National Hardwood Magazine - September 2019

NEWS DEVELOPMENTS UNITED

NEWS DEVELOPMENTS UNITED FURNITURE ADDING UP TO 500 DOMESTIC JOBS United Furniture Industries, headquartered in Tupelo, MS, plans to hire up to 500 manufacturing employees, mainly in Mississippi and North Carolina, as it greatly expands its domestic production capabilities. The action comes amid a challenging retail environment and as furniture makers reassess and realign their supply chains following the U.S. imposition of tariffs on China. “People want less overseas exposure,” said Jay Quimby, executive vice president of sales. “Everybody is trying to bring a little back domestically.” Production capacity will be expanded at United Furniture Industries plants in Nettleton, Verona, Okolona, Hatley, Belden, Wren and Amory in Mississippi; facilities in Archdale, High Point, Lexington, Linwood and Winston-Salem, NC; and at the plant in Victorville, CA. Oak is among the solid Hardwoods used to produce the company’s case goods and furniture. In recent years, United Furniture has added five domestic plants and about 3.3 million square feet of manufacturing space. The company’s acquisition of Lane Furniture in 2017 has been a main factor in its growth, which included strong first and second quarters this year. In published reports, Quimby said, “The company was already doing well prior to the Lane acquisition. However, the strength of that brand has enabled us to take on new business and gain new floor placements.” Please call 662-432-0000 if you need more information. Great wood starts here. PH: 315-655-8824 | FAX: 315-655-4449 2550 BALLINA RD. CAZENOVIA, NY 13035 www.johnsonbrotherslumber.com • Appalachian & Northern Region Hardwoods • Family-owned since 1937 • Less than 250 miles to most major metropolitan areas in the Northeast • 2 Million Bd. Ft. inventory • Package preparation includes: Double End Trimmed, HT Blocking, Heavy Metal Banding, End Paint and Custom Logos on request • FSC, Certified SFI, PEFC Certified 12 SEPTEMBER 2019 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE JOHNSON BROS 2016.indd 1 6/2/16 2:43 PM

NEWS ABOUT NORTH AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL HARDWOOD CONSUMERS INCLUDING MERGERS, PLANT EXPANSIONS & ASSOCIATION ACTIVITIES WOOD-MODE’S TENTATIVE RE-OPENING PLANNED Bill French, who owns the modular home builder Professional Building Systems, has signed a tentative agreement to buy the assets of Wood-Mode, based in Kreamer, PA. He told PennLive that he plans to offer jobs to all 938 employees who were laid off by the family-owned company in May. The sudden layoffs shocked the cabinet industry, prompted lawsuits and left dealers around the country in limbo. French said he had a non-binding letter of intent to buy the company name and its assets, which he hoped to finalize by press time. The Middleburg businessman made the tentative deal with Robert and Brooks Gronlund public so that the former employees and dealers would not give up hope, according to news reports. Wood-Mode was listed among the top 10 cabinet companies in the latest FDMC 300. At one point, it employed 2,000 people and was the largest employer in Snyder County, PA. The company’s manufacturing facilities have the capability to produce custom cabinets in such solid woods as Cherry, Walnut, Maple, White Oak and Alder. Please see www.wood-mode.com. EASTERN MILLWORK BEGINS APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM Eastern Millwork has teamed up with two colleges and the Jersey City, NJ, government to offer a tuition-free apprenticeship program – one that guarantees ,000 salaries to each student after graduation while also letting them avoid crushing student-loan debt. Five high-school students recently began in the Euro- Please turn to page 60 With the 4” Wide Band System The Brewco B-1600 Just Got Faster • Grade Resaws • Grade Board Edgers • Decks, Rollcases, Belt Conveyors • In-House Automation Engineering BREWCO INCORPORATED “Our Brewco is just as fast as our big linebar in our other mill. And our cost per sawline is so much less with our Brewco. Less expensive bands, less expensive filing and benching, and less horsepower. It has done such a great job that we are adding one to a sawmill we just bought. Our linebar days are over with.” Mark Gilbert, Director of Operations for the Kennebec Lumber Companies in Maine and New Hampshire 270-754-5847 www.brewcoinc.com SEPTEMBER 2019 n NATIONAL HARDWOOD MAGAZINE 13