The demand will be spurred by a recovery in U.S. building construction and a relaxation in credit requirements.

Ed Elias will start in the new position following the retirement later this year of current president Dennis Hardman.

The project will investigate increasing impacts of drought, insect attacks and fires on forests in the western U.S., and to project how the influence of climate change may affect forest die-offs in the future.

New furniture orders and shipments in May 2013 were higher than May 2012, according to Smith Leonard.

Cabinetry manufacturer Masco Corp. (NYSE: MAS) sales rose 10% second quarter, accelerated by the strength of new home construction in North America – which grew even faster, at 11%. International sales rose 7%.

Kitchen cabinetry and bathroom vanity sales rose 16.2% in June, reports the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Association, reflecting an overall rise in new home construction and gains in home remodeling.

The IMI number is down eight from July, but is approximately three times the number of metros that qualified for the list in August of 2012.

The annual WCMA Fall Conference & Plant Tour Event takes place Sept. 15-17 in Canton, OH. Register by Aug. 19 for the event.

Woodworking Network visitors flocked to read a guest blog penned by Greg Simon stating the case of the American Alliance for Hardwood Plywood.

KI has promoted John Duffy to vice president of sales, responsible for managing and growing KI and Pallas Textiles divisions worldwide.