Idaho Timber Welcomes Dane Finney
Dane Finney
Idaho Timber, headquartered in Meridian, ID, recently welcomed Dane Finney as their newest sales representative.
Finney is handling sales for two of Idaho Timber’s facilities located in Weiser and Troy, ID. The Weiser plant manufactures 3/4-inch Pine boards in 1×2 through 1×12 and 2-feet through 12-feet lengths, in both high and low grades, 7/8-inch Cedar boards and fence pickets in various grades. Idaho Cedar Sales in Troy, ID, offers Cedar split rail fencing.
Finney has been in sales for over a decade before joining Idaho Timber and the forest products industry. “I joined Idaho Timber because I admire the culture, align with the vision of leadership and believe in the company,” Finney said.
Finney graduated from Sandpoint High School, in Sandpoint, ID, in 2008 and later continued to higher education, graduating from Boise State University in 2015 with a Bachelor of Human Resource Management.
In his spare time Finney enjoys dirt biking, snow biking, shooting and all types of outdoor recreation. He and his wife, Annie, recently welcomed their new baby Allie and are enjoying life as new parents.
For more information, call 208-377-3000, email dfinney@idahotimber.com or visit www.idahotimber.com.
Boise Cascade Names New COO
Jeff Strom
Boise Cascade announced Jeff Strom will become its new chief operating officer (COO). This new role will oversee the operations for its Building Materials Distribution (BMD) and Wood Products divisions.
Strom joined Boise Cascade in 2006. He served in many key roles and leadership positions over the years, including vice president and general manager of BMD’s Eastern region. Most recently, he served as the executive vice president of BMD. Strom holds a bachelor’s degree in management from the Georgia Institute of Technology. He serves on the board of trustees for the Boise Valley Habitat for Humanity.
“It is a privilege to lead the operations for our company,” said Strom. “I am excited to start in this new role with a focus on operational excellence, strategic market growth and exceptional customer service. Our integrated business model truly is our competitive edge, and I look forward to continuing to leverage that advantage to create even more opportunities for our company in the future.”
CEO Nate Jorgensen said, “This new addition to our executive leadership team is an important part of our effort to achieve even greater operational excellence across both our businesses. It is also part of our intentional and strategic succession planning process.”
“On behalf of our company and our board, I want to congratulate Jeff on his new role,” said Tom Carlile, board chair. “Jeff is an outstanding leader who personifies our company’s values. His expertise and leadership in this new role will further strengthen our ability to deliver outstanding service and results to our customers, suppliers, and shareholders.”
For more information, visit www.bc.com.
Sundher Timber Products Expands With Great Western Lumber Acquisition
Sundher Timber Products expands its global presence and market share with the acquisition of Great Western Lumber, boosting U.S. operations and custom processing services.
Sundher Timber Products is a British Columbia specialty wood products manufacturer and marketing company located in Surrey, B.C. They buy B.C. Coastal logs and manufacture them into lumber for sales in North America, Europe, Japan, China and India.
Their value proposition is to develop a customer base with unique or specific requirements not met by larger global forest products companies and to create manufacturing or sales programs to address those needs. Their commitment is embodied in the motto, “We strive for excellence.”
Sundher Timber Products manufactures and markets lumber from a full range of B.C. log species — Western Red Cedar, Yellow Cedar, Douglas Fir, Hemlock and Balsam — into a full range of product sizes and grades. They have established sales agents in two key markets, India and Vietnam, to provide closer customer service to their clients.
They have recently acquired Great Western Lumber in Everson, WA. This acquisition will enable Sundher Timber Products to expand its U.S. market share for Coastal Douglas Fir, West Coast Hemlock and Western Red Cedar, ranging from the highest clear grades to structural and utility grades. They will be offering custom processing services, including kiln drying and planing, to other companies.
For more information, visit www.sundhergroup.com.
Woodgrain Announces Acquisition Of Towanda, PA, Plant
Kelly Dame
Woodgrain Inc. a leading millwork and building products company has closed on its acquisition of the Towanda, PA, plant (Towanda) from JELD-WEN Holding Inc. Woodgrain now assumes full ownership of the Towanda plant.
“We are excited to welcome the skilled Towanda associates into the Woodgrain family and eager to work with Towanda’s valued customer base in continuing to service and grow their business,” said Kelly Dame, CEO and president of Woodgrain.
The Towanda plant manufactures moulded interior door skins, as well as wood composite MiraTEC® exterior trim and Extira® exterior grade panels.
Wells Fargo served as the exclusive financial advisor to Woodgrain.
Woodgrain is family-owned and one of the leading millwork and building products operations in the world with locations throughout the United States and Chile. With 69 years of quality craftsmanship and service, Woodgrain is a leading producer of mouldings, doors and windows, as well as a premier distributor of specialty building products.
Woodgrain Inc. is headquartered in Fruitland, ID, with six divisions and over 45 manufacturing and warehouse facilities in the United States and South America.
For more information, visit www.woodgrain.com.
Boise Cascade’s New BOISE GLULAM®
Pictured is BOISE GLULAM®, which is now available in full widths.
Boise Cascade Company, with over 60 locations across the U.S. and Canada, recently announced that their Wood Products division is producing their new full width BOISE GLULAM® beams and headers at their plant in Homedale, ID.
The Wood Products division manufactures high-quality engineered wood products, plywood and lumber for residential, multi-family and light commercial construction needs. According to a company representative, “Our wood products provide strength, stiffness and dimensional consistency through efficient use of raw materials.
Customers have access to a suite of software and SawTek automated saw solutions to increase efficiency and productivity. This is all backed by a team of dedicated professionals delivering superior support and knowledge.”
BOISE GLULAM® beams and headers are now available in 3½-inch and 5½-inch full width sizes and can be shipped anywhere in the West.
The Homedale, ID, glulam plant also produces custom beams, headers and columns fit for residential, industrial or light commercial construction. These products are available for interior and exterior uses and come in lengths up to 76 feet. Stock beams are available in widths of 3⅛-inch, 3½-inch (NEW), 5⅛-inch, 5½-inch (NEW), 6¾-inch, and 8¾-inch and in depths ranging from 6-inches to 24-inches.
The new BOISE GLULAM® beams and headers in full widths are manufactured to create cost-efficiency and versatility in single and multi-family projects. A broader range of glulam widths and depths helps bring value and proven performance to projects, according to the company representative.
The BOISE GLULAM® line aims to reduce labor costs and save time with consistent quality and service.
For more information, visit www.bc.com/ewp/boise-glulam.
KDS Windsor Promotes Henco Viljeon
KDS Windsor, located in Hendersonville, NC, recently promoted Henco Viljoen to field service engineering manager.
With over 20 years of experience in lumber drying and technical expertise, Viljoen has been instrumental in delivering innovative solutions and outstanding results, said a company representative.
“As our in-house wood drying specialist, Henco is more than just an expert—he’s part detective with a unique ability to uncover hidden inefficiencies and devise creative, tailor-made solutions to optimize kiln performance. His proven track record and deep industry knowledge make him the perfect fit to lead our field engineering efforts,” said the company representative.
Viljoen’s responsibilities will include overseeing field service operations, ensuring client satisfaction, commissioning projects and driving continuous improvement in KDS Windsor’s products and services.
Viljoen is available to help KDS Windsor’s customers optimize their efficiency for both softwood and hardwood kilns.
For more information, visit www.kdskilns.com.
IWT-MOLDRUP’s CCA Turn-Key Plant At LeMoyen Becomes Fully Compliant
The treated timber comes out drip-free from IWT-MOLDRUP’s CCA plant and the packs are fixed automatically in the autoclave during treatment, shown here.
The first U.S. CCA turn-key plant that was installed by third generation supplier IWT-MOLDRUP, located in Vejle, Denmark, at Latimer Mill and Timber’s LeMoyen location has recently become the first fully compliant company with the new U.S. regulations for CCA labelling for both sawn and round wood.
As a treater, LeMoyen understands the importance of staying on top of regulation changes. According to an IWT-MOLDRUP spokesperson, LeMoyen did not experience any issues with becoming compliant with the new regulations as the CCA turn-key plant that they installed was a fully automatic treating plant with a material handling system controlled remotely from a control room.
The modern treating plants that IWT-MOLDRUP offers their customers has a fully automatic material handling system which can run 24/7 with one operator and no dedicated forklift on site for an eight-hour working day. The company spokesperson stated that the only interaction the operator should have with the timber is for unloading and loading timber in the morning and in the afternoon, which allows this to be a fully hands off operation.
For more information, you can contact Innovative Wood Technology, IWT-MOLDRUP or their U.S. sales channel American Wood Technology, Claus Staalner, or visit www.americanwoodtechnology.com or www.moldrup.com.
Southern Forest Products Association Released 2024 Year-End Southern Pine Lumber Exports
According to the most recent data available, that was released by the Southern Forest Products Association, year-end 2024 Southern Pine lumber (treated and untreated) exports hit 565.7 million board feet, which was up 11 percent over the previous year, according to December 2024 data from the USDA’s Foreign Agriculture Services’ Global Agricultural Trade System.
On a monthly basis, Southern Pine lumber exports were up 21.9 percent in December 2024 over the same month in 2023 but down 2.2 percent from November 2024. December’s total of 38.9 million board feet was the second-lowest this year after January’s 37.9 million board feet of exports.
- Mexico remains the largest export market (by volume) of Southern Pine and treated lumber, up 23 percent over 2023 with 150.2 million board feet of imports. This was led largely by dressed Southern Pine lumber.
- The Dominican Republic, the number two importer of Southern Pine, ended the year 19.1 percent ahead of 2023 with 92.3 million board feet. This was led largely by rough Southern Pine lumber.
- Jamaica: the third-largest export market ended 2024 down 1 percent with 54.4 million board feet.
Softwood imports, meanwhile, were down 11.5 percent in December 2024 compared with the same month a year ago and down 11 percent from November 2024. Overall, softwood imports ended 2024 down 2 percent over 2023.
When looking at the report by dollar value, Southern Pine exports ended 2024 up 6 percent over 2023 at $211.5 million. Mexico led the way at $57.9 million, followed by the Dominican Republic at $48.2 million and India at $16.9 million.
Treated lumber exports, meanwhile, ended the year flat at $133.1 million led by the Leeward-Windward Islands at $23.7 million, Jamaica at $19.9 million and the Netherlands Antilles at $10.3 million.
For more information, visit www.southernpine.com.
New Study Projects Slowdown In Household Growth, Housing Demand
According to a recent study from the Joint Center for Housing Studies (JCHS) of Harvard University, household growth in the coming years is projected to slow significantly, which would have a notable impact on housing demand.
JCHS projections show household growth in the U.S. would slow to 8.6 million (approximately 860,000 per year) between 2025 and 2035, down from 11.2 million in the 2000s and 10.1 million in the 2010s.
If the trend continued, the projections show household growth between 2035-2045 would decline to just 5.1 million, which would be the lowest of any decade in the last 100 years. These projections are based on immigration levels remaining similar to those of the past three decades.
A major implication of the slowing growth would be declining demand for housing construction. Household growth is the largest source of demand for new homes. The projected slowdown would reduce demand for new construction from the current rate of 1.4 million homes to an average of 1.1 million per year between 2025-2035 and 800,000 per year between 2035-2045.
However, a key component of housing demand is the formation of households among young adults (aged 25-34). In early 2024, the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) examined Census data that showed in the post-Covid period, the share of young people living with parents had been declining. As of 2022, that share had fallen to a decade low—a promising trend signaling sustained housing demand in the years to come.
Further NAHB analysis recently examined which areas of the country have the highest and lowest shares of young adults living with their parents. Although the overall shares show a decline, this demographic continues to face a myriad of housing affordability challenges, particularly elevated home prices and increased costs of living.
For more information visit www.jchs.harvard.edu or www.nahb.org.
(First published in the LBM Journal.)
