Issue Date:5/17/2010
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Issue Date:5/17/2010
Armstrong Raises Solid Wood Prices Again Armstrong World Industries (Lancaster, Pa.) will raise the price of its solid hardwood flooring products 6 percent with shipments July 1; the company last raised its solid flooring prices 5 to 7 percent April 1. "Since the announcement of our last price modification, lumber and energy prices have continued to rise," Daniel Call, vice president, wood product management at Armstrong, said in a statement. "Early signs of a recovery in housing are putting continued volume pressures on sawmills. The cost impact on solid hardwood flooring is clearly visible through the price on commodities such as unfinished strip, which has increased 20 percent in the last 60 days."
NWFA Educates Installers on Subfloor Prep The NWFA held a Subfloor Prep & Solid Glue Down on Concrete School May 12-14; 22 students attended the sold-out school. Led by NWFA's Frank Kroupa, volunteer instructors included: Kevin Mullany (Benchmark Wood Floors Inc.), Zachary Clavin (Bona US), Phil Pitts and Dayle Moore (Bostik Inc.), Bob Moffett (Ceno Group), Roger Barker (Fortifiber Building Systems Group), Cort Dunlap (Hardwood Inspections), Brent Stoller (ISC Surfaces), Bob Humphreys (Majestic Wood Floors Inc.), Steve Lima (MAPEI Corporation), and Nick Motto (Motto's Flooring).
Manufacturer News Missouri Hardwood Flooring Company (Birch Tree, Mo.) has been bought by Hardwoods of Missouri LLC (Birch Tree, Mo.). The late Edward Kercher founded the former company in 1911; it has a rich history, including surviving the Great Depression and ceasing flooring production to make tent poles during World War II. The company's sale follows Missouri Hardwood Flooring Company Owner Rick Kercher's desire to retire after many years in the industry. For more information, contact Jeff Davis at 636/519-0400 or [email protected].
Glitsa American (Seattle) has named BNB Solutions (Liberty, N.C.) its manufacturer representative in Maryland, Delaware, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. BNB specializes in servicing the flooring industry and is led by Bruce Boulden. For more information, contact Boulden at 336/795-0032 or [email protected].
Diversified Industries Inc. has moved to a new 115,00-square-foot facility in Swedesboro, N.J. The company makes foam products, including The Floor Muffler underlayment.
CDCLaure's (Tulsa, Okla.) PB-550 HEPA Vacuum was given the Most Innovative Product Award at World of Concrete 2010. The vacuum generates airflow of 124 cubic feet per minute.
Distributor News DuChateau Floors (San Diego) has named the following distributors and their areas served: Patriot Flooring Supply Inc. (Wilmington, Mass.), New England; All State Flooring Distributors (Fairfield, N.J.), metropolitan New York and northern New Jersey; Derr Flooring (Willow Grove, Pa.), New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, West Virginia, Virginia and District of Columbia; Dealer Supply South (Durham, N.C.), North Carolina and South Carolina; and Wheeler Group, a Division of J.J. Haines Company (Orlando, Fla.), Florida and Georgia.
Mastercraft Flooring Distributors (Opa Locka, Fla.) has been named a distributor for Q.E.P. Co. Inc.'s (Boca Raton, Fla.) Harris Wood (Johnson City, Tenn.) brand in Florida. Mastercraft will service Harris from its Florida warehouses in Miami and Orlando. Q.E.P. acquired Harris Wood when it purchased assets of Arborcraft LLC in February.
Importer News Annas Bambugolv (Halmstad, Sweden) is seeking vendors who want to sell their products in Europe. Interested parties should contact Anna Sekulic at [email protected].
People News Owens Flooring by Colonial Craft (Shawano, Wis.) has named Mike Luccasen East Coast sales manager. Luccasen has over 20 years of manufacturing sales experience; for the last 13 years he was with Robbins Flooring. Also, Jeff Smith has been named general manager of the Owens Flooring by Colonial Craft and Colonial Craft by Homeshield (Luck, Wis.) facilities. Smith has been with Quanex, the parent company of Owens Flooring by Colonial Craft and Colonial Craft by Homeshield, since 2000. He has served as operations manager of Colonial Craft by Homeshield's Luck, Wis., and Moundsview, Minn., locations, along with other various management positions; Smith has 25 years' experience in the wood industry.
Leitz Tooling Systems (Grand Rapids, Mich.) has named Dan Murphy vice president of sales for the United States and Canada. Murphy brings with him more than 12 years of woodworking machinery and abrasives experience.
Bona US (Aurora, Colo.) has named Mike Summers territory manager, sport and professional sales; Summers will concentrate his efforts in Washington, Oregon, California, Nevada and Arizona, though he will not be limited to those states. Summers is a third-generation wood flooring contractor, and he most recently worked at UFloor Systems as Northwest regional manager.
Basic Coatings (Toldeo, Ohio) has named Tony Ziola Midwest sales representative. Ziola is responsible for day-to-day customer contact, providing training to distributors and contractors, and performing demonstrations of Basic products. Prior to joining Basic, Ziola worked with UA Floors, Bona US and Powernail.
By the Numbers
On the Web HomerWood Hardwood Flooring Company (Titusville, Pa.) has launched a new Web site at www.homerwood.com. Visitors can search products by color, surface treatment or collection.Installers Warehouse (Rochester, N.Y.) has launched a new Web site at www.iwhardwood.com.
In Memoriam David Dwight Anderson, a former field representative for Powernail Company, passed away April 21 in Houston. He was 53. Anderson's passion in life was beautiful wood, and he had a long career in the wood flooring industry; he also was an NWFACP-certified inspector. When he wasn't crafting wood floors, he enjoyed being outdoors and wade fishing. He is survived by his wife Diane Blais Anderson; his mother, Florence Fien; brother James Anderson; and sister Marylyn Potega.
Mark Your Calendar Long Floor (Richmond, Va.) will hose a Lunch 'n' Learn June 4 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 2801 Hermitage Road, Richmond, Va. This free event will highlight the latest products from Clarke American Sanders and Dura Seal; prizes will be awarded. For more information, call Mike Carroll at 804/353-4419.
NWFA Member Services NWFA members can receive a variety of affordable, low-cost health insurance programs from Mass Marketing Insurance Consultants. Choose from PPOs, HMOs and HSAs providing prescription drug coverage, deductible options, and office visit co-pays, as well as optional maternity, dental, life and AD&D coverage. Individual and group plans are available. For more details, contact Edwin Sterczek with Mass Marketing Insurance Consultants at 800/349-1039, 708/349-3900, or [email protected].