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 INDUSTRY INNOVATION
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Massive 3-D Printer Builds Houses
WASP, an Italian engineering company, has built a 40-foot-tall 3-D printer with the goal of creating low-cost housing quickly and efficiently. Using its Big Delta 3-D printer, WASP intends to build inexpensive shelters from the ground up, layer upon layer, for those in need. Big Delta dispenses clay or dirt building materials through a large nozzle in a pre-defined pattern.
Source: WASP; Construction Dive, September 22, 2015. Scroll to see videos. Photo © WASP.
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ECONOMIC TRENDS
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Labor Shortage Cripples Construction
Construction employment increased in only 25 states between July and August while falling in 24 states and DC. 86% of contractors say that they struggle to find qualified workers. Many laid-off and older construction workers have retired from the industry; now, fewer qualified, younger replacements are available to fill the gap. The slowdown in immigration, legal or otherwise, has contributed to the shortage: the U.S. construction industry has lost 570,000 Mexican-born workers since 2007.
Source: Construction Dive, September 22; Construction Dive, September 21, 2015.
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INDUSTRY NEWS
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The Incredible Shrinking Hardwood Checkoff Program
Jeff Edwards, co-chairman of the U.S. Hardwood Lumber Industry Coalition that opposes the proposed hardwood checkoff program, made his position clear: "It is quite telling that the BRC admitted to USDA that it is necessary to exclude 87 percent of all domestic hardwood manufacturers in order to ‘strengthen support’ for this – or any – checkoff proposal." Co-chairman Jeff Hanks added, "It is, in fact, a huge leap to assume that the BRC’s latest proposal could even generate $3 million. In reality it will generate less than half that amount by our calculations."
Source: HPVA® (see Latest News); Woodworking Network, September 28, 2015.
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ENVIRONMENTAL NEWS
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Wildfires Burn Record 9 Million Acres
U.S. forest wildfires have burned more than 9 million acres so far this year. This is only the fourth time on record that the devastation has reached this size, an area equivalent to New Jersey and Connecticut combined. The destruction reinforces the need for HR 167, the Wildfire Disaster Funding Act, which will discard the old, broken model for wildfire suppression and instead treat wildfires as natural disasters.
Source: USA Today, September 24; Roll Call, September 23; Wildlife Disaster Funding Act, January 6, 2015.
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HPVA® MEMBER NEWS
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HPVA® Mourns John Tritch
John Tritch passed away on September 14 in Greensboro, NC. A dedicated supporter of our industry, John spent 27 years with Columbia Forest Products and served as 1996 Board Chairman of HPVA®.
CHPVA Meets In October
The Canadian Hardwood Plywood and Veneer Association fall conference is October 28-30 in Quebec at the Hôtel Manoir Victoria.
VIDEO: Largest Particleboard Press
ARAUCO, the Chilean forest products giant, will invest $325 million to build the largest single continuous particleboard press in North America to produce particleboard and thermally fused laminates in Michigan. Production will begin in late 2018.
Oak Hill Veneer Expands
Oak Hill Veneer will invest $2 million to expand operations in Pennsylvania.
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NEWS BRIEFS
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VIDEO: Impact Of Illegal Logging
See the economic impact on legal timber.
Source: WWF.
Housing Stays Strong
Housing starts dropped 3% but permits issued rose 3.5%. Builder confidence reached 62, the highest since 2005.
Source: NAHB, September 17; NAHB, September 16, 2015.
Homes Lose Value In Slow Markets
28% of U.S. homes lost value this year.
Source: Construction Dive, September 23, 2015.
Construction Waste Market Grows
Experts predict CAGR of 9.67%, but illegal dumping will hinder growth.
Source: Waste Dive, September 17, 2015.
McDonald’s Talks Certification
Forest owners and major corporations discuss forest certification, sustainable management.
Source: American Forest Foundation, September 16, 2015.
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LEED Building Safer For Birds
Duke University retrofits building with fritted glass to stop spike in bird deaths. Up to 1 billion birds die each year from flying into windows.
Source: Construction Dive, September 16, 2015; Science News, January 27, 2014.
Countries With The Most Trees
The top 6: Russia, Brazil, Canada, U.S., China, Australia. Congo and Indonesia, 7 and 8, have been hit hard by illegal logging.
Source: Maps Of World; Timberbiz, August 20, 2015.
No Duties On Canadian Lumber
U.S. buyers will pay no duties on softwood as of October. A 12-month standstill provision prevents emergency trade measures.
Source: Business Vancouver, September 15, 2015.
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Send Us Your Ideas For Articles, Company News, And More
We are always looking for great stories, news about your company, and interesting multimedia. Or, send us feedback on this week's content or topics you would like to see in upcoming HPVA® eNews. Email us at innovate@hpva.org.
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