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Virginia Tech

Wood-based material use in the United States pallet and container industry

Abstract

dc:description.abstract

A questionnaire was sent to 2,111 U.S. pallet and container manufacturers to (1) estimate the total volume of hardwood lumber, softwood lumber, and wood-based panels used by the industry in 1991, (2) estimate lumber use by species category within the industry, and (3) predict shifts in the volumes of wood-based materials used by the U.S. pallet and container industry. Data from 656 pallet and container manufacturers were analyzed and used to estimate total industry use of the wood materials. Total 1991 hardwood lumber and cant use was estimated to be over 3.8 billion board feet and consumption was expected to increase 13% by 1993. Softwood lumber and cant consumption in 1991 was estimated to be over 1.8 billion board feet and an increase of 7% was expected by 1993. Softwood plywood use during 1991 was estimated to account for 271 million square feet (3/4" basis) and consumption was expected to increase by 13% through 1993. Oriented strandboard use for 1991 was estimated to be 36 million square feet (7/16" basis) and use of OSB was predicted to increase 25% by 1993. Oak was the largest single species group consumed by pallet and container manufacturers in 1991, accounting for over 1.6 billion board feet of lumber, cants, parts, and shook. Southern yellow pine consumption was an estimated 541 million board feet in 1991, followed closely by almost 500 million board feet of yellow-poplar, and over 227 million board feet of alder. Seventy percent of hardwood lumber and cant purchases (by volume) were made direct from the sawmill in 1991. Softwood lumber purchases were made either from a lumber broker (38%) or direct from the sawmill (37%).

Degree

thesis:*
Name thesis:degree_name
Master of Science
Level thesis:degree_level
masters
Discipline thesis:degree_discipline
Wood Science and Forest Products
Department dc:contributor.department
Wood Science and Forest Products
Grantor dc:publisher
Virginia Tech
Year dc:date.issued
1993

Author and committee

dc:creator, dc:contributor.*
Author dc:creator
  • Christoforo, John Carmen
Chair dc:contributor.committeechair
  • Bush, Robert J.
Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember
  • Lamb, Fred M.
  • White, Marshall S.

Rights

dc:rights
Statement dc:rights
  • In Copyright
Language dc:language.iso
en

Identifiers

dc:identifier.*
Dc Identifier Other
etd-11102009-020207
OAI identifier oai:identifier
oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/45611

Chain of custody

source
Harvested from
Virginia Tech
Base URL
vtechworks.lib.vt.edu/oai/request
Last updated
2026-07-22
Source record
OAI-PMH GetRecord
related terms
citation

Christoforo, John Carmen. Wood-based material use in the United States pallet and container industry. masters thesis, Virginia Tech, 1993. http://hdl.handle.net/10919/45611