Kiln-dried 4/4 Northern Red Oak ready for shipment is shown here in HHP’s warehouse. Henniker, NH–HHP Inc., headquartered here, recently celebrated 29 years in its current form as a lumber manufacturer producing premium quality Northern Hardwoods. Two Henniker residents originally founded HHP in 1966 and it was operated solely as a pallet manufacturer. Ross D’Elia, who recently retired from the company and from his role as president, noted, “The founders eventually purchased one of the first modular sawmills so that they could feed stock for their pallet shop. The premise of the mill was to make the stock for the pallet shop. Then, around the 1980’s, one of the partners branched off and went into the softwood business and the other partner stayed running the sawmill, but at that point had started sawing grade lumber as well. In 1989 Richard Carrier and I bought the company from the sole remaining owner and on January 1st, <strong>2018</strong>, we will have marked 29 years.” In the hands of Richard Carrier and Ross D’Elia, and with a team strengthened by decades of lumber industry experience, each year has brought expansions and refinements to HHP’s products and capabilities. To keep up with its growth and reputation for quality, the company has invested in numerous upgrades as the years have passed. Today, HHP operates on a 45-acre site in Henniker with annual production of 12 million board feet. The company focuses on production of 4/4 Northern Red and White Oak, Ash, Hard and Soft Maple and Yellow Birch. HHP dries all lumber to between 6 and 8 percent moisture content before it is shipped and sold. “ A New Generation Joins HHP To Continue A Legacy Of High Quality Northern Lumber We have worked very hard the last few years to improve the appearance of our packaging and presentation so that it meets our customers’ expectations in order for them to be successful marketing our lumber to their customers. “ –Bruce Dahn, sales manager, HHP Inc. HHP’s mill is certified by the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) and the company’s six inspectors are all NHLA-certified. Bruce Dahn, who is sales manager at HHP, stated, “About 80 percent of what we cut is Northern Red Oak and virtually all of it is 4/4. We end up putting together a very nice random width product because we are not By Terry Miller Pictured here (left to right) are: Richard Carrier, owner; Ross D’Elia, retired (past president/owner); Marco Carrier, president/ owner; and Joseph Carrier, mill operations. HHP's grading line for green 4/4 Northern Red Oak is shown here. sawing heavier thicknesses in addition to the 4/4. Our consistency and quality are some of the features that customers have come to recognize and expect from us.” To maintain the optimal efficiency and serve customers with as many one-stop features as possible, HHP’s facility has 225,000 board feet of Nyle Systems dehumidification kilns (three conventional kilns located 1/4 mile away Continued on page 15 Photos continued on page 15 Page 4 <strong>Import</strong>/<strong>Export</strong> <strong>Wood</strong> <strong>Purchasing</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>February</strong>/<strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong>
<strong>Import</strong>/<strong>Export</strong> <strong>Wood</strong> <strong>Purchasing</strong> <strong>News</strong> <strong>February</strong>/<strong>March</strong> <strong>2018</strong> Page 5