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What Did You Learn Today?

Each morning at our recent National Conference in Charleston, SC, Nate Irby, executive director of the Railway Tie Association, greeted me with a basic question: “What did you learn today?” Granted, it wasn’t even 8 a.m., and I was only awake for a couple hours on those days, but it did get me thinking and […]

AHEC Brings Maple To Milan With The Class of ’24

Giles Tettey Nartey and Parti create furniture inspired by food and fabric For the American Hardwood Export Council, Milan Design Week is a crucial date on the calendar. The April event provides an unparalleled opportunity not only to showcase the design possibilities of sustainable Hardwoods, but also to provide a platform for creative collaborations with […]

Getting Down To Business

It’s hard to believe that it’s already May. The year is certainly moving quickly, but it’s as busy as ever at the HMA office. Following is a quick recap to get you caught up on HMA business.  In late March, HMA hosted another successful and memorable National Conference and Expo. The feedback we’ve received from […]

Make The Changes We Need To Make

We all know that there have been a lot of Hardwood mills that have shut down over the past year. I ran my own Hardwood business once, and I shut it down. You may remember it. I worked with Jartek based in Finland, promoting thermal modification. I helped build several systems, including Superior Thermowood of […]

Registration Now Open For 2024 WCMA Regional Plant Tour Event

Registration is now open for the Wood Component Manufacturers Association’s (WCMA’s) 2024 Regional Plant Tour Event. The WCMA is excited to host the event that will be held June 3-4 in Auburn, ME. The event includes tours of five state-of-the-art manufacturing facilities. This event gives attendees an opportunity to see advanced machinery in action, and […]

EUDR Update And Latest Developments

AHEC is currently in the process of implementing the next phase of the European Union Deforestation Regulation (EUDR) response mechanism for U.S. Hardwoods.  The framework that is being developed comprises the following components: The database of U.S. Hardwood harvest geolocations will be prepared and maintained by a technical consultancy commissioned by AHEC that will combine […]

Despite Current Headwinds, AHEC Sees Europe As An Important Growth Market For U.S. Hardwoods

There’s no denying 2023 was a challenging year for U.S. hardwood mills: production hit historically low levels and demand has declined both domestically and in export markets around the world, including in Europe, where lumber exports are down nearly 40 percent compared to 2022. And in the current economic and geopolitical situation, we’re under no […]

Port Delay Bills Are The Result Of Industry Input

Association executives have a similar responsibility to members of Congress (although hopefully our opinion ratings are higher!); we have to both help lead based on our beliefs while also being responsive to the needs of our constituents. While luckily we don’t go to the ballot box every few years, in order for an association to […]

Cypress Promotion In 2024

Late last month, members of the Southern Cypress Manufacturers Association (SCMA), along with promotion sponsors, gathered for the association’s 2024 Annual Meeting at The Charleston Place in Charleston, South Carolina. The event was held in conjunction with the Hardwood Manufacturers Association’s 2024 National Conference and Expo held at the luxury hotel. Attendees were briefed on […]

EPA Piles On Red Tape, Releases Stringent Air Quality Standard

On February 7, EPA announced it would tighten the final air quality standard for PM 2.5, also known as “fine particulate matter,” from 12 micrograms (ug) per cubic meter to a more stringent 9 ug, a level which could impose up to $900 million in compliance costs on the wood products sector.  Unfortunately, federal regulators are […]