StonePoint Materials LLC (StonePoint) has announced the acquisition of Standard Gravel Company LLC (Standard). Standard is a leading regional producer of sand and gravel serving eastern Louisiana and southern Mississippi from four active mine sites. Acquisition details here. 

Universal Forest Products Inc. (UFP) has announced that one of its affiliates acquired Hartford, Wisconsin-based Pallet USA LLC. The acquisition expands UFP’s industrial product capacity and services in the Midwest. Details here.

The American Wood Council (AWC) released an updated version of its free Connection Calculator based on the provisions the National Design Specification (NDS) for Wood Construction as referenced in the 2015 International Building Code.The updated calculator includes cross-laminated timber (CLT) connection provisions and post-frame ring shank nails.

One of the categories of the competition is focused on rewarding the “Major Project of the Year” (over €500M). Amongst the eight projects submitted for this category, the panel of judges identified four finalists that seem to pursue one common goal: managing urban expansion. Global growth impacts large-scale urban regions, in particular their attractiveness. Project details here.