News: Page 572

HF Briefs: Propane-Powered Floor Scraper for Sale

A used propane-powered floor scraper is for sale in the Phoenix, Ariz., area. The seller is asking for $20,000. See more information in the HF Classifieds.

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TISE West Event One of Strongest in Recent History, Organizers Say

The International Surface Event 2015 in Las Vegas, Jan. 20–23, saw attendance “comparable” to last year’s event, as well as an increase in the number of architects and designers. Actual attendee numbers were not released.The International Surface Event 2015 was one of the “strongest events in recent history,” according to a statement from the organizers.This year’s show, held Jan. 20–23 at the Mandalay Convention Center in Las Vegas, had a total of 707 exhibiting companies that covered 350,000 square feet of floor space. About 22 percent of the exhibiting companies had never participated in the show before. That indicates growth in the floor covering, tile and stone industries in both the residential and commercial design and construction markets, according to the statement.While attendance was comparable to last year’s event, there was an uptick in the number of architects and designers on the trade show floor. They accounted for close to 7 percent of all registrants.The TISE 2015 education program experienced a double-digit increase in attendance, with more than 25 percent of the total audience registering for sessions during the show.Next year’s event will take place Jan. 20–22 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. It will again be held in conjunction with Design & Construction Week 2016. For more information, visit www.TISEWest.com. The second International Surface Event East will be held Nov. 3–5 at a new location, the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Fla. The education program starts on Nov. 2. For more information, visit www.TISEEast.com.

Lasers From Space to Detect Global Forest Density

It’s hard to report the precise amount of atmospheric carbon forests absorb because scientists don’t yet have a great way to measure forest density. That problem may be solved, soon, from space.A laser-based instrument is being developed for the International Space Station that, once installed in 2018, will beam three infrared lasers at the Earth 16 billion times per year. The light will hit forest floors and canopies, and scientists will calculate density based on the time it takes the light to reflect and travel back to the space station, according to Smithsonian. Scientists will use the device, named the Global Ecosystem Dynamics Investigation (GEDI), to create 3D maps to estimate forest biomass and, ultimately, the amount of atmospheric carbon dioxide that is consumed via photosynthesis.There are limitations, however. The $94 million device may be the most precise satellite sensor to date, but it can only detect density where the space station can point it. That means it will collect data on forests between the latitudes of 50 degrees north and south, or from the U.S.-Canada border to the bottom of Argentina.

Nydree Flooring Expands With Spartan Surfaces on Eastern Seaboard

Nydree Flooring (Forest, Va.) chose Spartan Surfaces to represent its flooring products in Virginia, Washington D.C and Maryland. Spartan Surfaces, based in Maryland, has been representing Nydree in Illinois. “We are thrilled to be selected to represent Nydree in three additional markets,” said Kevin Jablon, owner of Spartan Surfaces, in a statement. “We are dedicated to great products, and Nydree delivers outstanding quality, customer service and design-driven options for our customers.”

Bill Buchanan, Co-Founder of Buchanan Hardwoods, Passes Away at 84

Mohawk 14th in Top 125 Training Organization List

Among Training magazine’s annual Top 125 training organization list is Mohawk Industries (Dallas), in 14th place. Its position makes it the highest ranked flooring and manufacturing organization on the list. Mohawk has ranked in the top 20 nine years straight. It most recently placed fifth in 2014, eighth in 2013 and fourth in 2012. Mohawk’s ranking is due to its training initiatives, including the 20-year-old Mohawk University, according to a statement from the company.“The value of continued education, product knowledge sessions, and installation excellence cannot be overstated,” said Mike Zoellner, vice president of marketing services at Mohawk, in a statement. “Continual learning is the key to success in a highly competitive economy, and Training magazine’s ‘Top 125’ ranking gives retailers total assurance that partnering with Mohawk provides them with industry-leading training.”Other notable companies on the list include Best Buy, Blue Cross, BP, MasterCard, Walgreens and Wells Fargo.The whole list is online at www.TrainingMag.com.

New Selling Point for Wood Floor: Reflectivity, Says Armstrong

Add reflectivity to the laundry list of wood floor selling points. Surfaces that reflect light improve building sustainability, budget and user productivity, according to a white paper issued by Armstrong Floor Products (Lancaster, Pa.). Although daylighting is normally associated with the placement of windows, the white paper describes argues that reflective surfaces, such as natural or light-stained wood floors, make a valuable contribution to the practice.Capturing more daylight means less reliance on carbon-based fuels. With decreasing dependence on carbon-based fuels comes decreased expenditures on generating electricity. More natural light has also been shown to increase academic performance in classrooms, according to the white paper.Reflective surfaces are promising enough that the newest version of LEED rewards high light reflective flooring within the IEQ Lighting Quality Credit.“It is an issue that most facility managers are just beginning to think about,” said Amy Costello, sustainability manager for Armstrong, in a statement. “They realize that the flooring can have an effect on daylighting. It’s not the primary factor in daylighting, but it’s something to consider.”The paper is online here.

Merle B. Smith Opens Second Illinois Showroom, Warehouse and Training Facility

Merle B. Smith Company Inc. (Burr Ridge, Ill.) unveiled its second Illinois location in Elk Grove Village on Feb. 5.The facility will act as a showroom and warehouse, as well as a 3,000-square-foot training center that can be used by clients or industry associations.The new location was built because of a “great customer response” at the company’s first Burr Ridge location, said Brian Quinn, Merle B. Smith’s business manager, in a statement.“The new expansion brings much excitement,” he said. “It will allow us to increase our footprint to better service Chicago area customers more effectively.”

HF Briefs: Job Openings; HPVA Directory Released

A recruiting firm is looking to fill a number of primary wood manufacturing openings. Positions available include production supervisor, distribution manager, nationwide sales representative, lumber inspector and saw filers, among others. For a full list of positions available, see the HF Classifieds.Lachute, Quebec-based Husky/Seasons Flooring is looking for sales representatives to work territories in the United States. See the HF Classifieds for more information.The Hardwood Plywood & Veneer Association released its 2015 membership directory. A digital version of the directory can be accessed online here.N.C. State University will offer a six-course program for construction professionals with no formal education or training in construction engineering to receive a construction management diploma. For more information or to register, go to go.ncsu.edu/construction.

J.J. Haines VP Chaidez Honored as Woman of the Year

The National Association of Professional Women recognized Rosana Chaidez, senior vice president of sales at J.J. Haines & Company (Glen Burnie, Md.), as a 2015 Professional Woman of the Year.Chaidez was honored with the distinction for her business leadership. As senior VP, she heads strategic planning, organizational development, executive leadership development and pricing strategy, among other responsibilities.She is also a member of the company’s executive leadership team, where she has direct impact on the organization’s growth, expansion and profitability.

U.S. Company Allowed to Cultivate Genetically Modified Pine Unregulated

The U.S. government will not regulate a bio company’s cultivation of genetically modified loblolly pine trees.The decision was announced in a letter, dated August 2014, and only recently publicized by a scientist at the Center for Food Safety. Environmental groups warn that the company, ArborGen, will be able to plant modified loblolly pine without government oversight or public comment, according to Intercontinentalcry.org.ArborGen’s previous request to commercialize a modified eucalyptus tree fell under the regulatory umbrella of the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service, part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The company received public comments at a rate of 10,000 to one opposing its request, according to Intercontinentalcry.org. Why won’t APHIS regulate ArborGen’s genetically modified loblolly pine? Because the modification method the company chose does not utilize what APHIS calls a “plant pest.”Some modifications use genes from plant pests or use plant pests to inject genes into the organism to be modified. For example, a group of researchers at SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry are inserting genetic material into American chestnuts via a bacteria that infects plants. The loblolly pine will be modified using genes from other plant species, such as the Monterey pine and American sweetgum, neither of which are classified by APHIS as a plant pest. The genes will be introduced to the loblolly pine using the biolistics method, which uses a gene gun to inject cells with genetic information.The prospect of the unregulated cultivation of a genetically modified organism has anti-GMO groups alarmed.“If these [genetically eningeered] loblolly pines are released on a large scale in the U.S., there will be no way to stop them from cross-contaminating native loblolly pines,” biologist Rachel Smolker of Biofuelwatch told Intercontinentalcry.org. “This is deliberate, irreversible and completely irresponsible contamination of the environment with unknown and possibly devastating consequences.”

More than 150 Chinese Nationals Arrested for Illegal Logging in Myanmar

A large number of Chinese citizens were arrested in Myanmar for illegal logging, according to Mongabay.com.The 155 Chinese nationals were arrested in Kachin State, which is the northernmost state in Myanmar and bordered by China to the north and east. This is the second large-scale arrest of the new year. In January, 112 foreign nationals and 20 Myanmar citizens were arrested for illegal logging. Authorities also seized 436 logging trucks, 14 pickup trucks loaded with logs, stimulant drugs, raw opium and Chinese currency, according to Voanews.com.Illegal logging is a big issue in the country. An analysis published last year by the Environmental Investigative Agency reported that 72 percent of logs exported from Myanmar between 2000 and 2013 were illegally harvested.

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