Frisco, TX—Northwest Hardwoods (“NWH” or the “Company”) recently made the strategic decision to relocate the Company’s head office to Frisco, TX. The creation of a centralized head office where functions are co-located will better position the Company for long-term success as they continue to serve as the industry leader, according to a Company press release. NWH’s CEO Nathan Jeppson stated, “This is an important move for our company as we position for long term growth, and increasingly focus on delivering a world-class customer experience.”
This relocation is focused on NWH’s corporate and functional teams, with commercial teams, resource and lumber buyers and all those who need to be in local markets across the globe unaffected. There will also be no impact on the Company’s manufacturing footprint. In the near term, the Company’s offices in Beachwood, OH and Tacoma, WA will remain open.
In this newly completed, 19,000-plus square foot space, NWH is proud to showcase beautiful products from several customers including their solid wood boardroom table and three additional conference tables from Gat Creek (Berkeley Springs, WV), one conference table from Kirk Kreations (Tulsa, OK) and Hardwood flooring from Baird Brothers Fine Hardwoods (Canfield, OH). This space has increased efficiencies and collaboration, which will improve the quality and service levels and enhance the communication and connectivity the market can expect from Northwest Hardwoods, the press release stated.
The Company is excited about this relocation and is looking forward to continuing to build a world-class organization in the Frisco area, the release said.
“We are thrilled to welcome Northwest Hardwoods to Frisco as a market leader in their industry,” said Jason Ford, president of Frisco Economic Development Corporation. “Frisco continues to be one of the top destinations in the nation for out-of-state corporate headquarters relocations because of Frisco’s pro-business culture and top tier lifestyle amenities.”
To learn more, go to www.northwesthardwoods.com.
Fayette, MO—Tony Pescaglia was recently promoted to salesman for MO PAC Lumber Company, located here. MO PAC Lumber handles American Black Walnut, Silver Leaf Soft Maple, Aromatic Red Cedar and Northern Red Oak kiln-dried lumber.
Pescaglia began working at MO PAC part-time in the summer when he was 16, setting sticks between layers of air-drying lumber. In his mid-20s, he began working full-time for the firm, stacking lumber on the chain at the mill, operating a variety of machines, assisting with the operation of their eight dry kilns and working as yard foreman. In February of this year, he became a salesman.
Pescaglia graduated from Hickman High School in Columbia, MO and Cum Laude from the University of Missouri in Columbia, MO with a bachelor’s degree in business. In his free time, Pescaglia and his wife enjoy taking their two children to the kids’ activities. He also likes coaching wrestling for the youth program in his area and woodworking with his best friend, his grandfather and his father Bucky Pescaglia, president of MO PAC Lumber.
Tony Pescaglia is taking the place of Grafton Cook III, MO PAC sales manager, who is retiring this month, after 32 years in the forest products industry, 20-1/2 of those at MO PAC. Bucky Pescaglia stated, “Grafton has a tremendous knowledge of the Hardwood industry. His family has been involved in the Hardwood lumber business for over 100 years. He always represented our company with class and a high level of professionalism. The entire Pescaglia family wants to express our warmest wishes to Grafton and his wife, Anne, in their retirement. We look forward to hearing all about their adventures as they travel across the country enjoying the great outdoors.”
To learn more, go to www.mopaclumber.com.
Buffalo, NY—U-C Coatings, LLC, based here, a leading manufacturer of premium wood protection products, recently announced the hiring of John Stenson as Midwest Territory Sales Representative.
Stenson has 15 years of experience in the timber and lumber industry with a focus on Hardwood logs, veneer production, and Hard and softwood lumber grading and inspection. Stenson’s experience also includes the monitoring of pressure treatment, heat treatment, and pallet manufacturing facilities for the purpose of conformance. After taking a break from the timber and lumber industry to work as a ballistics manager for a ballistic helmet manufacturer, he has returned to his roots.
Stenson is based in Ohio. His main focus will be on broadening U-C Coatings’ presence in the Midwest Territory with the latest wood protection products, as well as the tried-and-true products that have made U-C Coatings, LLC a trusted partner in the lumber industry.
U-C Coatings is a leading manufacturer and supplier of premium wood protection products. For more than 50 years U-C’s products have been used in a variety of industries, including Hardwood and softwood logging and lumber production, wood products manufacturing, woodworking and wood decking markets.
Their products are used worldwide to protect, conserve and enhance forest resources. U-C’s goal is to help its customers achieve more with less waste and provide the highest level of protection for their products.
To learn more, go to www.uccoatings.com.
Levis, QC—Jean Berube, president of SmartMill, with its head office here, has announced the signing of a new contract with Mono Serra Group to supply equipment for its Bio Serra Hardwood Mill, located in Saint-Monique, QC. The contract includes the sale and installation of the unique SMART-TRIM technology system in North America and a Smart Lug Loader.
“This new cutting-edge technology will allow Bio Serra Hardwood Mill to substantially increase its production efficiency by rapidly increasing its productivity and the quality of its products,” said Berube.
This new contract confirms the position of SmartMill as an industry leader, with its unique offer of innovative technology solutions for optimizing operations for its business partners, added Berube.
About the SMART-TRIM
SMART-TRIM is the result of more than four years of a research and development program involving specialists in conception and in mechanical, electrical and movement design. SMART-TRIM combines three pieces of equipment in one: a Lug loader, a positioning system and a multi-saw trimmer. This unique system uses the optimizer’s solutions to index, position, and trim green or dry, rough or dressed lumber, a company press release stated.
About SmartMill
SmartMill designs and develops integrated solutions to improve and optimize factory production and manufacturing processes. SmartMill is a team of dedicated experts committed to the success of its clients. In this regard, they encourage the development of sustainable partnerships with all their customers around the world. In order to meet the ever-increasing demand for products that meet high quality standards, SmartMill designs, manufactures and installs automated state-of-the-art equipment that is a customizable solution to preserve and even increase the profitability of companies. As of today, SmartMill exports more than 80 percent of their solutions.
To learn more, go to www.smartmill.ca.
Mirabel, QC—The BID Group, with its head office here, has announced a recent purchase from Bingaman & Son Lumber, Inc. in Kreamer, PA for an Artificial Intelligence-enabled TrimExpert for Hardwood. BID is the only company that has developed its AI models using Hardwood to offer unmatchable accuracy of defect detection in Hardwood, according to a company press release.
A BID AI specialist will customize the AI models specifically for Bingaman & Son’s needs. BID will provide them with in-class training to ensure a smooth transition and help them maintain peak performance capacity.
To learn more, go to www.bidgroup.ca.
Zanesville, OH—The Ohio Forestry Association (OFA), headquartered here, has named Jenna Reese as its new executive director. She now manages all operations of the association and the Ohio Forestry Association Foundation Inc. She has been in this job for about a month, having worked with the former executive director, Brad Perkins, for several weeks prior to his retirement.
OFA represents the diverse members of the forest products industry in Ohio. This includes landowners, foresters, loggers, sawmills, secondary manufacturers, and equipment dealers.
“Prior to working for OFA, I was the director of state policy for the Ohio Farm Bureau Federation for almost six years, and, before that, I was a legislative aide with the Ohio House of Representatives,” Reese stated. “Forestry was one of the legislative issues in my portfolio at Ohio Farm Bureau. I worked with Brad Perkins on several issues during his time as executive director of the Ohio Forestry Association.”
Reese graduated from The Ohio State University with a Master of Arts in Public Policy and Management and from Ashland University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
Reese is the commissioner of Programs for Ohio Women Empowered to Represent (POWER) Commission through The Ohio State University’s John Glenn College of Public Affairs; a member of the Jo Ann Davidson Ohio Leadership Institute Class of 2022; and former chair of the board for UNCHAINED The Fashion Show, an anti-human trafficking organization.
Reese said, “My husband’s family owns a Christmas-tree farm in northwest Ohio, so we spend a lot of time helping operate it throughout the year. I also have two stepchildren involved in sports and 4-H activities, which keeps us pretty busy. I enjoy hiking, eating tacos, drinking wine and spending time with my husband, family and friends.”
To learn more, go to www.ohioforest.org.
Corvallis, OR / Vancouver, BC—Lucidyne Technologies, Inc., a North American leader in automated lumber scanning and optimization, recently announced its brand integration with MiCROTEC, global technology partner for the sawmilling and wood processing industry, has been completed. Lucidyne will work under the common corporate brand of MiCROTEC to build world-leading wood scanning solutions for customers in North America, Australia and New Zealand.
“The integration of our groundbreaking patented technology and expert team into the MiCROTEC ecosystem brings scale, service and innovation within North America that wasn’t possible before,” said Mark Hiatt, Managing Director of Lucidyne. “Our companies share a parallel history and vision that make this a perfect evolution for us — and those we serve. Now, unified as MiCROTEC, we can offer a long-term, strengthened foundation, as well as access to an expanded product portfolio and network of support that will take our customers’ businesses to the next level.”
Lucidyne, known for its industry innovation, customer relationships and unparalleled support since 1985, will merge its patented software platform, which uses deep learning artificial intelligence techniques to grade lumber, into MiCROTEC’s family of scanning solutions. The integration brings the best of the companies’ technologies together for creating new, co-developed products, strengthening MiCROTEC’s offerings as well as its focus on delivering exceptional service, according to a company press release.
“By seamlessly integrating Lucidyne’s cutting-edge technology into our portfolio and offering customers additional MiCROTEC solutions for board and log scanning, we’re transforming wood processing across North America, with a new sense of purpose,” explained Frank Jöst, CEO of MiCROTEC. “With this integration, we’ve solidified our position as the largest scanning company in the world; with that comes the continued responsibility to evolve with our industry and stay on the forefront. We’re growing along with our customers’ needs and expectations through a commitment to innovation, partnership and business for generations to come.”
The new MiCROTEC Corvallis office, working out of the former Lucidyne location, will join forces with the existing MiCROTEC Vancouver office to become one powerhouse team serving the entire North American market, as well as Australia and New Zealand. Together, they will offer customers the advantage of strong regional support combined with access to the international company’s complete product portfolio. MiCROTEC’s headquarters remain in Bressanone, Italy, with additional branches in Finland, Sweden and Germany that serve the broader global market.
To learn more, go to www.microtec.eu.
