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Norboard Industries answers builders’ needs with structural OSB panels that make sense. HP: Please give a detailed description of your company and its history. Doug McNeill, Marketing Manager: Norbord Inc. is an international producer of wood-based panels with assets of $1.3 billion. Based in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Norbord boasts 2,700 employees, 16 plant locations in the United States, Europe and Canada, and is one of the world’s largest producers of oriented strand board (OSB). In addition to OSB, Norbord manufactures particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF), hardwood plywood, I-joists and related value-added products. The company is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (NBD:TSX). Briefly, some of the company’s history includes: in 1988 it acquired the Inverness OSB plant, the United Kingdom’s first OSB operation; in 1989 it acquired Normick Perron sawmills and panel mills in northern Quebec and Ontario; it completed construction on a new greenfield OSB plant in Guntown, MS, in 1995, closely followed by a new OSB mill at La Sarre, Quebec; in 2000 it opened an OSB plant in Joanna, SC, and acquired Juniper I-joist plant in New Brunswick, Canada; it opened the Barton OSB plant at Huguley, AL, in 2001; and in 2002 acquired OSB mills in Cordele, GA, and Jefferson and Nacogdoches, TX; in 2004 the company was renamed Norbord Inc. (NBD); and last year it announced expansion of the OSB mill at Cordele, GA. HP: What hurricane protection products did you handle initially? What products do you handle today? McNeill: OSB is a structural panel, which offers superior strength in high-wind areas compared to other non-structural products. As one of the largest producers of OSB in the world, Norbord has continually looked for ways to improve and enhance its core business product line. Norbord’s innovative product, Windstorm, is an extension of the OSB line and is the company’s premier hurricane protection product. Windstorm allows builders to meet uplift and shear values in high-wind areas while removing many metal straps and connectors. HP: What one product or line stands out above the rest? McNeill: Winstorm is Norbord’s premier hurricane protection product. Using its advanced continuous press technology, Norbord is able to create OSB panels greater in length than traditional 4- x 8-foot panels produced from multi-opening presses (which have historically restricted their size). The lengthier Windstorm panel is cut to match the height of the wall, resulting in a precise, end-trimmed panel that spans from the top of the top plate to the bottom of the bottom plate in one continuous piece, eliminating the need for the additional blocking, filler strips and hardware. Windstorm has been readily accepted in high-wind markets from Texas to Florida, the Mid-Atlantic and New England. Windstorm meets or exceeds codes such as SSTD-10 while reducing the builder costs on material, waste and labor. HP: Is your business computerized? Do you have a company Web site, and how is it used to communicate with customers? McNeill: Norbord’s business is highly computerized from our testing reports and our Web site to the mills and plants located across the United States, Europe and Canada. Some of the highlights include our Windstorm Web site (www.windstorm osb.com), which features special sections for every kind of user—builders, architects and engineers. Our Windstorm Wall Capacity Calculator, a free online tool (also on the Windstorm Web site), generates calculations for high-wind homebuilding using Windstorm, saving engineers and designers valuable time and effort. Also, Norbord’s custom publication, Impact, provides news, solutions and ideas for builders, engineers and architects in high-wind areas. In addition to hard copy distribution, e-mail subscriptions are available, and the publication also can be downloaded from the Windstorm Web site. HP: What are some of the key factors involved in your growth and success? McNeill: Builders want and need to reduce costs, build faster, reduce waste and meet code. Windstorm answers those needs perfectly. Another factor that has been helpful is that builders are familiar with OSB, therefore the learning curve is short and the adjustment to using the Windstorm method is virtually seamless. In addition, more than 57 percent of first floors in new homes today are nine-feet or higher, standard 4- x 8-foot panels don’t work efficiently. Windstorm just makes good sense. HP: What are your strengths in the marketplace? McNeill: Norbord’s strengths include mill capacity in the right places, great service and distribution channels. HP: What distinguishes you from the competition? McNeill: Norbord is the second-largest OSB producer in the world, the largest OSB producer in the Southeast United States. Large, efficient and thoroughly modern mills are located across the globe, and production is positioned very close to the market to ensure demand and shipping requirements are met. In addition, OSB is Norbord’s core product, which allows the company to continually improve and enhance its product offerings. HP: What other products, if any, do you offer? McNeill: Norbord offers a complete line of OSB products. In addition to Windstorm the line includes: Stabledge T&G premium flooring; TallWall; and Solar Board Radiant Barrier sheathing. Norbord also produces medium density fiberboard, hardwood plywood and I-joists. Norbord Industries, Inc. 1 Toronto St., Ste. 600 Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5C 2W4 (416) 365-0700 fax: (416) 777-4415 www.norboard.com |
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