GP reorganizes engineered wood business

Georgia-Pacific Wood Products has announced that it will make “strategic changes” to its engineered lumber division to facilitate more direct involvement with its customer base and expand its services.

GP will provide its engineered lumber customers with inside and outside account management personnel, business development support, engineering and technical services, and software development and support, the announcement said. The Atlanta-based company will continue to supply a complete engineered lumber product offering, including laminated veneer lumber (LVL), solid sawn and LVL flanged I-joists, glulam beams and rim board.

The strategy coincides with the Feb. 12, 2012, expiration of GP's distribution agreement with distributor BlueLinx Holdings, and will allow GP to begin to phase out its Broadspan line of engineered wood products late in the first quarter of 2012.

Last week BlueLinx announced its own plans to launch a complete line of privately branded engineered lumber products in February 2012.

"This new strategy will help expand market opportunities for GP, our customers, distributors and supply partners," said Mark Luetters, president of Georgia-Pacific Wood Products. "We feel this will help us better meet customer needs through a strong network of independent distributors with a primary focus on engineered lumber products."