The world's tallest wood building is planned to be 16 stories, Home Depot battles saw safety rules, and slowing demand for alder, ash and cherry wood were among the week's top reports.
On saw safety, the continuous battle against mandatory flesh-detection braking technology that shuts down a saw instantly if the blade detects flesh, sees suppliers claiming the technology may overwhelm a lighter-duty tablesaw.
The also say the technology may mistake green or moist wood for flesh - triggering the braking system that is something like an airbag - replacement is a significant expense once it has been deployed. A woodworker in Tennessee received a state grant to pay for a SawStop braking system at his shop.
The top 10 wood industry reports for the past week include:
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Home Depot, Lowe's Oppose California Table Saw Safety Rule
By Rich Christianson | Updated: 07/03/2012 2:02:00 PM
Home Depot, Lowe's and Sears have joined with portable power tool makers, the California Chamber of Commerce and other state business groups to fight against passage of California's table saw safety rule. Read more
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Wood Building Will Be World's Tallest
By Bill Esler | Updated: 07/01/2012 3:59:00 PM
The world's tallest wooden structure, a 16-story multi-use structure built of natural materials using innovative wood design, is slated to be built in Kirkenes, Norway, on the border with Russia. See a slide show of the building. Read more
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Bankrupt IKEA Supplier's Final Furniture Sales Go to Bank
By Rich Christianson | Updated: 06/29/2012 9:56:00 AM
The Royal Bank of Canada (RBC) will receive more than $530,000, the final proceeds that bankrupt Scanwood received from IKEA for its final batch of wood dressers. Read more
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Toll Brothers to Pay $741,000 Clean Water Act Penalty
By Rich Christianson | Updated: 06/28/2012 3:50:00 PM
Toll Brothers Inc., one of the largest homebuilders in America, agreed to pay a $741,000 civil penalty to settle alleged Clean Water Act violations at its construction sites, including those located in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. Read more
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Hazards of Wood Dust
Posted by Michaelle Bradford | Updated: 06/28/2012 8:15:00 AM
A video on wood dust exposure hazards was posted online by the IAQ Video Network, a production of Peoria, AZ-based Cochrane & Associates, a firm specializing in environmental issues. Read more
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Herman Miller Profits Decline 30% in Q4
By Rich Christianson | Updated: 06/28/2012 12:04:00 PM
Office furniture maker Herman Miller Inc. reported a 30.4% drop in net earnings for its fourth quarter ended June 2.
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Court Ruling Backs EPA Green Gas Emission Regulation
By Rich Christianson | Updated: 06/28/2012 9:32:00 AM
The Environmental Protection Agency won a court decision Tuesday, giving it the green light to regulate greenhouse gas emissions from stationary sources, including wood production factories. An industry coalition may challenge it. Read more
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Steelcase Americas Continues Double-Digit Sales Surge
By Rich Christianson | Updated: 06/26/2012 1:52:00 PM
Steelcase Inc.'s office and contract furniture sales in the Americas continued their strong double-digit pace in the company's first quarter. Read more
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Hardwood Demand: Alder, Ash Steady; Cherry Slows
By Andy Johnson | Updated: 06/28/2012 2:25:00 PM
Demand for hardwoods alder and ash likely to remain steady, but cherry is expected to slip.
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California Moves to Extinguish Furniture Flammability Rule
By Rich Christianson | Updated: 06/27/2012 12:07:00 PM
California's 40-year-old furniture flammability rule will be overhauled if the chief of the state's Bureau of Electronic Appliance Repair, Home Furnishing and Thermal Insulation gets her way. Read more
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