Success Stories
Results of Technical Assistance Projects:
- 9Wood:
- Screw withdrawal - this project involved measuring screw pullout strength in particleboard. Screws were inserted into particleboard using a variety of screw gun clutch settings, depths of insertion, and with and without pilot holes. Results showed that over-torqueing screws significantly reduces holding strength. This project has allowed 9Wood to create an industry leading quality control system using a new torque meter that calibrates drill gun settings very accurately in inch-pounds of torque.
- Moisture meter calibration - in-progress
- Developing balanced veneer constructions - in-progress
- Collins Companies:
- Determination of mechanical and physical properties of Pacific albus (hybrid poplar) - test data were used to develop a ‘spec sheet’ for the species used in market development efforts.
- Newood:
- Seismic testing of wood wine racks - the firm was interested in marketing wood wine racks with improved characteristics to Southern California retailers. Following testing of their new shelf design, Newood is now using the results of the testing in their marketing literature.
- Report on mechanical properties of second growth hemlock - "My efforts to put together a contract were greatly enhanced through the report you provided... [it] absolutely made a difference in our Customer's decision to purchase USA produced Lumber. We are a firm believer in providing our trading partners with honest and verified answers and that we have at our access an Entity such As Oregon State University, where sourcing detailed answers in reply to queries of this magnitude and significance, is an absolute essential vehicle to assist in Overseas Trading. ...the assistance we find with your information and resources, plays a major role in our efforts to compete on a world market scale."
- Mechanical testing of black cottonwood - results enabled the sponsor company to obtain a tenfold increase in sales of the species.
- Market assessment to evaluate hardwood plywood industry professionals’ acceptance of plantation-grown black walnut - The sponsor company stated,
“We have used your report internally, in order to show investors and potential investors that plantation grown black walnut can be as desirable as wild black walnut. This is an important issue for us, since our business consists of growing black walnut in clonal plantings.”
Comments from users of the Oregon Forest Industry Directory:
- "This directory has served us so well I can not even to begin to explain all the contacts we have received. For example, private landowners wanting to log their hardwood forest in our area (three sales)… For log procurement this has been a great thing"
- "I've been listed in the directory for quite sometime now and have experienced at least a 15% increase in business due to the directory. I have picked up numerous contracts/sales that I would not have received had I not been listed with the directory."
- "I received a 'hit' today on my listing. [The person] noticed that I had some Oregon white oak and is interested in as many as 3 log truck loads. He is willing to pay $400 per thousand and he will pick them up on the landing plus pay the haul. Also, he has customers for good clear noble fir lumber for use in musical instrument sound boards."
