Railroads fear sawmills won’t be able to provide enough crossties as concrete substitutes fail, and businesses shift from trucking to railroad shipping.

GARDEN CITY, NY-- WAC Lighting, a manufacturer and designer of under-cabinet, track and other decorative lighting, has appointed Maher Shaheen as central regional sales manager.

Freezing maple wood bats to 310 degrees below zero makes them 25 percent stronger, says a team of inventors. A patent is sought for the cryogenic wood process. Major League Baseball is reviewing it as a way to stop maple from cracking, and to perform as safely as ash.

VANCOUVER, BC-- West Fraser Timber Co. Ltd. earnings of $10 million on sales of $720 million in the second quarter of 2011.

CLIFTON, NJ -- Safas Corporation, a manufacturer of solid surface materials, has been ciited for 20 workplace safety and health violations by the U.S. Department of Labor's Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

TORONTO -- Advanced discount registration is now open for the 2011 Woodworking Machinery & Supply Expo, October 27-29 at the Direct Energy Centre.

The wood-focused event is scheduled in various east-coast cities.

The wood-focused group will support the organization with promotional efforts.

Union representation was rejected by workers at EBI LLC, an IKEA supplier of upholstered furniture, mattresses and other bedding products.