Content about Louisiana

Weyerhaeuser has added the capability to manufacture specialty oriented strand board (OSB) using high-performance MDI adhesives at its OSB plant in Arcadia, La. The mill can now produce Weyerhaeuser Edge Gold floor panels, a subfloor product designed to resist edge swell for smooth, even floors. The MDI capabilities also enable potential production of furniture grade OSB and rimboard. 

Monroe, La.-based LBM buying group Allied Building Stores appointed Dale E. Mercer, 50, as president, effective Jan. 1, 2013.

Mercer will succeed David Stiles, a 16-year veteran of Allied, who will continue to serve as president until the end of the year. Mercer joined ABS, a dealer-owned building materials buying group in October 2008, and most recently has served as its chief operating officer. Prior to joining ABS, Mercer was VP manufacturing for Bancroft Bag at its facility in West Monroe.

A recently released report by IHS Global Insight shows how far away U.S. states are from peak employment and the distance each one must travel to reach pre-recession job levels. According to U.S. regional economist Steven Frable of IHS Global, only four states have been able to reach or surpass their previous employment peaks. All four are beneficiaries of the current energy boom: Alaska, North Dakota, Texas and Louisiana. Some states, though -- notably New York -- are less than 1% away from reaching peak employment.

Hardware Distribution Warehouses (HDW), the Shreveport, La.-based distributor, is holding a five-day “boot camp” training program at its corporate headquarters to introduce younger generations to the hardware industry. Scheduled for July 16 to 20, the program hopes to address the implications of an aging work force by encouraging more young people to become hardware retailers. Attendees will have the opportunity to see how distributors and retail dealers work together, and gain a greater understanding of retail and manufacturing operations.

AZEK Building Products has announced a distribution partnership with Gaiennie Lumber Co. based in Opelousas, La. 

Gaiennie Lumber will now offer the full line of AZEK's  exterior products to its dealer network in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Mississippi and 10 counties in Tennessee.

ENAP, the New Windsor, N.Y.-based LBM co-op, has announced the opening of a sales office in Monroe, La. The new office is part of ENAP’s regional growth strategy as the organization continues to expand its membership base in the South and into the Southwest. ENAP has hired industry veteran Robert Carson as VP business development to direct staff and operations in the region.

Natchez, Miss.-based Central Network Retail Group (CNRG) has added Houma, La.-based Morrison Terrebonne Lumber Center as a new partner.

Doug Gregory, president of Morrison Terrebonne Lumber Center, has also been added to the board of directors at CNRG.

Home Hardware Center is preparing to expand its 18-store footprint in Mississippi and Louisiana, according to the company's owners, who say they are looking to bring acquisition expertise to a new venture called Central Network Retail Group (CNRG).

National pro dealer 84 Lumber is exploring the idea of a construction trades training program in the New Orleans and Baton Rouge, La. markets, according to an article in The Advocate.

An incident at a Louisiana Lowe's store Thursday revealed one of the drawbacks of outdoor merchandising. The New Orleans Times-Picayune reported a motorist crashed into a Lowe's store near Covington, La., Thursday, running over a row of grills.

Molpus Woodlands Group, a timberlands investment management group, has announced the acquisition of 124,521 acres of pine in the states of Virginia, North Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi and Louisiana. Molpus purchased the tract from Rock Creek Capital, which in turn acquired the acreage from International Paper Co.