Galaxy's Jim Tasikas Dies at 65
"Jim leaves behind a legacy of dedication and excellence in the industry. He taught his family well, and we are proud to carry on the Galaxy tradition in the floor sanding industry," the family said in a statement. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations be made to the Sick Kids Foundation, Alzheimer Research Foundation or to the Council of Canadians. Condolence messages for the family may be left here. For more information with regards to the visitation and the funeral service, go to www.galaxymachines.com and click on "Press."
Flooring Installer Stung by Illegal Immigration
The American consumer's addiction to cheap labor and products is to blame for the influx of illegal immigrants who undercut building contractors in the U.S., according to a story from The Orange County Register. Scott Powelson, a high school graduate who was a professional flooring installer for 30 years in Southern California, told the newspaper that for most of his career-spanning intermittent economic booms-there was always enough work to go around even though the number of flooring dealers using illegal immigrants was rising. However, during the latest economic bust, he threw in the towel and got out of the flooring business because he wouldn't work for the reduced wages he says the illegal workers subject themselves to; he even likens the low wages for which illegal immigrants work to slavery. These days Powelson spends his time working with an immigration reform coalition.
Illegal Lumber Seized at Philippine Mayor's House
Underlying the difficulties anti-illegal logging efforts face in some regions of the world, 1,000 board feet of illegally sawn lumber and a sawmill were found on the front lawn of a Philippine mayor whose house is under construction, according to the Philippine Daily Inquirer. On Wednesday evening personnel in the country's Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) tailed a dump truck containing the lumber to a home owned by Bagac Mayor Ramil del Rosario. The driver of the dump truck escaped, and the mayor says his workers were just trying to show the fruits of what was actually a provincial anti-illegal-logging operation. The overwhelming evidence, however, points to a dirty politician.
2010 Bad Year for Illegal Loggers
Last year brought "encouraging news" on both ends of the supply chain in the battle against illegal logging, according to the World Resources Institute (WRI) (Washington, D.C.), an environmental think tank. To make its point, the group pointed out a July 2010 report from the Chatham House that said illegal logging fell by 50-75 percent during the past decade in Indonesia, Cameroon, and Brazil's Amazon region; the group attributed this feat to better law enforcement, improved forest monitoring and increased media attention. WRI also noted that efforts in wood-consuming countries are serving to curtail illegal logging; in 2008 U.S. lawmakers amended the Lacey Act in order to fight illegal logging abroad, and European Union (EU) lawmakers approved a similar measure in 2010.
Naturally Curved Flooring to Debut at Domotex
Bolefloor (Amsterdam, Netherlands) will debut an industry-first at Domotex-Hanover. Its eponymous flooring line, which will be available by April 2011 in Europe, is made with industrially manufactured naturally curved lengths. The company says this look has been limited to small circles-a "few dedicated craftsmen"-until now. According to a press release, Bolefloor gets its soft lines from a scanning system, custom-made algorithms that optimize the cut, and a floor surface design system developed by four private companies and Estonia's Institute of Cybernetics at Tallinn University of Technology. Bolefloor says its product is suitable for both residential and public spaces. Oak Bolefloor comes in three grades (Select, Natural and Rustic), is 15-30 centimeters wide and 21 millimeters thick; the company says other species, and a 13-millimeter-thick offering, will be available by summer 2011. The tongue-and-groove flooring is available unfinished or prefinished with oil by WoCa Denmark. Bolefloor stresses the uniqueness of its product, writing, "It is literally impossible for a neighbor to have the same floor." For more information, visit www.bolefloor.com. Domotex-Hannover will take place Jan. 15-18.
FLR Sanders Acquires FCI Floors
Sports flooring firm FLR Sanders Inc. (Princeton, Minn.) has acquired FCI Floors (Altoona, Iowa) for an undisclosed amount. Former FCI Floors owner Mike Franks will join the FLR Sanders management team as a senior member, according to a press release from FLR's flooring supplier, Aacer Flooring (Peshtigo, Wis.).
NWFA Raised Dues Jan. 1
In an effort to continue to offer its varied programs and services, and to balance its budget, the NWFA increased dues for all members Jan. 1 to $425. This marks just the second time the association has increased its dues during its 25-year history; in 2003 dues were raised from $375 (the cost established in 1985 when the NWFA was first formed) to $395. Member companies invoiced prior to Jan. 1 will not be affected by the increase. For more information, call 800/422-4556 (U.S. and Canada) or 636/519-9663 (local and international) or e-mail [email protected].
Manufacturer News
Wood Pro Inc. will relocate its Salem, N.H., warehouse on Jan. 10 to 7A Raymond Ave., Salem, NH 03079. The new location is just one mile east from the warehouse's current location. The branch's phone number (800/685-8585) and fax number (603/894-0157) will not change.
Distributor News
BKB Flooring USA (Chatham, N.J.), the exclusive importer for FSC-certified prefinished engineered wood flooring from BKB Hevea Flooring Products (Malaysia), is seeking U.S. distributors. BKB's European-style 3-ply wood flooring is available with oil or polyurethane finish. BKB Flooring USA is managed by David S. Numark and Richard G. Svorec, a duo with more than 35 years of experience. The importer can be reached at [email protected], 973/507-9900 (phone), 973/507-9904 (fax) or 110 Summit Ave., Chatham, NJ 07928. BKB Flooring USA is a wholly owned subsidiary of NGS Flooring Distributors LLC.
By the Numbers
November Construction Spending Crept Upward
Spending on private construction was at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of $491.8 billion in November, 0.3 percent above the revised October estimate of $490.5 billion, according to the U.S. Commerce Department. Residential construction was at an annual rate of $235.7 billion, or 0.7 percent above the revised October estimate of $234.1 billion. Overall, construction spending increased 0.4 percent in November, from $806.7 billion in October to $810.2 billion. Even though November was the third consecutive month construction spending increased overall, it is 10.6 percent below the 11-month mark of $843.1 billion set in 2009; construction spending through 11 months in 2010 was at a rate of $753.9 billion. As recently as August, building activity was at its lowest level in a decade.
Mark Your Calendar
The 2011 International Builders' Show will be held Jan. 12-15 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. This is the housing industry's largest annual trade show and exhibition and is affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB). It will feature new designs, technologies and products for all segments of the building industryFor more information, visit www.buildersshow.com or call 202/266-8111.
Job Watch
The Philadelphia Floor Store (Conshohocken, Pa.) is seeking both a sales manager and an e-commerce professional as the company experiences growth and prepares to launch a website. The company expects to fill the sales manager position by Feb. 21. Qualified candidates can send their information to [email protected].
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This Week on the HF Blogs & Forum
Green Blog: Elizabeth shares green install tips and tricks.
Inspector Blog: A contractor "buys" a problem that wasn't his fault to start with.
HF Forum: Contractors dish about funny job site stories.
NWFA Member Services
The deadline for the NWFA's 2011 Wood Floor of the Year Contest is today. This year's contest includes 10 categories, featuring both hand-cut and CNC/laser cut installations. Entries are limited to three per company, with no entry fee. Each entry must include the entry form, one 8" x 10" color photograph, and a digital copy of the same photograph on CD. Complete rules and entry forms are available under the "2011 Wood Floor of the Year" link at click here.
