Login
Join NHLA
Login
Join NHLA

News

Innovation Without Borders: WDE MASPELL and SII Dry Kilns Redefine Thermally Modified Wood

Innovation Without Borders: WDE MASPELL and SII Dry Kilns Redefine Thermally Modified Wood

Imagine if common ash or oak could be transformed into a darker, more durable, and more dimensionally stable material using only heat and steam. This is the promise of thermally...
Read More
Carbon-Conscious Construction: Thermally Modified Hardwood for a Low-Emission Future

Carbon-Conscious Construction: Thermally Modified Hardwood for a Low-Emission Future

The construction industry accounts for nearly 37% of global energy-related CO₂ emissions (UNEP & GlobalABC, 2022). While much of the focus has been on creating energy-efficient building operations, there is...
Read More
Messersmith Manufacturing: Leading the Way in Wood Boiler Systems for the Forest Products Industry

Messersmith Manufacturing: Leading the Way in Wood Boiler Systems for the Forest Products Industry

Messersmith Wood Boilers delivers efficient, reliable wood boiler systems, cogeneration solutions, and material handling systems for the forest products industry, turning wood waste into energy for lumber drying, building heat,...
Read More
LEFT TO RIGHT: Michael Chandler (D&D Hardwood), Quinton Rogers (Missouri Walnut), Roman Matyushchenko (NHLA), and Jim Long (D&D Hardwood) NOT PICTURED: Matthew Yoder and Jason Yoder (both of Yoder Hardwoods)

NHLA ITS 209th Class Graduates at Missouri Walnut

On August 29, 2025, NHLA was proud to celebrate the latest group of graduates from an education session hosted at Missouri Walnut. The program was led by NHLA Instructor Roman...
Read More
Don't Mess with Hardwoods In my life, there have been a handful of shows that didn’t just entertain me—they made me want to be part of the story. “The Dukes of Hazzard” made me want to launch a car over a river and stick the landing like it was nothing. “Miami Vice” had me rolling up the sleeves of a white suit, driving a Ferrari, and chasing down drug dealers with my best friend. “Magnum P.I.”? Same Ferrari, just red this time—and now I’m solving crimes in short shorts with a legendary mustache.

Don’t Mess with Hardwoods

In my life, there have been a handful of shows that didn’t just entertain me—they made me want to be part of the story. “The Dukes of Hazzard” made me...
Read More
NHLA and AHEC Showcase American Hardwoods at Tecnomueble 2025

NHLA and AHEC Showcase American Hardwoods at Tecnomueble 2025

The NHLA’s Chief Marketing Officer, Natalie Thelen, traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico, from August 13–16 to represent the association at the Tecnomueble trade show. Tecnomueble is Mexico’s largest trade show for...
Read More
The global economy is a complex machine. I don’t pretend to know all the factors that make it run, much like modern cars, but I do know it doesn’t take much to break it down. When I was a kid, I used to work on old cars with my dad. Back then, you could tune a carburetor yourself, and there was enough room under the hood to crawl inside if you had to. Behind our barn sat eight or nine broken-down cars, each waiting its turn. We’d haul one out, fix it up, and send it back on the road, always choosing the one that cost the least to repair. Then came my dad’s 1997 Ford F-150, the first with a sloped aero-dynamic hood and a fuel injector. Years later, when it broke down, it never made it behind the barn. When I asked why, Dad shrugged: “Too complicated. Too expensive.” Electronic issues had made repairs out of reach.

Repairing the Market Takes Time and Money

The global economy is a complex machine. I don’t pretend to know all the factors that make it run, much like modern cars, but I do know it doesn’t take...
Read More
I am an NHLA grading rules guy. A graduate of the Inspector Training School, I spent more than eight years grading lumber full-time for our company. I still occasionally grade lumber at our facility to keep my skills honed. I have been a member of the NHL A Rules Committee for 25 years. I even collect old NHLA Rule books, of which I have over 45 different editions dating back to 1911. The grading rules establish the parameters that separate the values of each board for a hardwood lumber producer. When running a sawmill, it is important to be a rules guy.

Industry Innovators

I am an NHLA grading rules guy. A graduate of the Inspector Training School, I spent more than eight years grading lumber full-time for our company. I still occasionally grade...
Read More
Membership Matters: Member Benefits

Membership Matters: Member Benefits

MEMBER BENEFITSAs a member of NHLA, your association investment delivers far more than industry credibility—it opensthe door to meaningful connections, business tools,and exclusive resources. Follow us on our socials:Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/NHLAOfficial/LinkedIn...
Read More
The Hardwood Federation: The Hardwood Industry’s Federal Advocate

The Hardwood Federation: The Hardwood Industry’s Federal Advocate

Welcome to San Antonio! The Hardwood Federation is always excited to be a part of this wonderful event. Congratulations to the Board of Directors, Board President Bucky Pescaglia, Executive Director...
Read More
On the 26th of this month, I will have served 15 years as Chief Inspector of the NHLA. It has been a very challenging and rewarding career and has afforded me opportunities that most can only dream of. International travel and working with industry professionals are the most gratifying parts of my job. Each month, I have written articles to educate and hopefully inspire the industry to keep moving forward and to help all to understand the Rules and other aspects of our industry. This is why we continue to grow our programs and help in any way that we can. One of our newer programs that is showing a lot of success is the Yield Analysis for sawmills. This program is part of a much larger Quality Control initiative that we offer, but it is still underutilized in many sawmills. To encourage participation, we are currently offering Yield Analysis at a 75% discount — making this an excellent time to take advantage of the program. I do realize that when the average person in production hears the acronym “QC,” the first thought is that it is not necessary; we focus on production. Well, production of unsellable or inferior quality is not really production; it is a waste of time and money. Our QC program is designed to ensure that every machine and operator is performing at their best. This approach helps achieve higher yields of sellable material and, therefore, truly increases production. Another issue that has been growing in the industry is the shortage of lumber inspectors. The interest in working in our industry is waning for many reasons that will take years to overcome. As a result, we have worked hard to create new techniques and grow our team to teach and inspire future industry professionals. Inclusive Training for a Bilingual Workforce Our Instructor Training School (ITS) is evolving to meet the needs of today’s workforce. Our instructor, Roman Matyushchenko, has learned to teach in Spanish over the last couple of years so we can better serve the many Spanish-speaking and bilingual professionals in our industry. We now offer in-house classes to train your teams in lumber inspection and other skills, ensuring everyone has equitable access to learning and professional development. We want to help in any way we can through both challenging and prosperous times, as I personally feel that this is the best industry in the world! If you have any questions or are interested in a Yield Analysis or the Inspector Training School, please reach out to me at d.spessert@nhla.com. By DANA SPESSERT, Chief Inspector

Fifteen Years Forward: Strengthening Quality, Training, and Inclusion at NHLA

On the 26th of this month, I will have served 15 years as Chief Inspector of the NHLA. It has been a very challenging and rewarding career and has afforded...
Read More
Helping Mills Find Yield in Challenging Markets For NHLA National Inspector Benji Richards, the most rewarding part of his job is also the simplest: “Helping facilities and employees become more profitable, and sharing my knowledge and experience to help make lumbermen for the future.” One of Benji’s most memorable projects took place at a flooring company. By carefully reviewing operations, he uncovered approximately a 4% increase in yield in their process. That small adjustment translated into roughly $4 million in recovered revenue each year, a reminder of how precision and expertise can make all the difference.

From the Field: Benji Richards

Helping Mills Find Yield in Challenging Markets For NHLA National Inspector Benji Richards, the most rewarding part of his job is also the simplest: “Helping facilities and employees become more...
Read More