SHEOGA FLOORING -
SHEOGA FLOORING - Continued to start a flooring company,” he said. Originally, Sheoga leased equipment. Then its customer base grew and it purchased machinery as sales increased. “We started out as a little lumber yard,” Miller said. “We had an interest to serve our local areas with Hardwood flooring and paneling. It’s just developed into a company that now produces flooring that’s being shipped worldwide today.” When the company was formed, it was suggested that it have an Amish-related name, due to the community in which it was located. That idea was not adopted. Miller, who is Amish, said, “I don’t feel we’re any better than anybody else.” The firm’s official corporate name is Hardwood Flooring & Paneling, Inc. but as its customer base grew, clients wanted a brand name for better recognition. The company is located in Ohio, where Native Americans had a name for raccoons: Sheauga. With the letters “au” changed to “o,” the name became “Sheoga.” And this name has achieved wide recognition, Miller said. In the plant, most workers are Amish. MANUFAC T U R E R O F QUALITY BAND SAW N N O RT H E R N A P PALAC H I A N H A R DWOODS Despite challenging economic times, Sheoga’s 45 employees have seen disruption in their work hours per week and continue to ensure quality product with hands-on expertise. When asked about the strong Amish work ethic, Miller noted that many Amish people were raised on farms.“We grew up knowing what physical labor is all about,” he commented. These Amish workers labor sideby-side with non-Amish employees, with “everybody digging in,” Miller added. “It takes all of us to make the team.” The company buys green lumber and kiln-dries it in five American dry kilns with a 48,000-board-foot capacity each. RED OAK WHITE OAK CHERRY SOFT MAPLE POPLAR WHITE ASH HARD MAPLE WALNUT 500,000 B.F. Dry Kiln Capacity 2 Million B.F. Dry Storage Container Loading Mixed TL’s S2S, Ripped to Width, Cut-Length & Finger-Joint Lumber Measured & Inspected after Kiln Drying 2240 Shermans Valley Road, Elliottsburg, PA 17024 Phone: 717-582-4122 Fax: 717-582-7438 Toll Free: 1-800-253-0263 E-mail: sales@tuscarorahardwoods.com Website: tuscarorahardwoods.com The company buys green lumber and kilndries it in its five American dry kilns that each has a capacity of 48,000 board feet. The rough mill layout was installed by Eagle Machine and includes a Yates American planer, a Progressive optimizing gang rip saw, an Eagle Machine optimizing cut up line, four Mattison 276 moulders and Hasko end matchers. The company uses Cat and Yale lift trucks and employs Hurst boilers as the energy system. Sheoga Hardwood Flooring has been granted certification under NWFA’s Responsible Procurement Program (NWFA RPP) after successfully completing a thirdparty assessment by Scientific Certification Systems. Sheoga is entitled to use the U.S. Renewing Forest label and logo which recognizes the use of renewing U.S. Hardwoods in their products and their commitment to higher levels of environmental awareness and social performance. Their by-products, such as wood cut-offs and sawdust, are used to fire their 225,000 board foot capacity dry kilns and heat over 50,000 square feet of manufacturing, showroom and office space. The use of these by-products 46 Hardwoods...A Renewable Resource
SHEOGA FLOORING - Continued eliminates over 250,000 gallons of heating oil that would otherwise be consumed. Sheoga also participates in annual tree planting investments. One other innovation the company has made has been in its lumber buying. Miller says that Sheoga bought lumber from suppliers who had provided superior lumber that helped build the company. In 2009, the company realized it couldn’t build enough products to use up all the lumber it bought. “It was difficult to say, ‘We don’t need your lumber anymore,’” Miller said. “We kept bringing it in.” Sheoga began kiln-drying the excess green lumber and selling it to the public. “Our main focus is still going to be on manufacturing our flooring, more so than lumber sales,” Miller said. The sale of lumber “is just going to help us keep our inventories better balanced.” He added, “Our flooring is usually higher priced as we use better grades of lumber.” But once Sheoga is sold in a region and people find out what it’s like, “We stay there,” he said, and Sheoga gets “a lot of repeat business.” For more information on Sheoga Hardwood Flooring & Paneling, Inc., go to www.sheogaflooring.com. • SOUTHEAST TRENDS - Continued from page 6 mer months. After we replaced so many in important offices during the last election, I believe things may begin to change.” Confidence in the housing market appears to be improving in the region as reported by the National Association of Home Builders. • LAKE STATES TRENDS - Continued from page 6 certain grades of Poplar. “There have been repeated price decreases in green No. 2 and Better. Competition is impacting prices, which is the cause for the drop for 4/4.” Along with others in the region, he said transportation costs seem to have leveled off and availability is decent. “We had a big problem with trucking in the middle of 2010, but we’ve seen some stability in freight costs and availability in the last few weeks.” Looking at 2011 overall, the source is optimistic with caution. “Our margins are not near what they were in 2005. However, they were improved from 2009 in 2010. We are hoping with the results of the elections, 2011 will bring more improvements.” Another Hardwood supplier in Indiana, which supplies less common species such as Sassafras, Sycamore, Red and Gray Elm and Locust, said market conditions have decreased significantly in the past two months. “We deal in all the domestic Hardwoods. But it seems like in slower times we always get inquiries for those less common species. Please turn to page 56 moulding, millwork and flooring manufacturers, the contact said his flooring customers reported steady business. “Business is termed as ‘steady’ for the flooring manufacturers, but we’re hearing it’s beginning to soften.” As for the year ahead, the contact said, “I wish I could forecast the next six weeks, let alone the next six months. If Washington doesn’t get things straight, then we’re not going to see any improvements. Instead of playing politics they need to start making some decisions. In order for us to have any certainty, Washington is going to have to convey a sense of confidence.” A Hardwood flooring supplier in Mississippi said markets for solid flooring have cooled. “Shipments are relatively consistent compared to the previous few months,” he explained. “Prices for specific items have retracted and finished goods production and inventories have increased.” He said No. 2 and 3 A Oak is overproduced and most end-users have replenished their raw material inventories and are purchasing for replacement. “Pricing is responding well I think, trending downward.” Another sawmiller in Mississippi said business is steady but slow. “We are beginning to see spurts of construction here and there,” he said. “We’ve had some dry weather which contributed to the improved log supply conditions. “Unfortunately many sawmills have more than ample log decks and secondary manufacturers and yards have filled their desired inventories. Green lumber is in excess, which is pushing prices lower,” he continued. For 2011 the contact is optimistic. “We may see more improvement as we reach the spring and sum- 100 YEARS FROM NOW THIS CHAIR CAN STILL BE STORING CARBON Each year, more than 175 million tons of carbon are stored in the wood products we use every day. These chairs, tables and floors will keep that carbon for the duration of their useful life. Do something good for the environment. Spec North American Hardwoods. For more information visit ObeyMotherNature.com/carbon. Turn of the century Federal oak dining chair OBEY MOTHER NATURE USE NORTH AMERICAN HARDWOODS JANUARY/2011 47
