Pro.com has launched Text-a-Pro, a mobile messaging service that connects homeowners with home services professionals via Facebook’s Messenger app. Homeowners can receive instant and flat-rate prices on home projects and schedule appointments within minutes.

Hardware manufacturer Salice has expanded its sales and service with the establishment of two branch offices in Southeast Asia. Salice Asia is based in Hong Kong. The cabinet and furniture hardware manufacturer also opened Salice China in Shanghai.

Door manufacturer Masonite International (NYSE: DOOR) sales were flat at $475.7 million for the third quarter of 2015, a result of an unfavorable exchange rate. Excluding the $26 million negative impact of foreign exchange, net sales would have increased by 5.4% to $501.7 million. Masonite reported a loss of $16.3 million after selling a French subsidiary.

Lumber producer Sierra Pacific Industries gave $6 million to the College of Forestry at Oregon State University. The lumber producer is supporting construction of an advanced wood products laboratory, part of OSU’s Oregon Forest Science Complex that will create a new home for the college. Plum Creek donated $1 million in September to the Complex.

Fresh on the heels of the Lumber Liquidators laminate flooring controversy involving high levels of formaldehyde, another laminate flooring maker, Ark Floors faces similar questions about its Chinese-made wood products.

Weyerhaeuser and Plum Creek will merge, creating a $23 billion timber, land and forest products company structured as a real estate investment trust (REIT), in an all-stock transaction. Plum Creek holds 6 million acres of forest in 19 states, and operates wood products mills in the Northwest.

JB Cutting’s corporate headquarters in Mount Clemens, MI completed a $300,000 total renovation project to convert the 3,000 square foot combined office and break room into an open office by re-imagining the layout and diminishing some of the under-utilized break room.

Lowe's Holoroom, an augmented reality room visualizer that lets customers walk right into a virtual kitchen cabinet design, will be installed in 19 stores across the United States beginning this month.

Alphacam has expanded its rapidly growing technical support department with the addition of a new applications engineer to serve its burgeoning customer base.Recently hired Applications Engineer Justin Maynard contributes extensive practical knowledge in support of Alphacam users. Having accrued eight years of experience as a CNC programmer and machinist, Maynard has garnered hands-on knowledge that will aid in delivering top-notch customer support.

Organizers of LIGNA, the giant biennial wood manufacturing trade show, will launch a companion conference series during the off-years. The first will be held May 3-4, 2016 in Hannover, Germany, carries the theme, "Integrated Manufacturing in the Woodworking Industries - the Woodworking Community on its way to Industry 4.0." LIGNA also resets exhibitor categories.