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SALEM FRAME -Continuedstrengthens our position in the lumberindustry as well as strengthens a greatSalem-based operation.”In 1963, Rowe purchased the RoanokeWoodworking Corp. to operate it as awholly owned subsidiary and renamed itSalem Frame Co. In 1972, Salem Framemoved into a new 188,000-square-footfacility where it continues to be located.The feasibility of creating a one-stop shopfor kiln drying and grading became moreviable in late 2006 with the closing ofRowe’s wood framing facility inMissouri.Tim Worrell, lumber specialist at SalemFrame, began to research the feasibility ofadding to the existing machinery and constructinga structure to house a completelumber grading chain. In June 2007, anoffer from Gilco Lumber Inc., headquarteredin South Charleston, W.Va., helpedmove the proposal forward.Gilco Lumber, which is headed byJames H. “Buck” Harless and is anemployee-owned firm, was looking for awood yard that could handle kiln drying,grading, packaging and shipping. In astrategic partnership agreement, it wasagreed that the output from Gilco’s CabinCreek, W.Va., sawmill would be flowed toSalem Frame. Gilco, which owns andoperates four sawmills and twoHardwood lumber concentration yards,has two trained lumber graders permanentlybased at Salem Frame, and alsoassisted Salem Frame in sourcing a trimsaw, which was flat-bedded fromMissouri to Virginia for installation.The construction of the grading chaininvolved: initial excavation of the site,exterior steel structure and interior concreteslab by Price Buildings Inc., RockyMount, Va.; architectural plans by ParkerDesign Group Inc., Salem, Va.; surroundingpavement by Asphalt Solutions,Boones Mill, Va.; and interior equipmentand electrical work by McDowellMechanical Service, Marion, N.C.Kenneth Cox, plant manager at SalemFrame, said the construction of the lumbergrading chain has helped maintain positionsat Salem Frame. The company currentlyoperates from 6:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.Monday through Friday, but “the potentialexists to increase capacity and add additionalshifts,” he said. Employees dedicatedto the grading chain have alreadyreached an all-time personal record of34,000 board feet of lumber processed inone day. The team’s goal is 50,000 boardfeet of lumber in one day.The grading of lumber involves theinspection by a qualified grader of eachboard of lumber after it has been kilndried. Based on the width of the board andthe condition of both sides, the graderattributes a ranking to the board, whicheventually determines how it will be usedand at what price it will be sold. Lumber,©2008 Wood-Mizer Products, Inc.www.AWMV.com/a907which is now able to be processed atSalem Frame, is likely to be shippedaround the country and the world andused for furniture, home construction,wine barrels, interior wall panels andalmost anything made of wood.Lumber is processed through SalemFrame’s complete custom kiln dryingoperation. First, loads of inbound, freshlycut lumber from the sawmill are kilndried. The lumber experiences a naturalPlease turn the pageWho says money doesn’t grow on trees?We think otherwise.The thin-kerf LT300 generates incredible yields at surprisingproduction rates. It can take the money fromthe tree and put it in your pocket.Line your pockets today!SEPTEMBER/2008 67