industries Magazines February March 2017 | Page 22

LUMBER PROCESSING NEWS - ENGINEERED WOOD PRODUCTS

American Wood Council appoints Andrew Dodson as VP of government affairs

The American Wood Council ( AWC ) has selected Andrew “ Andy ” Dodson as Vice President , Government Affairs . Dodson will develop and implement the association ’ s government affairs strategy , and will direct and manage federal and state
legislative affairs . “ In AWC ’ s short existence , the association has emerged as the leading voice for the wood products industry on Capitol Hill . This position is integral in maintaining our presence . I am confident Andy ’ s broad experience
working in and with Congress will contribute to the development of legislation and regulations that demonstrate what is possible using wood ,” said AWC President and CEO Robert Glowinski .
Dodson comes to AWC after working as an independent
consultant and previously served in government affairs roles at the Bockorny Group and the National Beer Wholesalers Association .

Weyerhaeuser upgrades PSL

Weyerhaeuser has upgraded its Trus Joist Eastern Parallam PSL beams and columns with a new unique exterior coating reports Building-Products . com . The patent-pending proprietary surface modification technology reduces the rate of moisture absorption during yarding and construction , and delays the effects of UV penetration .
“ The new coating is uniformly sprayed on to both the narrow edge and wide face of Eastern Parallam PSL at our manufacturing facility and chemically modifies the outside wood surface of the beam or column ,” said Barry Viviano , engineered lumber products regional manager in New England . “ The protective surface covering resists thickness swell from exposure to both moisture and UV conditions during construction .”

Wilsonart to acquire TFL manufacturing

Wilsonart Engineered Surfaces have announced an agreement with Roseburg Forest Products to acquire manufacturing assets in Oxford , Mississippi . The facility , which manufactures Thermally Fused Melamine ( TFL ) Panels , will become an integral part of Wilsonart ’ s Coordinated Surfaces program in North America .
“ The Oxford facility is a logical extension of Wilsonart ’ s
state-of-the-art manufacturing operations in North America , and will provide our customers greater access to the best-matched TFL Panels that are part of Wilsonart ’ s Coordinated Surfaces program ,” said Ron Ubertini , Wilsonart vice president , product management . “ Our customers expect a range of decorative surfaces that offer beautiful design and performance according to a project ’ s needs .
Expanding our manufacturing footprint enables us to improve service and meet the growing demand for this product .”
In 2014 , Wilsonart launched the Coordinated Surfaces program , a suite of best-matched surfacing options including high pressure laminate , TFL panels and edgebanding featuring Wilsonart designs and textured finishes . “ Specifiers asked for a program
that ensures their design vision will carry through the projects they are working on with flexibility to match performance and budget requirements ,” says Ubertini . “ That ’ s what Coordinated Surfaces is all about .” .

Schweighofer Group names Thomas Huemer as head of corporate communications

Communications expert Thomas Huemer is to join the corporate press office of Schweighofer Group / Holzindustrie Schweighofer , a major player in Europe ’ s wood processing industry . Huemer takes over as Head of Corporate Communications from January 2017 onwards , and will be responsible for Schweighofer ’ s publicity in Austria and around the world .
Thomas Huemer is a historian and political scientist by training . Before joining Schweighofer Group / Holzindustrie Schweighofer , he was Head of Corporate
Communications at Meinl Bank AG from 2009 to 2016 , and press officer of oil and gas group OMV from 2001 to 2009 . Prior to that , he managed the publicity of the lobbying group of architects and consulting engineers .
20 International Forest Industries | FEBRUARY 2017 / MARCH 2017