Forest Products News

Upcoming Forest Products Events

Posted on by Kirsten Held

LSLA 2019 Winter Meeting
Date: January 16-18, 2019
Location: Appleton, WI

Custom Chair Design and Construction
Date: January 19 – February 3, 2019
Location: Antigo, WI

Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association Convention & Exposition
Date: February 4-6, 2019
Location: Indianapolis, IN

White Pine Lumber Grading Course
Date: February 21-22, 2019
Location: Antigo, WI

Wisconsin Local-Use Dimension Lumber Grading Workshop
Date: February 26, 2019
Location: Fitchburg, WI

Great Lakes Timber Professionals Association Spring Celebration
Date: April 12, 2019
Location: Green Bay, WI

Markets growing for urban wood across Wisconsin

Posted on by Ellen Clark

Written by Scott Lyon, Forest Products Specialist

Many communities have expressed greater interest in local goods and services over the last few years; as a result urban wood recycling efforts have increased in Wisconsin. The increase of trees killed by invasive insects and disease caused many municipalities to seek alternative uses for urban wood rather than disposing material in a landfill. Recent efforts to market this growing source of material and develop ways to recycle urban trees within communities led Wisconsin to become one of the leading states in urban wood utilization. Continue reading “Markets growing for urban wood across Wisconsin” →

Complete the Secondary Wood Manufacturer Survey

Posted on by Kirsten Held

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources -Division of Forestry is conducting a survey on Wisconsin’s secondary wood manufacturing sector. This sector includes Wisconsin firms that purchase and produce products from lumber, blocks, wood components, fiberboard, plywood, veneer, and manufacturing residue.

The goals of this survey are to: 1.) update the Wisconsin Wood Using Industry Directory, 2.) determine the impact of the secondary wood industry on Wisconsin’s economy, 3.) determine residue availability, and 4.) develop an understanding of educational and training needs for the success of the wood industry. Continue reading “Complete the Secondary Wood Manufacturer Survey” →

Wood Energy Webinar a Success

Posted on by Kirsten Held

In July, the Wisconsin Statewide Wood Energy Team hosted a free webinar titled, “Wood Energy Systems and Forest Industry Companies: When Are They the Right Fit.” Thirty people attended the webinar. The webinar addressed why wood energy is a good fit for sawmills and other forest products manufacturers. The webinar presenters also covered topics such as the production of heat from wood, combined heat and power that produces heat and electrical power, how wood energy can help with residue management, and what tools are available to look at the feasibility of a project. Some example projects were also highlighted to show how wood energy is benefiting actual companies. For those of you who missed this webinar, please visit the Wisconsin State Wood Energy Team website for educational videos, case studies, tools, and other information to learn more about whether wood energy is the right fit for your home or business.

Celebrate Wisconsin Forest Products Week

Posted on by Kirsten Held

Wisconsin has 17.1 million acres of forestland covering nearly half of the state and is home to more than 1,200 forest products companies producing a variety of products that we use daily. In recognition of the importance of forest products to Wisconsin, Governor Scott Walker proclaimed the third week of October (October 21-27, 2018) as Wisconsin Forest Products Week.

The proclamation encourages citizens to recognize the many products that come from forests and the people and businesses that work in and care for forests. Forest businesses and organizations are encouraged to host an event or open house to commemorate this event. For ideas or suggestions or to learn more about hosting an event, please contact a member of the DNR forest products team.

Let’s celebrate Wisconsin’s diverse forest products sector during Forest Products Week on October 21-27, 2018!

Mass Timber Proposed in Milwaukee Building

Posted on by Kirsten Held

A Wisconsin-based real estate development firm, New Land Enterprises, plans to construct a seven-story mass timber office building on a vacant site in downtown Milwaukee. The building was designed by Korb + Associates Architects and would be the tallest of such structures in Wisconsin.

What is mass timber?
Mass timber is a category of structural framing styles typically characterized by the use of large, solid wood panels for wall, floor, and roof construction. Examples include: glued-laminated timber (glulam), nail-laminated timber (NLT), cross-laminated timber (CLT), and dowel-laminated timber (DLT).

Continue reading “Mass Timber Proposed in Milwaukee Building” →

Offering a railroad tie manufacturing workshop

Posted on by Kirsten Held

Are you considering sawing railroad ties but don’t know where to start? Do you wish to gain a better understanding of log selection and manufacturing as it relates to tie grades and markets? The Wisconsin DNR, in partnership with the Wisconsin Wood Marketing Team, will host a one-day workshop on railroad tie manufacturing on September 18, 2018.

This course will cover the basics of tie grades, defect limitations, log selection and overall feasibility of sawing ties. The workshop will conclude with a hands-on grading exercise and discussion.

Head sawyers, lumber inspectors, mill owners, managers, salespeople, loggers, foresters and others interested in railroad tie manufacturing are encouraged to attend this informative seminar to be held at Northcentral Technical College, Wood Technology Center for Excellence in Antigo, Wisconsin.

Registration will be taken online (see the online registration portal here) or by mail (see the mail-in registration form here).  The registration fee of $20 includes lunch.

Contact Collin Buntrock (608-286-9083, Collin.Buntrock@Wisconsin.gov) for more information.

Wisconsin delegation explores China market

Posted on by Kirsten Held

A delegation of six forestry businesses from Wisconsin, along with representatives from the Department of Agriculture, Trade, and Consumer Protection and Scott Lyon from the Department of Natural Resources, participated in a trade mission to China on March 20-April 4, 2018. The purpose was to explore and expand markets for Wisconsin’s forest products. Continue reading “Wisconsin delegation explores China market” →

Midwest Biomass Exchange

Posted on by Kirsten Held

Looking for outlets for selling mill residues this year? Check out the updated Midwest Biomass Exchange – a free online marketplace designed to help buyers and sellers of woody and agricultural biomass. Users can place ‘For Sale’ and ‘Wanted’ ads for selling biomass that can be used as fuel for heating and power generation, or as feedstock for other manufacturing processes.

The site is hosted by Heating the Midwest, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to promoting the use of woody and agricultural biomass for thermal energy and power. Updated from the old Minneapolis Biomass Exchange, the new site focuses more closely on biomass that can be used for fuel, and on serving the Midwestern area in the USA and Canada. For more information, visit the site or contact Dave Neumann at neumannd@michigan.gov.

By Forest Products Specialist Sabina Dhungana, Sabina.dhungana@wisconsin.gov, (608) 220-4531

Survey coming for secondary wood manufacturers

Posted on by Kirsten Held

Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources – Division of Forestry and University of Wisconsin-Wood Products Extension will be conducting a survey with Wisconsin’s secondary wood products manufacturers. This survey will be used to update the Wisconsin Wood Users Industry Directory.  The directory, last updated in 2009, is not currently available, but we plan to have the updated version online at our forestry products section of the DNR website.

The goals of this survey are to determine the impact of the secondary wood industry on Wisconsin’s economy, update the Wisconsin Wood Using Industry Directory, determine residue availability, and develop an understanding of educational and training needs for the success of your business.

If you are a secondary wood manufacturer, please be on the lookout for a survey to arrive in the mail over the next few weeks. If you do not receive a survey and would like to be part of the directory, please contact Scott Lyon at scott.lyon@wisconsin.gov or (920) 360-3722.

Written by Forest Products Specialist Scott Lyon