Combustible Dust, Scourge of Wood Industry, Tops Week's Reports
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The wood products industry held White House attention - in a positive way - for two days running. On June 17 President Obama visited the Pittsburgh TechShop, an entrepreneurial workshop for woodworking and other fabrication activities by so-called "makers." (The CSPAN video of his speech and Q&A is linked at the left.)

On Wednesday Obama hosted a Maker Faire in the White House, with beaucoup woodworkers represented, through ShopBot, Custommade.com and MakersRow.com, along with individual makers.

Combustible dust, the continuous scourge of of wood manufacturers, drew OSHA to the doorsteps of Academia Furniture, and shut down operations at the Plum Creek Timber MDF plant, among the week's most viewed wood industry reports.

ComDust Explosion & Fire Idles Plum Creek MDF Plant
Posted by Rich Christianson | Posted: 06/16/2014 10:40AM A fire and series of suspected combustible dust explosions at Plum Creek Timber Company's MDF plant last Tuesday will likely keep the plant out of commission for about one month.
Academia Furniture Academia Furniture Cited for ComDust, Other Violations |
By Karen Koenig | Posted: June 13, 2014 - 11:07 AM Educational furniture maker Academia Furniture Industries LLC faces fines by OSHA of $58,100 for 30 serious safety and health violations, including combustible dust.
Gibson Leather Task Chair Recalled by Office Depot Office Depot Recalls 1.4 Million 'Fall-Hazard' Task Chairs
By Rich Christianson | Posted: June 12, 2014 - 8:10 AM
Office Depot has issued a recall for approximately 1.4 million Gibson leather task chairs. Twenty-five injuries have been reported.
Lumber, Logs, Tables, and Mantles: What Goes on at WunderWoods
By Scott Wunder | Posted: June 9, 2014 - 1:31 PM A video montage of daily woodworking involvement at WunderWoods--from milling to building custom furniture
Do You Have a Fatal Flaw in Your Wood Product Design?
By Matt D'Anca | Posted: June 12, 2014 - 7:00 AM Woodworker Matt D'Anca explores product design and shares how a backpack flaw led to woodworking revelation. 
Stone Veneering Services Offered by Architectural Millwork Firm
By Bill Esler | Posted: June 13, 2014 - 12:25 PM
Earth Anatomy Fabrication, formed in 2013, is part of a business dream shared by a Navy “Doc” and a Marine that is turning into a global supplier of sustainable building products. Their latest product is thin stone veneer.
Decor Papers Printed Electronics Decorative Laminates Now Incorporate Printed Electronic Controls
By Bill Esler | Posted: June 10, 2014 - 10:26 AM A touch-sensitive, functional, high-gloss wood-based panel that can be used in cabinets and furnishings in places like kitchens or hospitals has been introduced by Felix Schoeller Group, a German maker of specialty papers.

3D Wood Object Printing Enabled by Universal Extruding Device
By Bill Esler | Posted: June 15, 2014 - 5:14 PM
Structur3D Printing says wood paste and other materials can be printed through 3D printers using its Discov3ry Universal Paste Extruder, allowing 3D printing to move beyond plastics. It is expected to launch by October.

United Furniture Seems Headed to Open 200-employee Plant in NC
By Karen Koenig | Posted: June 13, 2014 - 9:33 AM
United Furniture Industries moved one-step closer to opening a manufacturing and distribution center in the Winston-Salem area after $150,000 in performance-based incentives was approved by the Forsyth County commissioners.
Batch One: Mass Customized Wood Products Webcast
Posted: 05/14/2014 3:00PM
Mass customization, the latest frontier in wood products production, allows manufacturers to deliver a wide range of individually tailored products, but without a corresponding increase in production costs. Originally broadcast June 12, watch it now on demand>>

Woodwork Inventors Star as White House Hosts Maker Faire
By Bill Esler | Posted: June 18, 2014 - 11:29 AM
Furniture and other wood products developers exhibited at the first-ever White House Maker Faire. The event follows an Obama visit yesterday to a maker center, TechShop Pittsburgh.

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