On Tuesday, Pacific Lumber Inspection Bureau (PLIB) and West Coast Lumber Inspection Bureau (WCLIB) announced their merger effective January 1, 2019. The two agencies will continue under the name of PLIB. Jeff Fantozzi, former PLIB president, will lead the combined agency from its headquarters in Federal Way, Washington. In a press release he announced that "while PLIB is officially the surviving entity, this merger is truly a blending of two equals", promising that member companies will hardly feel any disruption or changes due to the fusion since staff, logos, trademarks and even dues levels will mostly be retained. The merging organizations are planning to continue and strengthen previously offered services while at the same time hoping to gain efficiencies where possible.
Combined, the two agencies founded in 1903 (PLIB) and 1911 (WCLIB) are "among the largest agencies in North America in terms of both production and member numbers", says Ken Thorlakson, chair of the organization’s newly formed board, who also points out that the PLIB’s service base does not only extend across North America but is also relevant to European producers of all sizes.
The new grading agency represents a softwood lumber volume of roughly 15 million m³ offering grading, inspection and technical services to, among others, softwood lumber, wood packaging and glulam manufacturers as well as dry kiln facilities and a number of certification services.
