Campaign for Mechanical Efficiency

Even while the energies of its members were concentrated on helping win the Second World War, the Association did not lose sight of the future. The lumber industry of the South had suffered grave wounds for the cause of patriotism. Facilities had been strained almost to the breaking point. There were few replacements for worn equipment as long as the war lasted. Nor was any breathing space anticipated with the coming of peace which was sure to unleash a great pent demand for housing.

While thousands of new operations had been created during the war years to meet military demands, many were poorly equipped for the transition from a wartime to peacetime economy. Association planners were aware that mechanical shortcomings made the industry vulnerable to mounting competition as well as rising costs. Even before the war's end, competitors were mapping blueprints for a massive assault on traditional Southern Pine lumber markets.

Knowing that strong counter-measures would be needed in the months and years ahead, the Association called a special meeting in New Orleans on October 26, 1944. It was the consensus of those who attended that the industry's most important single need - when peace came - would be greater mechanical efficiency. It was further decided to revitalize the Southern Pine Association Mechanical Efficiency Committee which was to proceed with the development of practical solutions.

EXPO traces its roots back more than 65 years, when members of the Southern Pine Association (SFPA’s name until 1970) held a series of meetings to determine how the industry’s mechanical proficiency could be improved. Mark your calendars to attend Expo 2019 in Atlanta, GA - June 26-28, 2019. Excerpts taken from The First Fifty Years of the Southern Pine Association by John M. Collier.