National Hardwood Magazine - March 2017

C&W CUSTOM WOODWORKING

C&W CUSTOM WOODWORKING Continued the company’s operations from 8,000 square feet to 4,000 square feet. C&W worked diligently on improving the bal- costs. Cornett said that small business owners learned a lot during that time. “If not, you weren’t awake. With such insight, you won’t stagger during economic downturns. When the economy mately 23 employees on its payroll, with plans for growth in the coming year. The commercial construction market is an avenue where C&W contin- business. Currently, C&W works with a general contractor who specializes in renovating clothing stores in the United States and Canada. These projects along with decorative ceiling beams and glass store-fronts. To date, work has been completed in stores in Pennsylvania and throughout Florida. Commercial work presents different challenges. “For a lot of subcontractors, you must know the general contractor before they will allow you to submit a bid,” Cornett said. “Once you are awarded the project you have the logistics of moving equipment, materials working remotely all while maintaining residential projects in Ohio, where we are located. I have a good group of staff who make all this happen.” Still, commercial work offers avenues to continue to grow the company and create more jobs. A good judge of quality woodworking and skilled craftsmanship, Cornett attributes his success and hard work to his early beginnings. During his junior and senior years in high school, Cornett attended a trade school to learn woodworking and did co-op work with a company where he learned valuable lessons. Today, when Cornett is actively turning out wood products, he gets the most satisfaction. “The more detailed the project, the more I enjoy it. Looking at what you have created reminds me of why I started this adventure.” Being an active member in good standing in several home building organizations keeps C&W abreast of the latest issues surrounding the home building industry. C&W is a member of the National Association of Home Builders, Ohio Home Builders Association Inc., Home Builders Association of Greater Cincinnati, Home Builders Association of Northern Kentucky, Home Builders Association of Dayton, and the Better Business Bureau. For more information visit www.candwcustomwoodworking.com. 56 MARCH 2017 NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE

NEW RIVER Continued from page 23 THINK AGAIN ble cut head saw, McDonough resaw and Salem thin kerf gang. USNR optimization is utilized at the head saw and edger with Lucidyne grade mark scanner at the trimmer. Approximately 50 percent of green production will go to New River’s 8:50,000' SII kilns. These kilns are supplied steam from a 300HP green dust boiler, sourced from the sawmill. The company also has four satellite log yards that are situated in areas of high elevation in the Appalachians. “We typically pull from 2,500-plus-foot elevation timber, which provides us with a very white, consistent Maple product and a mineral-free Oak product,” said David Bailey, vice president of operations. “We buy our timber from a 125-mile radius of our plant and we’re very happy with our procurement base.” New River Hardwoods specializes in Poplar, Red and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, Ash, Hickory, Basswood, and Cherry, mostly in 4/4, 5/4, our millworks operation, we’re now doing a lot more S4S Poplar, Red Oak, Soft Maple and Hard Maple,” Bailey explained. “The majority of our Poplar is very large, so we’re able to produce a high percentage of 12-inch (and wider) lumber from those logs. “Non-Oak species come to our dry kilns and get put on sticks and into a kiln within 24 hours. We don’t leave anything sitting out air drying. That helps to keep the wood color bright,” said Bailey. Recently, New River Hardwoods invested in a Weinig 23-C Hydromat Moulder and a TimeSaver 2-head combination planer/sander that it brought online to handle growing customer demand for a wider range of moulding sizes. The company also uses a Mereen-Johnson 431 rip saw with scanning and a movable fence that’s controlled by Tisfoon System software. With about 50 percent of its customers being end users and the remainder being distribution centers, this and other equipment helps New River Hardwoods provide a valuable service for companies that want ripped and/or S4S products; customers are purchasing only the products they need, eliminating the waste created in processing. “By providing that service for them,” Law said, “we’re able to reduce our customers’ costs and improve their turnaround times.” Owned by Mike Jarrell, New River Hardwoods traces its roots to a rich history of forest stewardship. Other key employees include Mark Babcock, vice president of Marketing and Logistics, and sales reps Mark Pierce, Eddy Phillips and Doug Bane. Long before the company entered the industry as a Please turn the page MARCH 2017 NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 57