History

Early in 2000 Mr. Gonzalez the Principal of Rogers International Consulting, while deploying wireless networks in Latin America learned about the wide use of natural tropical wood (no pesticides) for poles, posts, pilings, cross arms, rail ties, fences, etc… by the people, businesses and Electric Utilities of the Amazon Region, as well as European Governments. This interested Mr. Gonzalez greatly because of his 16 years work experience in Transmission and Distribution Engineering & Operations within the Electric Utility industry of the US.

Mr. Gonzalez knows very well the major issues confronting the utility industry with respect to Distribution and Transmission Poles and Cross Arms, because he was the Lead Consultant Engineer responsible for the maintenance management programs for Puget Sound Power & Light Company for three years. After a year and a half, working with Ms. Mary Jo Rogers, studying and documenting the legal channels, as well as validating the natural durability of the tropical wood species being used, with the Forest Product Laboratory of IBAMA, Brazil, Mr. Gonzalez and Ms. Rogers met with the Government Officials, logging companies, and mills of the Amazon region to explore the business potential of exporting natural tropical wood products, primarily for the US and Canada, thus giving birth to Rogers International Consulting, L.L.C.

Concurrent with the above work, Rogers International embarked in the extensive testing of the tropical hardwoods with high natural durability at Washington State University’s Wood Material & Engineering Laboratory, via a research grant from the Electric Power Research Institute and Rogers International own funding. Upon completing the testing, per ASTM D1036, ASTM D2017-05, and AWPA E1-06, Rogers International wrote the final report and presented to ANSI’s Accredited Standard Committee O5 (ASC O5), for their review and approval of the tropical hardwoods for listing in the ANSI Standards.

After 5 years of intense work with the ASC O5 Committee, the All Natural Durable Hardwoods Pole Standard – Dimensions and Specifications was approved via the formal ballot process and forwarded to ANSI’s Board of Standards Review for adoption as an ANSI Standard. On July 17, 2009 the ANSI Board of Standards Review sent a formal communiqué to ASC O5 committee members formally approving the new standard on naturally durable hardwoods. The new standard titled “ANSI 05.4 – All Natural Durable Hardwoods Pole Standard – Dimensions & Specifications was published in July of 2009.  In a similar fashion, a year later, July 13, 2010, the ANSI’s Board of Standards Review approved the “ANSI O5.6 – All Natural Durable Hardwoods Crossarms & Braces Standard – Dimensions & Specifications”.

Both standards are now available through ANSI at www.ansi.org.

Which, brings us to the present time… Rogers International in partnership with FSC certified Forests in the Amazon Region are establishing a robust supply chain operation for poles and crossarms. Currently the Mills are readying themselves to start producing the crossarms in 2011 with the capability of producing in excess of 200,000 crossarms per year. For poles, a peeler has been put in place in one of the FSC Mills, and they are ready to produce poles of 30 ft, 35 ft and 40 ft starting in 2011. A second peeler is planned for another FSC Mill which is capable of producing poles of 45 ft to 70 ft in large quantities. This pole production will be ready in 2012.

During the study period Rogers International Consulting identified Mill Operations with Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) Certification for their forests and who maintain the Chain of Custody Certification in the Amazon Region. The FSC Mills have certifications and authorizations from world environmental bodies for their operations in the Rain Forest of the Amazon. In addition they have the capacity and capability to address the US and Canadian demand for the “All Naturally Durable Hardwoods” poles and cross arms, in a well organized production process. Their FSC Mills entail the management of over three (3) million acres of forests in the Amazon Rain Forest.

The “Environmental Certifications” for the Mill are as follows;

-  Forest Management Certification with the Brazilian Government with authorization for the export of logs (poles) outside Brazil.

-  Forest Stewardship Council Certification with Chain of Custody

-  Greenpeace Letter of Approval stating The Mill Operations is a model for the world in proper forest management and exploration.

-  World Wild Life Fund Letter of Approval

-  Ecological Society of America Letter of Approval

-  Rain Forest Alliance Award for being “The Model to the World in Sustainable Forest Management”.

Rogers International Consulting, L.L.C., in partnership with the FSC Mills have identified and established the operations for the production and robust supply of the “All Naturally Durable Hardwoods” products, to address the need for environmentally sound wood products for the utility industry of North America, New Zealand, and Australia.  The “All Naturally Durable Hardwoods” products offer many advantages over chemically treated softwoods.  In addition, they are ideal for applications where high to extremely high mechanical strength and natural durability are key requirements.