News
| Limington Lumber Takes Eastern White Pine Graders Competition | 2010-11-01 |
The 7th Annual Eastern White Pine Graders Competition was hosted by Lavalley Lumber Company (New England Building Materials) on October 16 at their Sanford, Maine facility. Eight mills located in Maine and New Hampshire were represented by 42 graders at the event. The rules of the competition: Grade 50 stationary boards of random width and length within a 5-minute time limit, based upon NELMA’s Eastern White Pine grades of C Select, D Select, Finish, Premium, Standard, and Industrial. The individual competition was closely contested with only 4 points separating the top 8 finishers. Coming out on top as the 2010 Eastern White Pine grader champion was Brian Ward of Limington Lumber. Second place went to Paul Angelone of Madison Lumber Mill and third place to Nate Edwards of Hancock Lumber’s Ryefield mill. Finishing fourth through eight place: Wilber Reynolds of Hancock Lumber’s Pittsfield mill, Matt Chesley of DiPrizio Pine Sales, Lonnie Kollander of Limington Lumber, Mike Rafuse of Irving Forest Products, and Paul Carpenter of Lavalley Lumber (New England Building Materials). More than $1,000 in cash prizes were distributed to this year’s top eight winners. (See photos from the competition below) The final results for the team championship was as close as the individual event, with only 3 points separating the top three teams. Limington Lumber won their first team championship, outpointing Hancock Lumber’s Ryefield mill, 70 to 68. The team from Hancock Lumber’s Pittsfield mill finished third with 67 points. “These NELMA-sponsored grader competitions are the only events of their kind in New England that bring lumber graders together to showcase their skills and learn more about their chosen profession in an informal, enjoyable setting”, according to Marc Moore, the Association’s Director of Inspection Services. “The educational and group camaraderie aspects of the competitions are beneficial to the participants and to the mills that employ them, in addition to the Association’s inspection staff that works directly with these individuals on a regular basis.” NELMA wishes to express its appreciation to everyone at Lavalley Lumber (New England Building Materials) for their hospitality as this year’s host mill for the competition.
Brian Ward Paul Angelone Nate Edwards
Marc Moore, NELMA's Director of Inspection Services, with Grader Participant
Smiling Don Pendergast, NELMA's Lumber Program Coordinator, reviewing results | |
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Eastern White Pine VS. Radiata Pine. Learn about these two species in a side by side comparison. Who will be victorious?
Founded in 1933, the Northeastern Lumber Manufacturer's Association (NELMA) is one of seven lumber rules writing agencies in the U.S. accredited by the American Lumber Standard Committee (ALSC) to write grade rules that are certified as conforming to the American Softwood Lumber Standard PS20. NELMA is the official author and administrator of the grading rules for Eastern White Pine, in particular.
In addition to the quality control inspection audits we conduct at lumber manufacturers to ensure that on-grade Eastern White Pine products are meeting the needs of consumers, NELMA develops and distributes an array of technical information and unique promotional materials via our member-driven marketing program. We encourage you to browse through the pages of this website and discover why Eastern White Pine is the very best choice when wood is considered, both environmentally sustainable and application versatile.
