Custom Shop
Keystone Millwork takes a different angle when deciding which projects to take on in its 20,000-sq.-ft. facility in Bryan, Texas. The manufacturer of custom architectural woodwork and retail and institutional casework attributes its success to a business philosophy with a little bit of a twist.
Finish Line
Everyone at the Alabama Center for Advanced Woodworking Technology (ACAWT) was excited with the discovery of our new compact bench top CO2 laser engraver’s capabilities. We recently took delivery of the engraver in order to discover the opportunities of laser cutting and engraving at a rate of 140" per second.
The First Word
As I walked the grounds at the AWFS Vegas 2007 trade show, it seemed every booth I visited or every seminar I attended, someone would describe how environmentally responsible their product is or what an organization was doing to position itself in a market with growing demand for goods manufactured using sustainable materials. Everyone, it seems, is going green.
Hot Gear
Get descriptions and request information about products from our participating companies.
Material Issues
What is the outlook for some of the more popular North American hardwood species?
“Red Oak markets will take on a softer feel over the next few months,” says Barrett “Upper-grade Red Oak will be especially difficult to move, and common-grade Red Oak shipments will slow to flooring plants, many of which will stop purchasing #1 Common altogether. Lower prices will lure Far Eastern, Mexican, European and Middle Eastern buyers to the table and lift Red Oak out of the doldrums during the second half of the year.
Production Line
As a commercial casework manufacturer, Westminster, Md.-based G.T. Brothers has been bolstered by the current strength of the medical/dental and education building construction, its two core markets. The company’s sales are growing at a fast pace and are poised to top $2 million this year. A recent move into a new facility increased capacity and allowed the company to improve its marketing efforts.
Proving Ground
Serving the tri-city area of central Texas that includes San Antonio, Austin and Houston, business has been good for Taylor, Texas-based Burrows Cabinets. With sales of $8 million in 2003, the company is poised to near $18 million this year, with the goal of doubling that to $36 million in the next two years.
Sanding Sense
A user’s first “real” look at a widebelt sander manual doesn’t usually take place until there is a problem. At that point, it is far too late. It is then that you will find out that the manual is probably woefully inadequate. An evaluation of the manual should be part of your up-front comparison, before you make a buying decision.
Supply Side
What’s the biggest mistake wood processors make when buying abrasives, and what advice do you have for them?
Think Lean
Culture change? When we surveyed manufacturers involved in the Association for Manufacturing Excellence, culture was at the top of the list of interests. Too bad there isn’t a cookbook PowerPoint presentation for a seven-step, 12-step or X-step program for getting culture. Train a few folks. Do a value stream map. Run a few events. Eureka, we’ve got a new lean culture! If only it were that easy.
Trends
If your next client wants a beautiful mahogany door but is willing to pay only a fraction of what it would cost, there may be a solution on the horizon to make him a very satisfied customer, thanks to a new laser-scribing technology.
Trends Extra
Overall U.S. woodworking equipment purchases in 2006 fell by less than a half percent from those in 2005, according to data from Equipment Data Associates (owned by Randall-Reilly Publishing – publishers of Modern Woodworking), which tracks and analyzes leases and finances of woodworking machinery and equipment in certain categories from all 50 states.
Machining centers led the increases with a 28.3-percent increase in 2006 over 2005 numbers followed by moulders with an 11.5-percent increase.
Trends Wood Bits
The Department of Commerce ’s (DOC’s) successful International Buyer Program (IBP), being conducted for the first time at the 2007 AWFS®Fair, is garnering a great deal of interest from potential global customers looking for high-quality American products. This dynamic program offers expanded services and logistical support to international attendees and connects domestic manufacturers with new international buyers. |
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Making the Move
A production building busting at the seams is the sign of a successful woodworking company ready to expand or a company with a poorly planned production flow. Planning is key for wood products manufacturers ready to make the move to a larger facility. Preparing well in advance of the actual move date will go a long way to minimizing production loss during the move.
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