The U.S. glulam beam and lamstock market and implications for Alaska lumber.

Abstract

Roos, Joseph A.; Brackley, Allen M.; Sasatani, Daisuke. 2009. The U.S. glulam beam and lamstock market and implications for Alaska lumber. Gen. Tech. Rep. PNW-GTR-796. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station. 19 p. In this study, glulam beam manufacturers in the United States and Canada were surveyed regarding their lamstock usage and glulam beam distribution channels. The respondents were divided into three subsets to measure regional comparisons: U.S. West, U.S. Central and South, and Canada. They were further divided into subsets based on annual sales figures. The research showed that the three main species used for lamstock lumber were Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco) in the U.S. West, southern yellow pine (Pinus palustris Mill.) in the U.S. Central and South, and spruce-pine-fir in Canada. Of all these species, southern yellow pine appears to be increasing its market share in both the treated and untreated categories. Of the companies surveyed, 42.9 percent indicated their usage of untreated southern yellow pine had increased, and 23.8 percent indicated their usage of treated southern yellow pine had increased. The importance of various lamstock attributes was also examined, and gluability was found to be the most important. Overall, manufacturers are using visually graded material as opposed to machine-stress-rated products. Distribution channels were also examined, and the results showed that larger companies tend to sell their glulam beams through building materials distributors and smaller companies sell more directly to builders. For the Alaska forest products industry, this research shows the feasibility of expanding the market for lamstock made from Alaska species by gaining a better understanding of the established glulam manufacturing industry. Alaska yellow-cedar is already being used as lamstock to manufacture glulam beams for exterior weatherexposed applications. A strong marketing campaign could increase the acceptance of these species in the glulam manufacturing market.