The Marienville facility, which was built in 2000 with the scanning technologies, is “in the top 20%… industry-wide” as far as its technological use, estimates Baker, who notes that “there are a lot of smaller mills that do everything in a very old-fashioned, very manually-oriented way, with almost no technology.” But in today’s competitive market, Baker thinks this technology is more than just helpful, it’s “almost mandatory.” Without the headrig scanner, for instance, he says, “we would not be able to compete when we buy timber, we just couldn’t get the yield out of the logs.”
As industry technology continues to develop, we’ll likely see a rising demand for automation with the intent of improving efficiency and consistency. But the bigger picture, and our focus at Northwest Hardwoods, is the value of the data from new technology: data that lets us do more with what we already have, rather than simply speeding up the milling process. Keeping our mills outfitted with leading technologies will ensure we continue to provide the highest quality products consistently, efficiently, and sustainably.
The Membership Drive Is On!
This year's membership drive is now underway, and as always, the competition will be intense.
In addition to valuable cash prizes, the winner now also receives the membership plaque, presented at the Annual Meeting. With the highly successful 2019 Annual Meeting now in the books, it is time to work toward 2020.
When you recruit new members, the entire WPA membership is the winner!
New members can join and pay on the website. Here is the link: www.westernpallet.org
JUNE 2019
daily versus 40 times for an adult. His recommendation is to start by memorizing a few jokes. Humor is infectious, and starting with a few jokes can help spark more enjoyable relationships. Being engaged in the community and having pets are also positively correlated to having a longer, more healthful life.
“Remember, aging is not lost youth,” Hepburn said, but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” He finished with a quote from Einstein, “Do not grow old no matter how long you live. Never cease to stand like curious children before the great mystery into which we were born.”
ISPM-15: Creating a level playing field to support wood markets and protect forests
Also on the agenda was Leigh Greenwood, an expert on invasive pests from the Nature Conservancy, a global nonprofit dedicated to protecting land and water. She emphasized the common purposes of the wood packaging industry and the Nature Conservancy with respect to forest protection. A healthy wood products industry is critical to healthy forests, and a robust wood packaging industry is needed to utilize low-grade lumber which is an essential component of the wood packaging market. ISPM-15 is critical to ensuring not only the prevention of wood borne pests and pathogens internationally, but also to the reputation of the wood packaging industry versus competing materials.
“We want to make sure that all of these things are participating in a level playing field,” she said. Solid wood packaging’s greatest asset in terms of creating a level playing field is to make it equivalent functionally to all the other mediums through the application of ISPM-15, she continued. When ISPM-15 is followed, then there is no greater phytosanitary risk than with other materials such as plastic and cardboard.
In addition to ISPM-15, Greenwood commented briefly on hitchhiker species that can infest a pallet or container after treatment. She expressed her concerns about intricate plastic pallets that have a grid design that may make it more difficult for Customs inspectors to identify hitchhikers. She stated that she is not for or against any type of material used in shipping, but that some packaging - in this case, grid-style plastic pallets, make the identification of hitchhikers more challenging.
Greenwood urged CWPCA to work with Canadian and U.S. border officials and agencies such as NAPPO and IPPC to stress the urgency of inspection to cut down on infractions that can damage not only forests but the wood packaging industry as well.
The keynote presentation was thought provoking and often hilarious.