Building Pros See Business Improving
By Mike Botta March 22, 2012 – As recent news reports indicate that consumer confidence is on the rise, building industry professionals say they are seeing an increase in revenue....more »
U.S. Challenges China to Play by the Rules
By Mike Botta...more »
Perennial Wood Now Targeting Outdoor Applications
By Mike Botta February 23, 2012 – The Eastman Chemical Company earlier this month introduced its outdoor line of trademarked Perennial Wood products to the building and construction trade. Targeted were makers of outdoor wood furniture and...more »
Knock on Wood for a 2012 Rebound
By Mike Botta January 12, 2012 – As we enter 2012, it’s looking a lot like 2011, 2010, 2009 and, dare we say, 2008. It’s tough to tell these days whether the news is good or bad. One day the word is that auto sales are healthy and...more »
Cabinet Makers Anticipate Growth in 2012
By Mike Botta December 22, 2011 – The nation’s cabinet makers and custom woodworkers are bullish on growth prospects for 2012, according to initial results of a survey conducted by the Milwaukee-based Cabinet Makers Association (CMA). ...more »
Wood Products Up Despite Economic Turmoil
By Mike Botta December 8, 2011 – While the deep financial troubles in Europe deepen and the fragile U.S. economy seems to be barely limping along, recent reports indicate some encouraging trends....more »
Roseburg to Close Facility in Mississippi
Roseburg, OR – Roseburg plans to indefinitely close its particleboard plant located in Louisville, MS. As a result of the closure, approximately 80 employees will be out of work, according to the company. “Weak demand, increasing raw...more »
Cabinet Makers Looking for Industry Pros to Help Develop Curriculum
By Mike Botta The Cabinet Makers Association (CMA) is looking for industry experts, including experienced shop owners and managers, to help develop the curriculum for CMA’s certification education curriculum. ...more »
Manufacturers: Canada Has Leg Up on U.S.
By Mike Botta Canada and the U.S. might be inseparably joined from the neck down, but not so much at the head when it comes to corporate taxes. ...more »
Group Introduces Woodworking Reports on Russia/CIS
Dublin, Ireland – International analytical firm Research and Markets has added "Timber & Woodworking in Russia/CIS" to its list of available research reports and data collections....more »
Manufacturing Jobs Are Key to Balancing U.S. Budget
By Mike Botta Drew Greenblatt is passionate about manufacturing and he’s hell bent on waking up America to the fact that manufacturing is, in his words, intrinsic to saving America. “You’re not going to save America by turning out...more »
Report: Manufacturing Outlook Brightens
By Mike Botta Most U.S. industrial manufacturers anticipate positive revenue growth for their companies over the next 12 months, according to issued July 28 by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC). ...more »
Cabinet Makers Group Launches Certification Program
Las Vegas, NV - The Cabinet Makers Association last week introduced a professional credentialing program to the cabinet making and custom woodworking industry. Using both live and web based technologies, the program aims to allow industry...more »
Sourcing Overseas May Be Huge Mistake
By Mike Botta Is China the manufacturing miracle that countless global corporations believe it is, or have many of the same international giants simply been guilty of practicing “herd mentality”? Perhaps surprisingly, there’s a...more »
New Restrictions on Wood Packaging Materials on Way
A proposal from APHIS would remove the exemption from ISPM 15 on wood packaging material moving between Canada and the U.S. ...more »
North American Furniture Suppliers Eye Exports
By Mike Botta Taking advantage of the weak dollar, pent up demand and a strong German economy, U.S. and Canadian companies plan to pursue export opportunities in Europe again, according to trade show organizer Koelnmesse Inc. More than 40 North...more »
Wood: Key Weapon in the War Against Climate Change
By Mike Botta With depressed housing still likely to weigh heavily on the economic recovery of America’s woodworking industry, some leaders are pushing hard to spread word of the global benefits of using wood. ...more »
Sustainability Means Longevity
By Mike Botta Perhaps getting lost in all of the economic gloom and doom over the past couple of years has been the fact that the drive toward sustainability in manufacturing has not diminished. At bad times, it is perhaps easy for some...more »
Local Company Hits a Home Run – Literally
By Mike Botta Brooten, MN – With all the hype surrounding the opening of Target Field, the new home of the Minnesota Twins baseball team, it seems fitting that the first home run hit at the park this year was delivered by a Minnesota...more »
Thoughts I thought today, I think . . .
I had a meeting recently with a group whose major mission is to introduce young people to the forestry industry, particularly with a focus on sustainable forest management, ecosystems, and the dramatic effect our trees and their fiber have on just...more »
