May 2023 Connections

EWTA Connections EWTA and EWTA News
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EWTA NEWS
Highlighting news from EWTA and APA members, the association and the engineered wood industry as a whole.

May 2023
 
APA Annual Meeting and EWTA Info Fair Registration Open
It’s time to register! Details were recently sent to APA and EWTA members announcing the launch of a new APA-EWTA Events website. The site provides Annual Meeting and Info Fair details with registration links to attend and sponsor. We look forward to connecting with members on Oct. 14-17, 2023, at the JW Marriott Desert Springs Resort and Spa in Palm Desert, California. Contact: Kim Sivertsen and LaDauna Wilson.

Info Fair Sponsorship Opportunities
Four sponsorship levels are available to EWTA members – Diamond; Platinum; Gold and Silver, with additional sporting event sponsorships for golf and tennis. There are several new sponsorship opportunities this year, such as sponsoring a speaker at the Safety Workshop or one of the holes at the golf tournament. Check out all the options on the events website or contact Events Coordinator Emily Houg.

Challenging Outlook for 2023-2024
The tightening of monetary policy by the Federal Reserve is expected to continue in 2023, which will keep the rate on a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage in the 6-7% range through the year. This means the affordability challenge will remain in place through the year and helps explain why a record percentage of people surveyed by Fannie Mae say it is a bad time to buy a home. Policy makers at the Federal Reserve may begin to ease credit conditions in 2024 if they are convinced that inflation will be sustainable at 2%. Therefore, single-family starts are projected to run in the 775,000–825,000 range in 2023 and 2024, down from 1 million units in 2022. The increase in interest rates will also lead to multifamily starts to also be down compared to 2022. In addition, there is a record number of multifamily units under construction, raising concerns about prospective returns on apartment investments. Multifamily starts are projected to fall to 500,000 units in 2023, down from 555,000 in 2022. Other end-use markets will be softer than in 2022. For example, recreational vehicle production is forecast to run in the 300,000–350,000 unit range in 2023 and 2024, down from 493,000 in 2022. The outlook for the end-use markets translates into lower production of structural panels and engineered wood products in 2023 and 2024 compared to 2022.

Call for Entries:
EWTA 2023 Innovation of the Year
 
The Innovation of the Year Award recognizes a company providing new technology, product, or service that has been shown to demonstrably reduce production costs, increase productivity, improve product quality or in some other way provide a bottom-line benefit to APA members.

As an EWTA member, do you have one or more new and original items or services that are in field use and producing positive results? If so, consider submitting your entry for the EWTA 2023 Innovation of the Year Award!

Visit EWTA Supplier Awards Program for additional information and examples of past winners.
Deadline is September 1.

Spring 2023 Engineered Wood Journal Coming Soon
 
The spring edition of the Engineered Wood Journal will be available as a digital e-magazine in late May. Topics include:
  • The role of engineered wood in sustainable structures
  • The importance of updating wood marking systems
  • The potential of machine learning for the engineered panel industry
  • Factors contributing to the 2023 housing industry outlook
  • EWTA’s annual 2023 Business Outlook
  • Supplier of the Year and Innovation of the Year award winners
  • 2023 Membership directory
  • Industry, Association and Member news
A link to the published magazine will be distributed to all members. If you would like to receive the magazine, send your name, company and e-mail address to ewta@apawood.org.

EWTA Member News
CON-VEY Announces New Vice President Role
 
Con-Vey LLC, North America's leading manufacturer of automated material handling equipment for engineered wood products, is pleased to announce the promotion of Jeremy Goebel to Vice President. With over 10 years of experience at Con-Vey, Jeremy brings a wealth of industry knowledge and leadership to his new role.

Matthews Marking Systems Announces new Wood Products Industry Leader
 
Matthews Marking Systems has announced that Bill Ashley, key accounts manager, is stepping in as the go-to advocate and advisor for wood marking solutions at the company. He brings over five years of experience with Matthews supporting EWTA members and the wood products industry. Ashley takes over for his former mentor Donna Meade who recently retired after a 40-year run from her role as strategic initiatives manager at Matthews.

IMEAS, Inc. Moves to New Facility
 
IMEAS, Inc. recently completed a move to a new and larger facility in Tyrone, GA. The new space accommodates company growth, providing increased office and warehouse space. The new address is 1415 Senoia Road, Suite, Tyrone, GA 30290. The main office phone number, 678 364-1900, emails and other phone numbers remain current.


Thank you Info Fair Sponsors
 
Info Fair wouldn't happen without the support of EWTA members and sponsors. Following are the companies who have contributed as Diamond and Gold sponsors at the 2022 event. Links to company information is available on the EWTA website. Plus, don't miss the recently added sponsor videos. 

> Check it out!

2022 Diamond Sponsors
2022 Diamond Sponsors


2022 Gold Sponsors
2022 Gold Sponsors


 
Share Your Company News
EWTA’s Connections newsletter, published electronically every other month, welcomes news from its members. News suitable for publication in upcoming issues includes press releases about new hires, new products, company news or awards won. Please send your information or direct questions to LaDauna Wilson.

 

RESOURCES
 
 

 
 
Engineered Wood Technology Association
 
About EWTA
 
The Engineered Wood Technology Association is a nonprofit trade association of suppliers to the North American engineered wood products industry.
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APA - The Engineered Wood Association
 
About APA
 
APA – The Engineered Wood Association works with its members to create structural wood products of exceptional strength, versatility and reliability.
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APA Resource Library
 
Resource Library
 
APA has more than 600 titles providing detailed technical information for architects, builders, code officials, engineers, specifiers and others in the trade.
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