An out-of-control forest fire that destroyed Arauco's largest plywood plant in Nueva Aldea, Chile, was the most clicked news item on Woodworking Network ini 2012. Arauco, which was in the process of acquiring Uniboard's mega MDF mill in Moncure, NC, would make headlines again in June in announcing its intention to acquire Flakeboard's panel manufacturing business for $242.5 million.

News of five other acquisitions and sales also proved popular, including ITW's sale of Wilsonart to Clayton Dublier, Columbia Forest Products' purchase of Cabinotch, American Industrial Partners' buyout of Armstrong's cabinet division, Jeld-Wen's purchase of CraftMaster Manufacturing and the sale of Geppetto Kitchens to Building Industry Partners.

Four of Woodworking Network's Top 25 news postings in 2012 were China-related, including a pair of antidumping investigations - furniture and hardwood plywood - by the U.S. International Trade Commission and a pair of reports of Chinese firms planning to make or assemble furniture in the U.S.

In other international news, Gibson Guitar entered into a criminal enforcment deal with the U.S. Department of Justice ending its fight against Lacey Act violations for imported wood components and a Syrian and a veneer firm admitted smuggling 700 pallets of veneer into Syria.

Strong readership followed the saga of California's aborted attempt to legislate table saw safety, as well as for the issuance of a new table saw safety patent to Whirlwind Tool.

On the lighter side, reports about the discovery of an 18th century millwork shop, believed to be the earliest known dedicated wood shop in the U.S., the world's tallest wood building and a $70,000 bent wood bike, also clicked their way into the Top 25 news stories of the year.

	Forest Fire Destroys Arauco Plywood Plant By Rich Christianson | Updated: 01/04/2012 9:44:00 AM  A wide-spreading forest fire destroyed Arauco's largest plywood plant in Nueva Aldea, Chile. Read more
	Table Saw Safety Act Dies Quietly in California Senate By Rich Christianson | Updated: 09/14/2012 7:46:00 PM California's controversial Table Saw Safety Act, which breezed through the Assembly in a 64-4 vote, is dead - for now at least - after the Senate failed to bring the bill up for a vote. Read more
	New Table Saw Safety Patent Issued By Bill Esler | Updated: 04/03/2012 8:05:00 PM A former woodworker has received a patent on a flesh-sensing table saw safety braking system. David Butler, principal of Whirlwind Tool, has spent years developing a system to prevent serious injuries among table saw users. Read more
	Selected Furniture Moves Chinese Plant to Indiana By Karen M. Koeinig | Updated: 04/26/2012 2:34:00 PM Restaurant furniture maker Selected Furniture is moving its Chinese manufacturing plant and Chicago operations to a 200,000-square-foot plant in Indiana. Read more
	Veneer Firm Pleads Guilty in Syrian Smuggling By Bill Esler | Updated: 03/01/2012 10:16:00 PM International Veneer Company president H. Tyler Howerton admitted in court his company smuggled 700 pallets of wood veneer sheets and three forklifts to Syria and attempted shipments to Iran. Read more
	Ashley Furniture To Open Big Plant in North Carolina By Bill Esler | Updated: 04/20/2012 1:00:00 PM Ashley Furniture will establish a furniture plant up to 3.3 million square feet on former R.J. Reynolds property with the support of funding from a trust and state and local grants. Read more
	ITW Sells Wilsonart for $1 Billion to Clayton Dubilier By Karen M. Koenig | Updated: 11/01/2012 3:04:00 PM Illinois Tool Works sold control of its Decorative Surfaces segment, including Wilsonart, to Clayton, Dubilier & Rice for $1.05 billion in cash. Read more
	MasterBrand Cabinets Closes Martinsville Plant: 335 Jobs Lost By Karen M. Koenig | Updated: 08/06/2012 7:41:00 AM MasterBrand Cabinets employees were notified Friday that the Martinsville, VA, plant would close Aug. 10, resulting in the layoff of 335 employees, according to news sources in the area. Read more
	Oldest U.S. Woodshop Discovered By Bill Esler | Updated: 12/13/2012 2:10:00 PM A remodeling job on a preschool revealed an 18th century millwork and woodworking shop, believed to be the earliest dedicated woodshop in the U.S. Restoration carpentry expert Michael Burrey identified the find. Read more
	Chinese Furniture Assembly Plant Coming to Virginia By Rich Christianson | Updated: 09/19/2012 2:41:00 PM GOK International, a Chinese wood furniture company, will develop an assembly and finishing plant in Danville, creating 300 jobs over the next three years, according to the Danville Industrial Development Authority (DIDA). Read more
	Update: China Wood Furniture Dumping, Biggest Ever By Bill Esler | Updated: 02/29/2012 11:29:00 AM Almost 200 Chinese firms are subject to an inquiry into whether wood bedroom furniture made in China is being unfairly subsidized by its manufacturers. It is believed to be the largest such inquiry ever. Read more
	Cabinotch Acquired by Columbia Forest Products By Bill Esler | Updated: 01/04/2012 2:53:00 PM CFP Components, a division of Columbia Forest Products, has acquired Cabinotch, the Owensboro, KY, manufacturer of a unique made-to-order cabinet box system. Read more
	Gibson Guitar Settles on Lacey Violation Charges By Karen M. Koenig | Updated: 08/06/2012 11:46:00 AM Gibson Guitar Corp. will not face prosecution for violating the Lacey Act and has instead entered into a criminal enforcement agreement with the United States. Read more
	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
	Armstrong to Sell Cabinet Business By Karen M. Koenig | Updated: 09/27/2012 10:10:00 AM Armstrong World Industries Inc. announced late Wednesday it will sell its cabinet business to American Industrial Partners (AIP) for $27 million. The transaction is expected to be completed in the fourth quarter of 2012. Read more
	IWF Challengers Award Winners Announced By Karen M. Koenig | Updated: 08/22/2012 11:12:00 AM The seven winners of the 2012 Challengers Award were announced today at the International Woodworking Fair in Atlanta. Read more
	Chinese Hardwood Plywood Antidumping Complaint Has Merit: ITC By Rich Christianson | Updated: 11/09/2012 3:10:00 PM The antidumping probe against Chinese hardwood plywood makers will continue after the U.S. International Trade Commission unanimously voted today that "there is a reasonable indication that a U.S. industry is materially injured." Read more
	Top Kitchen & Bath Design Trends for 2012: NKBA Survey By Karen M. Koeiing | Updated: 02/17/2012 9:14:00 AM Although the use of cherry wood in cabinetry is declining slightly, the preference for darker finishes continues to grow. These and other findings are among the top design trends for 2012, as determined by a recent survey by the National Kitchen & Bath Assn.  Read more
	Geppetto Kitchens Cabinets Acquired by Private Equity Firm By Bill Esler | Updated: 02/21/2012 12:39:00 PM Kitchen cabinet firm Geppetto Kitchens, recapitalized by Building Industry Partners private equity firm, operates as Touchstone Fine Cabinets in Geppetto's 200,000-square-foot plant. Principals were with Norcraft and Cardell Cabinetry. Read more
	Fire at JELD-WEN Window and Door Plant By Michaelle Bradford | Updated: 05/10/2012 5:10:00 PM A saw dust collection system caught fire Thursday morning at the plant of window and door manufacturer JELD-WEN. Read more
	JELD-WEN to Acquire CraftMaster Manufacturing By Rich Christianson | Updated: 06/18/2012 11:00:00 AM JELD-WEN Inc. has signed a letter of intent to purchase multi-plant wood interior door and exterior trim maker CraftMaster Manufacturing Inc. (CMI). Read more
	Just Moulding: Why It Went Out of Business By Bill Esler | Updated: 12/29/2011 1:47:00 PM Residential woodwork and crown moulding franchise Just Moulding says the recession killed demand for its moulding services, while prospective franchisees couldn't get loans to open new outlets. Read more
	Lumber Products Files for Bankruptcy By Michaelle Bradford | Updated: 04/17/2012 3:21:00 PM Lumber Products, a wholesale distributor of hardwood lumber and plywood products as well as door and millwork components, filed for Chapter 11 Bankruptcy protection on April 11. Read more
	Arauco to Acquire Flakeboard Panel Mills By Karen M. Koenig | Updated: 06/08/2012 3:31:00 PM Arauco has reached an agreement with Flakeboard Co. Ltd. to acquire its seven composite panel production facilities in Canada and the United States in a deal valued at $242.5 million. Read more
	Thonet-Commissioned Wood Bike Priced at $70,000 By Rich Christianson | Updated: 10/09/2012 1:03:00 PM Thonet, renown for its steam bent wood chairs, commissioned architect/designer Andy Martin to create a bentwood bicycle paying homage to the company's original mid-19th century seating. Read more