AHMI Learns Truck Trailer Flooring Demand Improving
Demand for truck trailer flooring lumber will continue to rise in 2025, according to a presentation at the 2025 Appalachian Hardwood Manufacturers Inc. (AHMI) Summer Conference, held in Hot Springs, VA, at Omni Homestead Resort.
The general manager of the Prolam manufacturing facility in Stuart, VA, told attendees that business was improving and the need for the industrial Oak lumber will increase. Jonathan Post was a keynote speaker at the program and shared the production plans at the Virginia plant.
Prolam purchased the Ten Oaks Flooring plants and converted one into a truck flooring facility in 2021. The company is headquartered in Quebec, Canada, and was founded in 1997.
Post said it was logical to purchase the Virginia plant because of access to the hardwood resource and demand for trailer flooring products in the U.S. and Mexico.
Prolam has proprietary processes and uses the latest technologies in robotics to build the floors from 4/4 Oak.
Health Insurance and Wellness
The AHMI Board of Trustees approved plans to offer group health insurance and wellness programs for member companies. DeltaWealth will administer health insurance through BCHI and employees will have a choice of four plans. The company also offers Employer’s Choice which is a suite of wellness options that was partially funded by tax savings under the Affordable Care Act.
Preventative wellness programs have proven to reduce long-term health risks. The Employer’s Choice plan is available to all employees.
Tariffs and Impact on U.S. Hardwoods
American Hardwood Export Council (AHEC) Executive Director Michael Snow provided an update on European Union Deforestation Regulations. He said AHEC has developed a process to provide mapping of hardwood harvests that show the county of origin and exporters can make documents using the website.
AHEC staff continue to meet with US Department of Agriculture and Trade officials to pressure the European government to accept American hardwoods as negligible risk for deforestation. The U.S. is currently listed as low risk and exporters still have to show the plot of land origin for all log and lumber exports.
Snow also said tariffs from the Trump Administration on imports to the U.S. have caused other countries to impose retaliatory tariffs. These have increased the cost of U.S. lumber and reduced export sales.
Smurfit Westrock Develops EUDR Policies
Smurfit Westrock Regional Manager John Hancock discussed new requirements for suppliers to help the company meet EUDR. He said suppliers to the Covington, VA, facility will have to provide plot of land origin for logs and chips.
The company has a partner, Resource Wise, where the information is uploaded, verified and then supplied to European customers. Smurfit Westrock suppliers are encouraged to implement the program as quickly as possible. The facility has more than 500 suppliers.
Real American Hardwood Coalition
Dana Spessert of the National Hardwood Lumber Association provided an update on work by the Coalition to educate architects and designers. NHLA received a grant in 2024 and again in 2025 to focus on these two markets on behalf of RAH.
There have been trade exhibits, wood sample kits and direct marketing to these companies. A magazine is under development with a focus on these professionals.
Sporting Events
There were multiple sporting activities during the AHMI conference.
Golf winners were: Low Gross: 1st-Peter McCarty; 2nd-Sawyer McCarty.
Low Net: 1st-Jay Reese; 2nd-Nick Boyles. Closest to the pin-Andy Nuffer; Long Drive-Sawyer McCarty.
Sporting clays: 1st – Steve Hamer; 2nd – Geoff Hillenmeyer; 3rd – Tony Honeycutt.
Croquet: Winners-Lynn and Roy Zangari.
Thank you to AHMI Conference Sponsors:
PLM Insurance
Stringer Industries
DeltaWealth Inc.
SII Dry Kilns
Corley Manufacturing Inc.
Stiles Machinery
TS Manufacturing
DMSi
Farm Credit of the Virginias
UBS Wealth
Learn more at appalachianhardwood.org.
