Custom Shop
Steven Mann, co-owner along with Burt Galpur of Las-Vegas-based Crowne Closets and Cabinetry, doesn’t mince words when it comes to stating his company’s goal for the future. “Our goal is to become the number one closet company in the country,” he says.
Judging by the company’s history, that goal is not so far fetched.

Finish Line
Spraying is transferring a liquidized coating from a container to the item(s) you wish to cover. You knew that! The trick is to transfer the material quickly and efficiently with NO defects via uniformly atomized coating material droplets.

Hot Gear
Get descriptions and request information about products from our participating companies.

Hot Products
See some of the products and machinery that
“sizzled” at IWF 2006.

Material Issues
An art deco desk built with ebony and pearwood veneers was chosen as the top entry in the second annual Veneer Technologies Craftsman’s competition, announced in Atlanta during the 2006 IWF® trade show. Kent Townsend of Kent Townsend Fine Furniture in Salida, CO, was awarded the $5,000 grand prize for excellence in woodwork featuring natural veneer and/or natural edgebanding application.

Production Line
As a high-end cabinetmaker in one of the busiest housing markets in the country, the last 10 years have been very good for Davis Custom Woodworks. But the Las Vegas-based company decided two years ago that a shift in market approach was necessary to grow the business. Nick Davis, president, rolled the dice on the booming luxury hi-rise condominium market and invested heavily in automated machinery and a state-of-the-art flat-line finishing system.

Proving Ground
With more than 300 employees and a global customer base, Eugene, Ore.-based Lanz Cabinets is hardly your typical custom cabinet company.

Sanding Sense
Common sense might lead one to believe that a simple 100-grit abrasive belt can be freely interchanged between different brands without making machine adjustments. The reality is that this should “NEVER” be done.

Supply Side
As today’s consumers demand more and more state-of-the-art storage solutions, drawer slides are keeping pace by offering less noise, more access and heavier load capacity.

Think Lean
Industry managers’ understanding of lean is evidenced by the continued growth in media coverage and the attendance at lean conferences such as the Association for Manufacturing Excellence (AME).

Trends
The Design Emphasis 2006 Award winners took center stage at The International Woodworking Fair August 23-26, 2006. Presented every two years, the Design Emphasis Award winners continue to raise the bar, as they take the woodworking craft to new heights using their vision and creativity to produce trend setting designs that leave the industry awestruck.

Trends Extra
Woodworking equipment purchases cool slightly in 2005. While most categories held steady or increased, overall acquisitions of woodworking equipment decreased by 3 percent in 2005 over 2004 numbers. A healthy economy along with continuing strong housing and remodeling markets bode well for 2006 increased buying power.

Trends Wood Bits
Industry professionals are looking ahead to the 2007 Woodworking Industry Conference (WIC) to be held at the Renaissance Vinoy Resort, April 25-28 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Words of Wisdom
The residential housing market may be cooling somewhat, but look for commercial real estate to bring good business to the wood products manufacturing sector.