The body of scientists who have toiled at the Forest Products Laboratory (FPL) in Madison, Wis., is the wood products industry's workhorse. For 101 years they have been researching ways to increase the sustainability and product mix of the United States' forests, undoubtedly helping lead the way to a healthier wood flooring industry. In John Koning Jr.'s new book "Forest Products Laboratory, 1910-2010: Celebrating a Century of Accomplishments," the researches are finally given some credit.
The Wisconsin State Journal's Doug Moe recently opined about the book and his memories of the FPL. He writes, "… The FPL has played a role in such diverse and interesting tales as the Lindbergh baby kidnapping; Howard Hughes' quixotic plan to build a flying boat; and, more recently, the search for the cause of a rash of broken bats in Major League Baseball."
The book contains concise summaries of 65 of the lab's most significant achievements, a comparison of wood utilization in 1910 and 2010, and examples of the financial impact of the wood products industry on U.S. job creation, among other highlights. "Scientists, manufacturers, policymakers, and other experts will find it an extraordinary reference and history of significant accomplishments in forest products research," according to an overview on Amazon.com. "The curious browser will find this inviting, colorful book full of surprising and remarkable information about the many ways that wood products affect daily life." The book can be purchased here.
