magazine for wpa members magazine june 2019
TRANSCRIPT
Western Magazine for WPA Members June 2019 MagazinePallet
Stockton Pallet Operators Face Regulatory Heatafter Recent BlazesCWPCA Meeting Highlights from Victoria, BC
A
WPA EXECUTIVE
DIRECTORS
Caroline Beach-SkinnerSukhi BrarBaxter GladdenRod LucasSteve MazzaRalph Rupert ASSOCIATE DIRECTORS
Ryan GreenwoodTod KintzDerek SampsonJason Saunders Please direct inquiries about the WPA toDavid Sweitzer, Executive Vice-PresidentP.O. Box 1095, Camas, WA 98607Ph. 360 335-0208Email:[email protected]:www.westernpallet.org
www.westernpallet.org
W P A M A G A Z I N E
PresidentVice-PresidentSecretary/TreasurerPast PresidentExecutive VP
Annie MonteyBeatrice VasquezScott GutierrezLindsey Shean-SnowdenDave Sweitzer
WesternPallet
4 WESTERN PALLET
North American SoftwoodPrices
Softwood prices listed as of June 19,2019, courtesy of NRCAN.
7
Residential Construction
UpdateU.S. housing start information forApril 2019.
11
Diesel Fuel UpdateNew information updated May 20,2019.
12
WPA New MembersWPA is pleased to introduce threenew members.
7
NAM Survey: Optimism
DipsUncertainty is impeding marketconfidence, according to NAM
13
6 WESTERN PALLET
Cover Story:
Pallet Recyclers inStockton Face Increased
Scrutiny After Fires
15
Other Features
14 Wood-Mizer Opens Pacific Northwest Service Center
16 CWPCA Enjoys Successful Annual General Meeting in Victoria, BC
20 Social Media Roundup
24 The Global Forest Industry in the 1Q/2019
25 Successful FEFPEB Spring Meeting Held in Edinburgh
27 Lightning Adds Microban® Technology to Inhibit Bacteria Growth
28 News Briefs
29 Upcoming Events
Advance LumberCorali - USAGo Fast ManufacturingWeaver Wood, LLCNorth American Forest Products Northwest Hardwoods
Pallet Machinery GroupPRSTimber Products InspectionViking Engineering & Development
Western Pallet Advertising Sponsors
North American Softwood Prices Weekly softwood lumber prices to June 19, 2019 are shown below, sourced at http://www.nrcan.gc.ca/forests/industry/13309.
JUNE 2019
New Members
The Western Pallet Association is pleased to announce the following newmembers:
AJ CheponisBenchmark Pallets445 E Cheyenne Mt Blvd Ste C195Colorado Springs, CO 80906Phone: (954)520-9220Web: www.benchmarkpallets.comEmail: [email protected]: AJ Cheponis, BenchmarkPallets Heath WoodMesa Revenue Partners1540 E University AvenueSuite 501, Mesa, AZ 85209Phone: (480)968-4958
Fax: (504)471-0948Web: www.mrpcollects.comEmail: [email protected] John TilleryWhiteboard Risk & Insurance Solutions3665 Ruffin Road #307San Diego, CA 92123Phone: (858)223-1170Web: www.whiteboardrisk.comEmail: [email protected]: Kathleen Dietrich, CommercialLumber & Pallet Co
Membership DriveThis year's membership drive isalready in motion.
7
DECEMBER 2018
DECEMBER 2018
Residential Construction, May 2019Released June 18, 2019 (www.census.gov)
The U.S. Census Bureau and the U.S.Department of Housing and UrbanDevelopment jointly announced thefollowing new residential constructionstatistics for May 2019. Building PermitsPrivately-owned housing unitsauthorized by building permits in Maywere at a seasonally adjusted annual rateof 1,294,000. This is 0.3% above therevised April rate but is 0.5% below theMay 2018 rate of 1,301,000. Single-family authorizations in May were at a rateof 815,000; this is 3.7% above the revisedApril figure of 786,000. Authorizations ofunits in buildings with five units or morewere at a rate of 442,000 in May. Housing StartsPrivately-owned housing starts in Maywere at a seasonally adjusted annual rate
of 1,269,000. This is 0.9% below therevised April estimate of 1,281,000 and is4.7% below the May 2018 rate of1,332,000. Single-family housing starts inMay were at a rate of 820,000; this is 6.4%below the revised April figure of 876,000.The May rate for units in buildings withfive units or more was436,000. Housing Completions Privately-owned housing completions inMay were at a seasonally adjusted annualrate of 1,213,000. This is 9.5% below therevised April estimate of 1,340,000 and is2.8% below the May 2018 rate of1,248,000. Single-family housingcompletions in May were at a rate of890,000; this is 5.0% below the revisedApril rate of 937,000. The May rate for unitsin buildings with five units or morewas 319,000. (Cont'd Page 12)
JUNE 2019
12 WESTERN PALLET
EPA Diesel Fuel Update Updated May 20, 2019
Existing Home SalesAscend 2.5% in May
Existing home sales reboundedin May, recording an increase insales for the first time in twomonths, according to theNational Association ofRealtors®. Each of the fourmajor U.S. regions saw a growthin sales, with the Northeastexperiencing the biggest surgelast month. Total existing home sales,completed transactions thatinclude single-family homes,townhomes, condominiumsand co-ops, jumped 2.5% fromApril to a seasonally adjustedannual rate of 5.34 million inMay. Total sales, however, aredown 1.1% from a year ago(5.40 million in May 2018). Lawrence Yun, NAR’s chiefeconomist, said the 2.5% jumpshows that consumers areeager to take advantage of thefavorable conditions. “Thepurchasing power to buy ahome has been bolstered byfalling mortgage rates, andbuyers are responding.”
JUNE 2019
NAM Survey: ManufacturingOptimism Dips in Q2 Amid Trade
Uncertainties, Workforce Shortage
The National Association ofManufacturers has released the resultsof the Manufacturers’ Outlook Surveyfor the second quarter of 2019. Thesurvey shows a dip in manufacturers’optimism amid trade uncertainties,given the prospects of tariffs on Mexicangoods and still unresolved threat of autotariffs. A positive outlook for theirbusiness was registered by 79.8% ofmanufacturers in the second quarter,down from 89.5% in the first quarter. “Clearly, optimism is still strong amongmanufacturers, but you can’t overlookthe fact that trade uncertainties arecausing concern for manufacturers,”said NAM Chief Economist ChadMoutray, who conducted the survey. “Allthings equal, I would expect thesenumbers to improve if we get the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement across thefinish line, strengthen our tradingrelationships by removing the threat of232 auto tariffs and get a trade deal withChina done.” The inability to attract and retain aquality workforce remainedmanufacturers’ top business concern(68.8%) in the second quarter. Thesurvey also found that a majority ofmanufacturers (56%) are concernedabout trade uncertainties with regardsto the USMCA, a U.S.-China trade
agreement, looming 232 auto tariffs andthe now-resolved threat of U.S. tariffs onMexico. In addition, nearly half ofmanufacturers are concerned aboutincreased raw material prices. The Manufacturers’ Outlook Survey hassurveyed the association’s membershipof 14,000 large and small manufacturerson a quarterly basis since 1997 to gaininsight into their economic outlook,hiring and investment decisions andbusiness concerns. The NAM releases theresults to the public each quarter.
14 WESTERN PALLET
Wood-Mizer Opens IndustrialAuthorized Sales Center in Pacific
NorthwestWPA-member Wood-Mizer recentlyintroduced Heicor Enterprises, LLC as itsindustrial authorized sales center in thePacific Northwest. Heicor will provide allindustrial products along with selectprofessional products from Wood-Mizer.Wood-Mizer Oregon, the establishedbranch office near Portland, Oregon, willcontinue to provide sales and service forWood-Mizer professional sawmillequipment and blades in the area. In addition to their world-leading portablesawmill equipment, Wood-Mizer’sequipment line has grown significantlyand now includes machinery for the palletindustry, remanufacturing operations,cabinet and millwork shops, small logsawmill processing systems, headrigs,multirips, and sawmill systems that canproduce tens of thousands of board feetof lumber per shift. “Wood-Mizer iscommitted to serve the needs of hobbyist,professional, and industrial-level woodprocessing clients throughout the world,”said Greg Bacon, Wood-Mizer SalesDirector. “It became apparent that Heicorwas the best choice to represent Wood-Mizer industrial products in the PacificNorthwest because of their experienceand industry knowledge. We’re confidentthat Heicor can successfully representWood-Mizer in a way that is beneficial forboth our company and our customers foryears to come.”
Located in Monmouth, Oregon, HeicorEnterprises was founded in 2016 by GlenHeiner (at right) and Kevin Corder who bothhave extensive experience with Wood-Mizer. Kevin spent 27 years at Wood-Mizerand was the head of the Industrial ProductsDivision, and Glen was an Industrial Sales/Service Specialist at Wood-Mizer for morethan a decade. Glen also has experience onthe user side as the owner of PortlandSpecialty Lumber, a millwork firm inPortland, Oregon. Kevin Corder, President of HeicorEnterprises, said “We are very excited tobecome an industrial sales center forWood-Mizer. Glen and I are both formerlongtime employees and it’s great to be‘back in the saddle’ again! We are eager topresent Wood-Mizer machines as asolution to many of the needs andopportunities in this region. We know thefunction and quality of these productsalong with the legendary support will fitwell into the markets we will serve.”
JUNE 2019
Pallet Recyclers in Stockton FaceIncreased Scrutiny After Fires
WPA executive members have receivedreports that over the last month that theCity of Stockton, California has closeddown up to five pallet companiesoperating in the city. Other operators haveapparently been told to vacate theirproperties within 30 days. Localenforcement officials are reportedlytaking a strict regulatory approachregarding fire protection requirements. Operators report that the heightenedenforcement has come in the wake of twomajor pallet fires in the city since April.They say they are suffering due totightened regulations and are confusedby the lack of transparency and are unclearif the actions are warranted. In nearby Linden, California, a palletcompany that has been been operating forover six months has been now apparentlyasked to vacate the location, after havinginvested around $75,000 in electricalupgrades. Western Pallet Magazine reached out tofive pallet operators in Stockton, and wasonly successful in interviewing one ofthem. The operator, speakinganonymously, stated that their operationhas not received any additional scrutinysubsequent to the fires. He added,however, that the pallet company has agood relationship with officials and hasbeen compliant in meeting fire hydrantand access lane requirements.
Stockton has a recent history of enactingsudden business closures over codeviolations. Last year, one news accountreported that several local retailbusinesses were suing the city after theywere shut down without notice in 2017.Two years, later, nine businesses are stillclosed. Western Pallet Magazine reached out toDr. Brad Gething of NWPCA. While Dr.Gething couldn't speak directly to theStockton situation, he stressed theimportance of ensuring compliance, andbuilding a positive relationship with localcompliance officials. Resources NWPCA Fire Code Compliance Manual(Download) New Fire Codes for Outside Pallet Storageand What They Mean for Your Business(Page 17) Outdoor Storage of Wooden Pallets AreYou in Compliance With New Fire Codes(YouTube) Bill Koffel, www.koffel.com(Experienced fire consultant to the palletindustry)
16 WESTERN PALLET
CWPCA Enjoys Successful AnnualGeneral Meeting in Victoria, BC
The Canadian Wood Pallet and ContainerAssociation (CWPCA) held its AGM June7-9 in Victoria, BC at the Inn at Laurel Point.The reception and dinner overlookedVictoria’s beautiful inner harbor. Themeeting marked a social emphasis,including the annual general meeting anddinner on Friday evening, a half daybusiness program on the Saturdaymorning that allowed time for whalewatching and fishing outings on Saturdayafternoon prior to the evening reception,and golf on Sunday. The event achieved the highestattendance in recent years and wasbolstered by West Coast U.S. attendeesfrom the Western Pallet Association. How to Die Young at an Old AgeLiving to a ripe old age can be a blessingor a curse, according to Dr. Dave Hepburn,the keynote speaker at the businesssession. While it can mean spending moretime doing the things you love, or withthe ones you love, it can also be “a timeof melancholy, loneliness, poverty,frailty, loss of friends, loss of a loved oneor even spouse,” he said. Growing old formany people is synonymous with justbasically giving up and waiting to die. “I'm here to tell you that the sooner thegrowing old is stripped of its reflexivedread, then the easier it is for us to benefit
from the opportunities not only forourselves of being older but what we canalso do for others,” he said. From hisperspective, a healthful and happy old ageis the outcome of taking appropriate stepsalong the way to increase its likelihood.“It is important, I think, that we learn nowthat aging is something that can beenjoyed rather than endured,” he said. Hepburn offered several tips towardshaving a happy, full life. His suggestionsincluded attention to diet (more freshfoods and whole grains - foods with anti-inflammatory properties), reducing badstress, and getting enough sleep. Sleep isessential for the body to affect DNArepairs. It also increases cortisol, whichreduces tumors. Other important lifestyle choices includestaying active (take the stairs, park the carfurther away), and to retain a childlikecuriosity for life. An active lifestyle isimportant to a happy life, versus asedentary approach. “Realize the shipthat is in a harbor is safe, but that's notwhat ships were built for,” he commented,drawing a parallel to how people chooseto spend their senior years. Laughter, he said, is also important. Anaverage child, he noted, laughs 300 timesdaily versus 40 times for an adult. Hisrecommendation is to start bymemorizing a few jokes. Humour is infectious, and starting with a few jokes can help
The Marienville facility, which was builtin 2000 with the scanning technologies,is “in the top 20%… industry-wide” as faras its technological use, estimates Baker,who notes that “there are a lot of smallermills that do everything in a very old-fashioned, very manually-oriented way,with almost no technology.” But in today’scompetitive market, Baker thinks thistechnology is more than just helpful, it’s“almost mandatory.” Without the headrigscanner, for instance, he says, “we wouldnot be able to compete when we buytimber, we just couldn’t get the yield outof the logs.” As industry technology continues to
develop, we’ll likely see a rising demandfor automation with the intent ofimproving efficiency and consistency. Butthe bigger picture, and our focus atNorthwest Hardwoods, is the value of thedata from new technology: data that letsus do more with what we already have,rather than simply speeding up the millingprocess. Keeping our mills outfitted withleading technologies will ensure wecontinue to provide the highest qualityproducts consistently, efficiently, andsustainably.
JUNE 2019
daily versus 40 times for an adult. Hisrecommendation is to start bymemorizing a few jokes. Humor isinfectious, and starting with a few jokescan help spark more enjoyablerelationships. Being engaged in thecommunity and having pets are alsopositively correlated to having a longer,more healthful life. “Remember, aging is not lost youth,”Hepburn said, but a new stage ofopportunity and strength.” He finishedwith a quote from Einstein, “Do not growold no matter how long you live. Nevercease to stand like curious childrenbefore the great mystery into which wewere born.”ISPM-15: Creating a level playing field to
support wood markets and protectforestsAlso on the agenda was Leigh Greenwood,an expert on invasive pests from theNature Conservancy, a global nonprofitdedicated to protecting land and water.She emphasized the common purposes ofthe wood packaging industry and theNature Conservancy with respect to forestprotection. A healthy wood productsindustry is critical to healthy forests, anda robust wood packaging industry isneeded to utilize low-grade lumber whichis an essential component of the woodpackaging market. ISPM-15 is critical toensuring not only the prevention of woodborne pests and pathogensinternationally, but also to the reputationof the wood packaging industry versus
The keynote presentation was thought provoking and often hilarious.
18 WESTERN PALLET
pathogens internationally, but also to thereputation of the wood packagingindustry versus competing materials. “We want to make sure that all of thesethings are participating in a level playingfield,” she said. Solid wood packaging’sgreatest asset in terms of creating a levelplaying field is to make it equivalentfunctionally to all the other mediumsthrough the application of ISPM-15, shecontinued. When ISPM-15 is followed,then there is no greater phytosanitary riskthan with other materials such as plasticand cardboard. In addition to ISPM-15, Greenwoodcommented briefly on hitchhiker speciesthat can infest a pallet or container aftertreatment. She expressed her concernsabout intricate plastic pallets that have agrid design that may make it more difficultfor Customs inspectors to identify
hitchhikers. She stated that she is not foror against any type of material used inshipping, but that some packaging - in thiscase, grid-style plastic pallets make theidentification of hitchhikers morechallenging. One thing that shippers aredoing to reduce the challenge of hitchhikerpests is to control lights at night whichattract problem insects. Greenwood urged CWPCA to work withCanadian and U.S. border officials andagencies such as NAPPO and IPPC to stressthe urgency of inspection to cut down oninfractions that can damage not onlyforests but the wood packaging industryas well. Unfathomable price shiftsKeta Kosman of Madison’s LumberReporter, discussed the lumber market,which she characterized as bananas.Having shifted so far from 2018’s record
Greenwood: Shippers are controlling their use of lighting to prevent attractinghitchhiker insects.
MAY 2019 JUNE 2019
highs, Scott Geffros, in inroducingKossman, described the price swing as“almost unfathomable.” “The US housing market has changed somuch,” Kosman commented, in assessinghow the US market has changed over thelast decade, and why it is not behaving ina manner that would have beenanticipated in the past. “My opinion is thatthe overbuilding of 2004 and 2005, andthen the subsequent over-correctiondownward, really messed up (themarket),” she said.
Kosman’s presentation spanned a range oftopics, including the impact of log exportson lumber markets, as well as the influenceof European softwood imports. While the sawmill situation in BC looksdisheartening in the face of current lowprices, shrinking timber supply, andclosures, she identified cross-laminatedtimber as one area of optimism for thelumber sector, given its superiorenvironmental performance to alterna-tives such as concrete.
Many participants, includingWPA President AnnieMontey, took time to enjoyfishing and sightseeing. Clickon image at left to expand.
20 WESTERN PALLET
Social Media Roundup What's new in social? Click on images to check.
JUNE 2019
22 WESTERN PALLET
JUNE 2019
24 WESTERN PALLET
The Global Forest Industry in the1Q/2019
Global Timber Markets• The global flow of softwood logs fromcountries with a surplus of wood rawmaterial to regions with tight, or costly logsupply, and higher consumption of forestproducts continued to expand for the thirdconsecutive year in 2018.• Sawlog prices fell throughout the worldin the 1Q/19 due to either plentiful supplyor reduced demand for lumber,depending on region. The Global SawlogPrice Index (GSPI) fell 1.8% to the lowestlevel noted since the 2Q/17. Global Lumber Markets• In 2018, global trade of softwood lumberreached the second highest level everrecorded.• The free fall of lumber prices in the UScame to a halt in early 2019, and pricesmight have hit a low for this cycle inJanuary.• Softwood lumber exports from Canada
were down 6% year-over-year in 2018,with the biggest decline being inshipments to China.• For the first time in five years, Swedishexports of softwood lumber fell year-over-year in 2018. The biggest declineswere in exports to Asia and Middle Eastregion,while shipments to the European marketremained practically unchanged.• Despite much uncertainty in the nearfuture for the Chinese economy, lumberimports rose unexpectedly in the 1Q/19by as much as 14%.• Russia increased exports of softwoodlumber by 7% from 2017 to 2018. Thiswas the sixth consecutive year thatexports have increased from the previousyear. Excerpts from the Wood Resource Quarterly(www.WoodPrices.com).
The Membership Drive Is On!
This year's membership drive is now underway, and as always, the competitionwill be intense. In addition to valuable cash prizes, the winner now also receives the membershipplaque, presented at the Annual Meeting. With the highly successful 2019 AnnualMeeting 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
Successful FEFPEB spring meetingheld in Edinburgh
Group welcomes change to European Union’s Packaging & Packaging WasteDirective
FEFPEB welcomed its members from 15European countries to its spring meeting,which was held in Edinburgh, Scotland inearly May. The annual gathering included severalpresentations. The speakers includedMSP (Member of the Scottish Parliament)Fergus Ewing, who is the Scottish RuralEconomy Secretary, who spoke on theimportance of the wooden pallet andpackaging sector to Scotland and theoutlook with regards to Brexit. Otherpresenters included Chief Executive ofCONFOR, Stuart Goodall, who spokeabout the Edinburgh-basedorganization’s work with government toincrease stocks of timber and Guy Wattof John Clegg Consulting, who presentedthe latest report on the UK industry,which he carried out on behalf of theTimber Packaging & Pallet Confederation(TIMCON). FEFPEB representatives were updated onthe potential implications on theindustry of Brexit and stressed theimportance of its members in the UK andEurope working together to ensure thattrade will remain smooth whatever finaldeal occurs. Attendees heard about therecent work of the EuropeanConfederation of Forest Industries (CEI-Bois) in areas including wood availability
and sustainability, free trade policies andwood dust. FEFPEB’s committees for industrialpackaging, ISPM15, pallet pools and PRalso held meetings during the two-dayevent. The spring meeting was organized withthe help of the Timber Packaging & PalletConfederation (TIMCON), whichrepresents the sector in the UK andIreland. John Dye, TIMCON president,said: “We are very proud to welcome theEuropean pallet and packaging industryto Edinburgh, which as well as being oneof the most beautiful cities in the UK, isalso a major hub for forest-basedindustries such as pallets and packaging.” “The spring meeting saw an important
26 WESTERN PALLET
“The spring meeting saw an importantexchange of information betweenmembers and discussion on subjectsincluding European legislation, recyclingand ISPM15,” said Ceelaert.“International logistics is connected by itsvery nature, so collaboration between theUK and our colleagues in Europe andbeyond is essential, both now and afterBrexit, to ensure that business remainssmooth and wooden pallets andpackaging continue to play their centralrole, both as a facilitator of trade and apart of the increasingly prominentcircular economy.” FEFPEB welcomes changes to PackagingWaste DirectiveIn another announcement, FEFPEBwelcomed an important change to theEuropean Union’s Packaging & PackagingWaste Directive, which affects howrecycling targets for wooden packagingare calculated, following work by theindustry.
The European Union has accepted thatwood used in both the reuse and repair ofpallets and packaging have to be includedin the calculation of recycling rates. FEFPEB has informed its members aboutthe changes – which have beenincorporated into the Packaging &Packaging Waste Directive. “Wood used in both the reuse and repairof pallets and packaging has beenaccepted, which is a real success,” saidCeelaert. “Not reaching recycling targetscould cause great problems in terms ofpenalties, so we are happy with thishelpful new regulation, with realisticrecycling targets, which removes a lot ofconcern for our industry.” He added that under the revised directive,replacing one component in a pallet alsonow allows the full weight of the pallet tobe accounted for as recycled. Source: FEFPEB Newsletter
JUNE 2019
Lightning will include Microban®technology to inhibit growth of
bacteria on pallet surfaces
Lightning Technologies has entered into along term, exclusive partnership withMicroban International, the global leaderin antimicrobial and odor controltechnologies, according to anannouncement from Microban. Lightningis an alternative material pallet utilizingplywood and a protective coating. The release makes the claim that LightningTechnologies is disrupting the palletindustry with an array of innovative addedbenefits that are built into its pallets. Tofurther enhance what is characterized as“The Most Technologically AdvancedPallet In The Industry,” the release notes,the pallets will now include powerfulMicroban antimicrobial technology thatwill inhibit the growth of bacteria on thepallet surfaces. “We have had such strong interest anddemand from produce and proteingrowers, pharmaceutical manufacturers,and retailers that we wanted to furtherenhance the differentiation andcleanliness proposition of our pallets byadding superior antimicrobial productprotection,” said Jeffrey Owen, CEOLightning Technologies. “The growth ofbacteria on coated and untreated woodpallets has been a significant vulnerability
for all food-related industries. LightningTechnologies is proud to be the only palletmanufacturer with this superiorantimicrobial protection in each ofLightning’s pallets.” “This is one of the most exciting andinnovative products to hit the food &pharmaceutical transportation sectors inyears, and we are thrilled to be partneringwith Jeffrey Owen and the team atLightning Technologies," said MichaelRuby, VP of Global Built-In Business atMicroban." We entered into this exclusivepartnership because we see a clear visionfor Lightning adopting an innovationsapproach and staying ahead of the pack ina space that will continue to become moreregulated in the future. We are proud to beon the cutting edge with them and to helpin delivering differentiable value to thefood industry supply chain.”
28 WESTERN PALLET
News Briefs
Higher Than Normal Chance of Wildfires in Northwest Predicted in2019The National Interagency Fire Center is forecasting a higher than normal chance ofwildfires in the Pacific Northwest, especially West of the Cascades. Read more. LPR opens a new service centre in Contrexéville (France)European expert in pallet pooling, LPR – La Palette Rouge, a division of the EuroPool Group, is pursuing its network optimization policy and has announced thecreation of a new service center, located at Contrexéville (FR), close to thefactories of Nestlé Waters, a long standing pallet pooling customer. Read more. A new French-language reference book on the wood palletSYPAL, the pallet commission of the French National Federation of Wood, has justpublished La palette bois, outil cle de votre performance. (The wood pallet, keytool of your performance.) This small pocket encyclopedia, written in French, is avaluable source of information for all those who use, manage and enhance thewood pallet every day. Read more. Brambles|CHEP Launches Zero Waste World in North AmericaCHEP has announced a new initiative called Zero Waste World at the SustainableBrands conference in Detroit, MI. This program, being rolled out globally in thecoming months, brings together leading retailers and manufacturers to createsmarter and more sustainable supply chains. Read more. The secret life of a pallet: Exploring a booming Alabama business, itsrustic-decor afterlifeFarmhouse decor is all the rage. Rustic, raw aesthetic has taken over Targetshelves. The Fixer-Upper Gainess have put their stamp on pale wood paired withvines and white tile. But, Jimmy Wilson doesn’t know much about all that. What Wilson knows is covered in sawdust and sandwiched between miles ofsoybean crop and buried under the heat of Baldwin County. Wilson knows palletsfor what they are. Read more.
Upcoming Events 8/13/2019 - 8/15/2019 Unit Load Design & Performance Short Course, Virgina Tech,Blacksburg VA. www.unitload.vt.edu 9/23/2019 - 9/25/2019 Pack Expo Las Vegas, Las Vegas NV 10/1/2019 - 10/2/2019 NWPCA Fall Plant Tours, Toronto, Ontario. www.palletcentral.com. 10/9/2019 - 10/11/2019 FEFPEB Congress, Hamburg, Germany. www.fefpebcongress.org/ 1/17/2020 - 1/21/2020 WPA Annual Meeting, Rancho Mirage, California www.westernpallet.org
JUNE 2019
In case you missed them...(Click on back issues to read or download)