The Composite Panel Association has hired Jackson Morrill as its new president, effective April 13. Morrill has been serving as director for the American Chemistry Council (ACC) since 2010, where he managed the Formaldehyde Panel directing comprehensive state and federal advocacy initiatives, communications, third-party outreach and scientific studies on formaldehyde.

Separate investigations are being launched by the China Forest Products Industry Association and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission into claims that Lumber Liquidators' Chinese manufactured laminate flooring is unsafe due to high levels of formaldehyde emissions.

Wood pellet producer Rentech Inc. will receive $4 million in aid from the Ontario government to convert two idle composite panel plants into pellet mills.

Councill Furniture will close its factory following an asset sale to Century Furniture and Highland House Furniture parent RHF Investment. RHF agreed to purchase assets of Hancock & Moore, Jessica Charles, Thomas & Gray and Councill.

Hardwood baseball bat maker Louisville Slugger acquired by Wilson Sporting Goods Co. in a $70 million deal, will continue to manufacture the bats, as it has for more than 130 years.

Stella-Jones Reports 2014 Fourth Quarter and Annual Results Fourteenth consecutive year of growth in net income - Sales of $1.25 billion, up 23.6% from $1.01 billion last year. Net income up 12.2% to $103.8 million,

Termites vote with the feet, selecting California as the top state to live. Texas was a close second, with cities in both states moving up in Terminix ranking of most termite-ridden cities. Termite damage to homes costs more than $8,000 on average, $5 billion overall damage nationwide.

Vencor says it will test industrial hemp to make torrefied products, including Bio-Coal, a renewable energy product.

Solid wood machine and systems manufacturer The Weinig Group is concentrating its custom planning technology at the company’s facility in Tauberbischofsheim, Germany.

The Felder Group started their move in to a new location in Dallas, Texas.