EPA formaldehyde rule might not see light of day

The Environmental Protection Agency’s formaldehyde rule, scheduled to go into effect Feb. 10, was stayed for 60 days, the result of an executive order to hold off sending any new regulations to the Office of the Federal Register until they have been reviewed and approved by a newly appointed department or agency head.

The “Rule on Formaldehyde in Composite Wood Products” sets standards for maximum formaldehyde emissions from certain composite wood products and imposes testing, certification, recordkeeping and labeling requirements on manufacturers, fabricators, retailers, distributors and importers.

The EPA had been developing this rule since former President Obama signed the Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Products Act into law on July 7, 2010. The rule basically mirrors standards established by the California Air Resources Board for products sold, offered for sale, supplied, used or manufactured for sale in California.

If EPA does not take some action within the 60-day period of stay, then the rule will become effective as published and the future compliance dates therein (Dec. 12, 2017; Dec. 12, 2018, and Dec. 12, 2023) will remain in place.

EPA rules and regulations are driving new product development from finish manufacturers, as John English notes in “No turning back now” on Page 45. Bob Flexner explains a proposed ban or restrictions for two stripping solvents on Page 30.

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Got some great feedback from my January 2017 column on working with kids in the shop. To recap, I was somewhat terrified of bringing six second-grade students into my shop to build a Cub Scout project. Haven’t exactly conquered that fear, but the advice is helping.

The dad of two Eagle Scouts shared dimensions for a stool, which looks like a perfect project for next year. I’m told big-box stores offer classes specifically for kids, so that’s on my list to check out. Thanks for all of your advice and keep it coming.

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The Homag Group increased its stake in Benz, a manufacturer of wood- and metal-processing tool systems for lathes and machine centers, from 51 to 75 percent. It plans to become the sole shareholder by the end of 2018.

The Zimmer Group owns the remaining shares.

“Thanks to its range of woodworking products, Benz has been the Homag Group’s preferred development partner and supplier in the field of tooling systems for many years,” Homag CEO Pekka Paasivaara said in a statement. “We want to continue to build on this cooperation and expand the worldwide sale of Benz products. To speed up important investment decisions, we have decided to acquire the remaining shares.”

Homag reports that Günther and Martin Zimmer resigned as managing directors of Benz, replaced by Marco Huber. 

Anderson America is expanding its sales, technical, support and parts capabilities with a new headquarters facility in Pineville, N.C.

The company designs and manufacturers CNC machining centers.

“There have been many recent innovations and improvements to our comprehensive product line that have been extremely well received by our end users and prospective clients,” the company said in a statement. “These, combined with unprecedented sales growth and increased distribution, created the need for facility and personnel upgrades to better serve and support our over 4,500 machines North American installation base.”

This article originally appeared in the March 2017 issue.