China Plywood Dumping Penalties Stirs Ire of Its U.S. Customers
China Plywood Dumping Penalties Stirs Ire of Its U.S. Customers

China Plywood Dumping Penalties Stirs Ire of Its U.S. CustomersThere are two sides to every plywood panel (technically there are six). So when the U.S. Department of Commerce determined that China's plywood manufacturers had sold at predatory pricing levels - below the cost of production - U.S. plywood makers cheered.

Not joining in that celebration were wood products manufacturers who rely on the inexpensive resource of hardwood and decorative plywood produced in China, a group whose interests are represented by the American Alliance for Hardwood Plywood. The AAHP is comprised of small, medium and large American importers, distributors, manufacturers and retailers who use the imported plywood. It was formed specifically to oppose the petition that led to the Department of Commerce findings.

"U.S. manufacturers that rely on a steady, competitive global supply of hardwood plywood are speaking out against the impact that a near 45% price hike on one of their vital raw materials will have on their production and their bottom line," the group's co-chairs, Greg Simon of Far East American and Gregg Wilkinson of Liberty Woods International, said in a statement. The AAHP's members also include Northwest Hardwoods, Medallion Forest Products, American Pacific Plywood, and the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association - KCMA.

Masco's KraftMaid says it will raise prices in December as a result of the countervailing duties that will be lodged against the imported plywood product. So it's no wonder this flashpoint issue resulted in the two most-viewed reports this week at Woodworking Network. 

Here are the week's top reports:

Chinese Hardwood Plywood Makers Guilty of Dumping
By Karen Koenig Posted: 09/18/2013 5:30PM

Chinese hardwood plywood has been given affirmative final determinations by the U.S. Department of Commerce in its antidumping and countervailing duty investigations.

KraftMaid Cabinetry to Hike Prices Due to Plywood Duties
By Rich Christianson Posted: 09/23/2013 1:49PM
KraftMaid Cabinetry will increase prices of its cabinets by up to 12 percent on Dec. 23, mainly due to duties being levied on hardwood plywood the company imports from China.

Masco Cabinetry to Close Merillat Plant in Ohio
By Karen Koenig Posted: 09/19/2013 12:38PM

Masco Cabinetry announced it will close its Merillat manufacturing facility in Jackson, Ohio, over the next several months. Approximately 200 employees will impacted.

Patrick Continues Acquisition Spree, Purchases Furniture Supplier
By Karen Koenig | Posted: September 23, 2013 - 10:20 AM
Patrick Industries Inc. has acquired John H. McDonald Co. Inc., a furniture supplier to the RV industry doing business under the Westside Furniture name.

 


 Smart Cabinetry Move Leads to 90 New Jobs
By Sean Lechowicz Posted: 09/18/2013 10:37AM
Smart Cabinetry, a 120-employee New Paris, IN, cabinet manufacturing firm, received an okay to relocate to a 200,000-square-foot building and add more than employees.

Cardell Cabinetry Announces Layoffs, After the Fact
By Karen Koenig | Posted: September 24, 2013 - 9:55 AM
Cardell Cabinetry has notified the Texas Workforce Commission of the layoff of 903 employees, more than a week after the company shuttered its doors. Cardell Cabinetry Out of Business, the original story, continued to draw readers.

 


A Larch Wood Bathtub Is Serious Business
Ofuro, a larch wood and movingui bathtub from Italian designer firm Rapsel, priced at $23,200 at AF New York, represents a serious business initiative as well. 3D AutoDesk Inventor files are offered for architects who want to build it into their plans.

Hickory Wood Hand Carved Podium Wows

LaserTech Floorplans Capture 3D Fly-through of Home Interiors
By Bill Esler | Posted: 09/19/2013 4:57PM

3D Laser Scanning is a non-contact form of measurement and documentation using a high speed laser. The laser reflects off visible objects and returns with a measurement.

  WOOD 100 2013: HomerWood's Flooring Innovations

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