National Hardwood Magazine - July 2019

Lewis Lumber & Milling

Lewis Lumber & Milling Draws on Experience and Passion to Manufacture and Ship Flooring Coast-to-Coast By Matthew Fite Lewis Lumber & Milling, a manufacturer of plank flooring and mouldings, located in Dickson, TN, has a dedicated team that includes: Bobby Porter (solid flooring manager); Forrest Lewis (engineered flooring manager); Tim Ellrich (sales); Mike Lewis (president); Libby Lewis (sales); Joe Lewis (vice president); Lee Lewis (sales); Bob Kilkenny (plant manager); and Tom Edwards (CFO). Dickson, TN–Lewis Lumber & Milling, based in the heart of Hardwood country, manufactures and ships plank flooring and mouldings from coast to coast. The company’s customers are found all over the continental U.S. Lewis Lumber & Milling regularly ships to states like New York, Florida, Texas, California and all the states in between. The company buys 14 million board feet of lumber per year including 4/4 Hard Maple No. 1 and Better, 4/4 White Oak 3A and Better, 4/4 Hickory 3 and Better and 4/4 Red Oak No. 1 and Better. Lewis uses a higher percentage of upper grade lumber than most flooring mills. From these raw materials, Lewis Lumber & Milling turns out a high volume of quality finished products. How this company, close to Nashville, got started is a story of a love of the industry. Mike Lewis, company president, began working in his father’s sawmill when he was 14. Vice president Joe Lewis started in the industry early on also after receiving a degree in Forestry at Mississippi State. When CFO Tom Edwards got out of college, he got into the forest products industry. Tim Ellrich, in sales, has 37 years in the industry under his belt. And so, it goes. Do the people of Lewis Lumber & Milling have years of experience and passion for the industry? “Absolutely,” says Tom Edwards. The same passion for the industry continues for the next generation. Lee Lewis and Libby Lewis are in flooring sales. Forrest Lewis' main focus is the engineered product lines and managing employees. In all, Lewis Lumber & Milling employs 70 people. “Our mission,” Edwards said, “is to focus on manufacturing high quality, unfinished Hardwood plank flooring for the quality-oriented Hardwood flooring distributor. Our main specie is White Oak and that gets turned into both solid and engineered flooring.” The fact that the flooring produced is unfinished allows the end-user to sand and seal the flooring to his or her preference. Lewis manufactures longer flooring than most other flooring mills. The company’s standard packaging is 10’ where most other mills package the flooring in 7’ or 8’ bundles. We also package some product lines as long as 12’ in length. Lewis also makes Euro-cut or live-sawn flooring. “We are a ‘no whistles and buzzers’ company,” Ellrich stated. “We are a tight, cohesive group with lots of expe- 22 JULY 2019 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE

One of Lewis Lumber & Milling’s most recent product launches was its Reliance line. Here the company’s end-matcher is shown in operation. rience in the industry, and we stand behind our product. When you call Lewis Lumber & Milling, a person answers the phone and you will get any of us promptly – even if we are traveling.” In keeping with his passion for the industry, Edwards takes enjoyment in describing the virtues of some of the species of wood that Lewis uses. For example, White Oak, he commented, is a really hard wood that finishes well. Hard Maple is well suited to kitchen cabinets. Mike Lewis started the company in 2011. With his experience in the flooring and moulding business, he knew how he want- Please turn to page 42 ªOur mission is to focus on manufacturing high quality, unfinished Hardwood plank flooring for the quality-oriented Hardwood flooring distributor.º ±Tom Edwards, CFO, Lewis Lumber & Milling (Below) Lewis Lumber & Milling operates a Lico high speed ripping system. JULY 2019 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 23