MISSOULA, MT -- Roseburg Forest Products is laying off approximately 20 workers at its mill in Missoula.

WASHINGTON -- Table saw safety and the potential of mandating electronic brake systems were front and center during a hearing of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission held last Wednesday.

MOORESVILLE, NC -– Lowe’s Companies Inc., a retailer of wood building products and other home improvement items has restructured its store operations and merchandising organizations.

A home interior wood refinishing franchise has been acquired from Home Depot by Baird Capital Partners, the U.S.-based buyout fund of Baird Private Equity.

GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- Steelcase Inc. (NYSE:SCS) posted second quarter net income of $11.9 million on $700.5 million of revenue.

TWO RIVERS, WI -- Thermo Fisher Scientific, an international manufacturer of products for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries, including wood laboratory furniture, plans to close a steel fabricating operation by the end of the year.

Falling home values dampen building and construction recovery hopes. Even as economists ratchet down near term growth prospects on a slew of bad news, home builders and wood industry manufacturing firms position for growth.

Custom woodworking and casegoods firm Mission Bell Manufacturing says it has seen its business grow despite the general slowdown in construction. Mission Bell saw revenues rise from $22.9 million in 2009 to $27 million in 2010, and projects growth for 2011 as well.

The International Scientific Conference on Hardwood Processing will be held Oct. 16-18 in Blacksburg, VA.

The Wood Component Manufacturers Assn. has available a digital edition of its 2011-2012 Wood Component Buyer's Guide.