National Hardwood Lumber Association

GROW AND STABILIZE HARDWOOD INDUSTRY

COOPERATOR SUPPORTS AND ADVOCATES FOR THE HARDWOOD INDUSTRY. HARDWOOD SAWMILLS TYPICALLY ARE SLOWER TO ADOPT INNOVATIVE PROCESSES AND HAVE A MORE LABOR-INTENSIVE WORKFORCE. THERE ARE FEW PROCESS OPTIMIZATIONS AMONG SMALLER OPERATORS AND THERE IS LITTLE TO NO PROMOTION OF THEIR PRODUCTS. AS A RESULT, SUBSTITUTE PRODUCTS AND IMPORTS HAVE TAKEN OVER THEIR MARKET. THIS PROJECT WILL ADDRESS THE ISSUES STATED ABOVE BY PROVIDING THE HARDWOOD LUMBER INDUSTRY WITH TRAINING THAT WILL IMPROVE THEIR OPERATIONS AND INCREASE THEIR WOOD FIBER UTILIZATION. THE PROJECT WILL ALSO BUILD STRONGER DOMESTIC MARKETS FOR HARDWOOD LUMBER BY EDUCATING DESIGN PROFESSIONALS ON WHY THEY SHOULD SPECIFY REAL AMERICAN HARDWOODS. TOGETHER THIS WILL STRENGTHEN THE RURAL COMMUNITIES IN WHICH THESE MILLS ARE LOCATED BY KEEPING THE MILLS OPEN AND JOBS FOR WORKERS. IT WILL ALSO INCREASE FOREST HEALTH AMONG THE DECIDUOUS FORESTS THAT ARE FACING INCREASED ATTACKS FROM FUNGI, AND INSECTS, WHILE AGING TO THE POINT THAT THEY WILL HAVE MAJOR FOREST FIRES WITHIN A DECADE. WITH THE HARD TIMES THE HARDWOOD INDUSTRY IS IN, IT IS VERY IMPORTANT TO HELP DEVELOP DOMESTIC CONSUMPTION AND IMPROVE MANUFACTURING.

DEVELOPING A NEW DELIVERY METHODS FOR NHLA GRADER TRAINING