May 25, 2020 — In the past three weeks we have seen Western Plywood markets building and coming alive, after about a ten week slumber. Markets are not crazy, mind you, but steady. For obvious reasons stemming from our global lockdown, all commodity markets have...
May 12, 2020 — The industries that keep our society functioning often get little attention until crises like COVID-19 dramatically affect our daily lives. Two of those industries which are not often associated with each other are electricity production and solid waste management. The strong...
May 8, 2020 — We are now in the middle of a one-week shutdown as we match our plywood production levels to the sales that are available in the marketplace. COVID- 19 and the subsequent shutdown of economies around the world have wreaked havoc on...
April 27, 2020 — The past 6 to 8 weeks has been like nothing any of us have ever experienced. And that is surely an understatement. The Covid-19 outbreak and its spread has created chaos, illness, and deaths to thousands. There have been untold disruptions...
April 20, 2020 — It’s finally here. We can now cut a 24” thick piece of Mass Plywood Panel. The MPP beam and column processing line opens up opportunities in MPP and construction projects. It has already spun up some innovative product ideas we are...
April 13, 2020 — What a difference a month makes. Housing data released for February showed that housing starts hit 1.60 million units, a 39% increase from last year. Demand for shelter was improving dramatically and so was pressure on the existing housing inventory. February...
April 10, 2020 — At Freres Lumber, we are continuing wood products manufacturing during COVID-19, while following CDC guidelines for the workplace and new company policies. While in many industries, people are currently staying at home, schooling and working remotely, the essential business of plywood...
March 23, 2020 — It goes without saying that the Coronavirus pandemic casts a huge shadow over everything imaginable. It has taken center stage for everyone personally and in business. COVID-19 has created uncertainty in lumber and panel markets as well, as buyers have been...
March 16, 2020 — Where does the name F10/F16 come from? Mass Plywood Panel grades are named after the company that created MPP, Freres (F) Lumber Company. F16 and F10-rated panels are considered structural wood products just like any glulam beam or structurally rated plywood....
March 9, 2020 — 2020 is shaping up much better than 2019, cross your fingers that it continues! Recent improvements in plywood markets have continued. Prices began the year at $323 for our bench-mark product ½” 4-ply CDX and is now $462, a 43% increase...