WCMA Members: The Source for All Your Component Needs By Steve Lawser, CAE Executive Director, Wood Component Manufacturers Association Marietta, Georgia

One Stop Shopping…

The WCMA makes it easy for component buyers to find WCMA members that can produce the specific wood component products they need. A component buyer does not need to look any further than the WCMA as the combined capabilities of all WCMA members can meet every wood component need. One call to the WCMA office or a visit to our Web site — www.woodcomponents.org — can connect you to a wide variety of component manufacturers who can service your needs.

WCMA companies produce rough, semi- and fully machined wood component products for the cabinet, furniture, building products, staircase, flooring, millwork, store fixture and related decorative wood product industries. Some of these components include S2S & S4S dimension blanks, flooring strips, moulding blanks, edge-glued panels, solid and laminated squares, dowels, mouldings, turnings, table and chair parts, cabinet doors and parts, frame stock, staircase parts, interior trim, millwork, engineered wood components and many other specialty wood products. These components are made from a variety of hardwoods, softwoods, and engineered and composite wood materials. WCMA member companies are located throughout the United States and Canada near their timber supplies.

Rising costs of doing business have caused finished wood product manufacturers to look for cost-effective component suppliers to improve their competitive position. Reliable, just-in-time delivery of components allows finished wood product manufacturers to lower their inventories and increase their turnover rates, resulting in higher margins. Purchasing components also helps cabinet, furniture and millwork manufacturers to respond quicker to changes in the marketplace for new products and designs. The buying public benefits by having more choices of customized furniture, cabinets and related goods AND having them delivered more quickly.

To meet this increased demand for just-in-time, outsourced components, WCMA members have expanded their capabilities and are able to provide a wide range of components for a variety of applications with shorter lead times. WCMA members have invested in new technology and equipment so they can meet the growing demand for precision components. This has greatly improved their productivity levels and makes them more competitive with other suppliers.

WCMA Membership Directory & Source Guide

Included on pages 23-37 of this Wood Components Buyer’s Guide is a “WCMA Membership Directory & Source Guide.” This listing of WCMA member companies and their capabilities is a handy reference source for locating suppliers for dimension and component products. This section includes a listing of all WCMA member companies, a description of the products they produce, wood species availability and machining capabilities. This information makes it easy for dimension and component buyers to identify those companies who produce the products they need, plus it provides them with contact information.

From lumberyards (below) to component manufacturing (above), the plant tour encompasses nearly all phases of converting raw material to finished product.

WCMA Member Match™ Program

The WCMA’s Member Match™ Program was created to “match” component buyers’ needs with our members’ production capabilities. It is a computerized membership database retrieval system that provides prospective buyers with a list of all WCMA members that can produce the specific component products they need. This computer-generated list is immediately faxed or e-mailed to component buyers so they can contact manufacturers with their exact specifications. This service is free of charge to dimension and component buyers and is available by contacting the WCMA office directly or visiting our Web site at www.woodcomponents.org.

Trade Promotion

WCMA advertisements are placed in the annual directory and buyer’s guide issues of the major woodworking magazines. The WCMA exhibits at several woodworking trade shows held throughout the world. The WCMA displays the various products produced by its member companies and distributes free copies of the Wood Component Buyer’s Guide to interested component buyers and users who visit the booth.

A large number of sales leads are obtained at these trade shows that are passed on to all WCMA members for follow-up. Component buyers are able to shop for all of their component needs in one stop by visiting the WCMA’s trade show booth.

Fall Conference & Plant Tour Event

The WCMA conducts a Fall Conference & Plant Tour Event each year. The Fall Conference presents educational sessions on timely topics of interest to WCMA members with opportunities for open discussion on common concerns. Members also tour the production facilities of several dimension, component and related woodworking companies. These plant tours provide WCMA members with a unique opportunity to observe innovative woodworking manufacturing operations and discover new manufacturing techniques, exchange ideas and learn about alternative manufacturing methods.

The WCMA’s Annual Plant Tour Event gives members a unique opportunity to inspect the manufacturing operations of other wood component specialists and end-users.

The 2006 WCMA Fall Conference & Plant Tour Event will be held October 14-17 in Eastern Kentucky. Several interesting educational sessions are scheduled in addition to tours of several leading woodworking operations that produce components, cabinetry, furniture, flooring, lumber, millwork and specialty wood products.

WCMA Rulebook

The WCMA publishes the “Rules and Specifications for Dimension and Woodwork.” The Rulebook covers dimension and component grading rules, tolerances and claim procedures for domestic and export trade. The WCMA Rulebook serves as a guideline for buyers of dimension and component products when specifying their component products. It is also a valuable communications link between component buyers and suppliers.

The pocket-sized Rulebook is available for $5 per copy (includes shipping & handling) by mailing your check to the WCMA office at 741 Butlers Gate, Suite 100, Marietta, GA 30068.

Industry Research and Market Studies

The WCMA conducts a number of proprietary technical and market studies to help its members identify new markets and improve their company’s competitive position. WCMA members rely on the annual WCMA Dimension & Component Market Study to keep them informed of current business conditions and industry trends. The Wage & Benefit and Cost-of-Doing-Business Surveys allow members to compare their costs of doing business and wage and benefit structures with other member companies.

These valuable studies are the only ones conducted for the wood component industry and are available to all participating WCMA members free of charge. This gives WCMA members a distinct competitive advantage and the benefits are passed on to their customers through greater production and management efficiencies.

Wood Technology Expo

The WCMA conducts a Wood Technology Expo each year, which is designed to encourage more interaction between woodworking machinery manufacturers and suppliers with WCMA member companies. The next Wood Technology Expo is held in conjunction with our 2006 Fall Conference & Plant Tour Event.

A select group of manufacturers of woodworking machinery, equipment, software and business solutions exhibit at this Wood Technology Expo. These companies discuss their latest technological developments in the woodworking industry that offer solutions to wood processing challenges for dimension and component manufacturers. Manufacturers of material handling equipment, gluing equipment, dust collection, fingerjointers, moulders, planers, cut-off and ripsaws, routers, tenoners, CNC machinery, dry kilns, optimizing equipment, finishing systems, yield improvement systems, tooling, software and business solutions are represented. Attendees have a one-on-one opportunity to discuss problems and solutions for their specific companies.

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In recent years, rising material and production costs at home and competition from abroad have made North American manufacturers in all industries work harder to keep costs down. They have streamlined their manufacturing processes, improved their technology and increased worker productivity.

Many manufacturers of furniture, cabinets, millwork and other finished wood products have found the best strategy to control costs is outsourcing some of their components from outside suppliers.

Because of the importance of outsourcing, the Wood Component Manufacturers Association, along with Wood & Wood Products and Custom Woodworking Business magazines, commissioned Vance Research Services to conduct a new study to discover the trends in outsourcing wood components. A total of 304 U.S. and Canadian wood product manufacturers responded to the survey.

Sixty-two percent of the woodworking companies surveyed indicated they outsource components to suppliers. The average dollar value of wood component parts each company purchased in the last 12 months was $901,069.

Of those respondents who outsource their components to suppliers, 68% said they do so from U.S. manufacturers. Canada is the second leading source of supplies at 43%. Twenty-seven percent reported that they outsource components from China. Other sources include: Italy (11%), Mexico (11%), Indonesia (8%), Eastern Europe (7%), Taiwan (7%), Brazil (6%), Malaysia (3%), Vietnam (3%) and Thailand (1%).

Woodworking professionals surveyed reported that 58% of their wood components are manufactured in-house, while 35% are sourced from U.S. and Canadian suppliers and 7% are made by foreign suppliers. Respondents expect their in-house production to increase to 68%, while 37% will be sourced from U.S. and Canadian suppliers in the next two years.

The top 10 products most often outsourced from U.S. or Canadian suppliers were:

• Cabinet doors 53%
• Mouldings & millwork 53%
• Drawer boxes 42%
• Solid & laminated squares & rounds 36%
• Drawer fronts 33%
• Veneered parts 29%
• Turned table & chair legs 28%
• Drawer sides 28%
• Plywood parts 27%
• Stair spindles & newel posts 24%

Consistent quality (49%), good relationships with suppliers (49%), having better control over costs (48%), price (41%), lack of equipment (41%) and lack of capacity (36%) were cited as the top reasons for buying component parts from U.S and Canadian suppliers. Product quality and price were the most important reasons why woodworking professionals select a U.S. or Canadian supplier.

While 7% of current outsourcing is done from foreign suppliers, North American woodworking professionals said they expect that number to grow to 30% in the next two years. Price was the number one consideration when outsourcing components to foreign suppliers, reported by 37% of respondents. Better control over costs (28%) and the ability to add new products (19%) were other major reasons for buying from foreign suppliers.

The top 10 products most often outsourced from foreign suppliers were:

• Mouldings & millwork 23%
• Solid rounds & dowels 21%
• Plywood parts 19%
• Stair spindles & newel posts 14%
• Turned table & chair legs 14%
• Chair seats & parts 12%
• Veneered parts 11%
• Cabinet doors 10%
• Cut-to-size blanks 10%
• Drawer sides 10%

The main reason participating companies said they do not outsource at all or do not outsource more parts than they do is because they want to control the production process. The second most frequently cited reason was their quantities were too small (43%); 42% indicated they can manufacture their own parts cheaper. Thirty-eight percent indicated the required lead time was too long.

The top 10 products most often produced in-house were:

• Drawer fronts 53%
• Plywood parts 49%
• Cabinet doors 47%
• Drawer boxes 47%
• Drawer sides 46%
• Edge-glued panels 46%
• Cabinet face frames 45%
• Cut-to-size blanks 44%
• Mouldings & millwork 42%
• Particleboard parts 42%

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The Wood Component Manufacturers Association (WCMA) has a “Technology Partnership” program to connect manufacturers of woodworking machinery, equipment, supplies, software and business solutions to WCMA member companies who utilize these products and services. This program was created to foster stronger relationships between WCMA members and our key suppliers.

Our Technology Partners have the opportunity to showcase and educate WCMA members on their newest technologies, products and services. This helps WCMA members adopt new technologies, implement advanced wood processing techniques and utilize the latest improvements in woodworking machinery, equipment, tooling and supplies.

The centerpiece of the Technology Partner program is the Wood Technology Expo, which is held annually in conjunction with the WCMA Fall Conference & Plant Tour Event.

To find out more about becoming a WCMA Technology Partner, please contact the WCMA office at (770) 565-6660 or e-mail us at [email protected]. A description of all current Technology Partners is included on the WCMA’s Web site at www.woodcomponents.org; click on Technology Partners.

ACCURATE TECHNOLOGY INC.
Tel: (828) 654-7920
www.accurate-technology.com
Contact: Ed Fiantaca, President
Products: Accurate Technology manufactures ProScale™ Digital Measuring Systems, which measure up to 20 ft, with accuracy to 0.002 in. Three-year warranty; made in the USA.
 
ACCU-ROUTER INC.
Tel: (931) 668-7127
www.accu-router.com
Contact: Todd Herzog, President
Products: Accu-Router is a manufacturer of high-performance, customized CNC routing systems and premium high-speed spindles. Product strengths include spindles with amazing quietness and cutting capability, and
automatic tool changers.
 
ACTIVE MACHINE & TOOL CO. INC.
Tel: (616) 662-9730 
www.activemachine.com
Contact: Michael Ary, Sales Manager
Products: Active Machine & Tool Co. manufactures, distributes and services solid carbide, carbide-tipped, diamond and HSS tooling. 
 
ALEXANDER DODDS CO.
Tel: (616) 784-6000
www.dodds.com
Contact: Mark Chappell, Vice President
Products: Alexander Dodds Co. produces drawer machinery, dovetailers, dovetail gluers and drawer clamps. Precise dovetailers allow assembly without filling and sanding. Mortise and bore machinery for Mod-eez clips.

AMERICAN WOOD DRYERS INC.
Tel: (503) 655-1955 
www.drykilns.com
Contact: William E. Moore, President
Products: Since 1981, American Wood Dryers has been a leader in providing innovative and effective drying solutions worldwide, building a reputation...not resting on one.  

AWMV INDUSTRIAL PRODUCTS
Tel: (317) 808-0835
www.awmv.com
Contact: Kevin Corder, Vice President
Products: AWMV Industrial Products is the commercial division of Wood-Mizer. The product line includes moulding machines, profile grinders, resaws, edgers and thin-kerf sawmills. 

BARR-MULLIN INC.
Tel: (919) 833-3334
www.barrmullin.com
Contact: Sandy Mullin, Reed Mullin
Products: BMI produces computerized woodworking machinery, specializing in grading, automatic lumber scanning systems and optimizing cut-off saws/gang ripsaws. BMI systems create yield increases and reduce labor costs.

CAROLINA SPECIALTY TOOLS INC.
Tel: (828) 397-2467
www.carolinatools.com
Contact: Tim Weaver, President
Products: Carolina Specialty Tools specializes in the design and manufacture of high-tech cutting tools for the woodworking industry: Carbide-tipped, insert tooling and diamond tooling for industrial CNC machinery.
 
CARTER PRODUCTS CO. INC.
Tel: (616) 647-3380 
www.carterproducts.com
Contact: Peter Perez, President; Kip Walworth, Manager Sales & Marketing
Products: Carter Products offers: 2-D computer laser production systems, line lasers, inspection lights, widebelt sander set-up/ diagnostic devices, bandsaw guides, wheels, tires and other machine accessories.
 
DANTHERM FILTRATION
Tel: (800) 533-5286 
www.disafilter.com
Contact: Chuck Morrison
Products: Dantherm Filtration, formerly DISA Systems, provides world-class dust
collection solutions. Dantherm specializes in turn-key systems, including design, fabrication and installation of systems from 1,000 CFM to 200,000 CFM.

DELMAC MACHINERY GROUP
Tel: (336) 854-1211 
www.delmac.com
Contact: Gerri Bolton, Marketing Supervisor
Products: DMG represents Busellato (CNC machining centers, edgebanders); Delmac Engineering, Gabbiani GDG (tenoners, combination machines); SAG (material handling); Mayer (panel saws); Fravol (straight/contour edgebanders); and OMAL (bore/dowel machines).  

DENRAY MACHINE INC.
Tel: (417) 466-4046 
www.denray.com
Contact: Dennis Rayon, President/Owner
Products: Denray has the largest line of downdraft tables in the industry, plus a large selection of environmental booths, from 6 ft to 60 ft wide. 
 
DIEHL MACHINES
Tel: (260) 563-2102 
www.diehlmachines.com
Contact: Gary Fredrickson, Sales Manager
Products: Diehl manufactures straight line rip saws, moulders, profile grinders, veneer splicers, Challoner single- and double-end tenoners, and Challoner stile and rail entry door machines. 
 
DMSI - DISTRIBUTION MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS INC.
Tel: (402) 330-6620 
www.dmsi.com
Contact: Monte Jensen
Products: DMSi supplies business management solutions for building product distributors, lumber wholesalers and lumber re-manufacturers. North America's top suppliers use DMSi software to efficiently manage their daily activities.
 
DOUCET MACHINERIES INC.
Tel: (819) 367-2633
www.doucetinc.com
Contact: Andre Masse, Marketing Manager
Products: Doucet Machineries supplies return conveyors for edgebanders, shaper-sanders and ripsaws. They design and manufacture superior quality machinery, including clamp carriers, flooring end-matchers, fingerjointers and boring machines. 

EAGLE MACHINERY & SUPPLY INC.
Tel: (330) 897-3013 
www.eaglemachines.com
Contact: Kirk Spillman, President
Products: Custom design of material handling and optimization for rip and cut operations. Eagle’s products include: Ripmaster fenceless ripping; optiscan and vision defect scanning; material handling machinery and sawdust blowers.

FRANKLIN ADHESIVES
Tel: (800) 877-4583 
www.franklininternational.com
Contact: Jaye Schroeder
Products: For more than 70 years, Franklin Adhesives has been an industry leader in bonding wood and wood products. Franklin Adhesives markets Titebond®, Multibond®, Advantage®, and wood bonds.
 
FROEDGE MACHINE & SUPPLY CO.
Tel: (270) 487-5891
www.froedge.com
Contact: Tom Froedge, Vice President & General Manager
Products: Froedge Machine offers industrial solutions focusing on labor saving devices and yield improvements. The company achieves this through use of high technology and sound material handing concepts.
 
GLADU TOOLS INC.
Tel: (450) 460-5118, ext. 220
www.gladu.com
Contact: Maryse Larocque,
Executive Assistant
Products: Gladu Tools provides high-quality, high-performance tooling for the woodworking industry in polycrystalline diamond, carbide insert, cast cobalt alloys, tungsten carbide and high-speed steel. 

GREAT LAKES CUSTOM TOOL MFG. INC.
Tel: (800) 873-4528
www.glct.com
Contact: Ray Martin, Vice President of Operations
Products: Great Lakes Custom Tool Mfg. provides custom tool design and manufacturing, including: Great-Loc® carbide insert system, Great-Loc® SG Universal Tool System, brazed carbide, brazed diamond, Helicarb® and saw blades.

HASKO INC.
Tel: (423) 648-5200 
www.haskomachines.com
Contact: Randy Brooks, President; Steve Pugh, Vice President Sales
Products: Hasko products include: optimizing gang ripsaws and systems; side-matching and planing centers; end matchers; lineal feed tables; sorting, grading and nesting systems; and crayon-mark and optimizing cut-off saws.

HOLZ-HER U.S. INC.
Tel: (704) 587-3400
www.holzher.com
Contact: Richard Hannigan, Vice President, Sales
Products: Holz-Her products include vertical panel saws, sliding table saws and horizontal beam saws for cutting, edgebanders, widebelt sanders,and a wide range of CNC machining centers.

JENKINS SYSTEMS
Tel: (920) 452-2110  
www.jenkins-systems.com
Contact: Kurt Zipperer or Jim Linssen
Products: Jenkins Systems manufactures high-quality, simple-to-operate cabinet, millwork, furniture, RTA, sizing and specialty machinery, including tenoners, CNC miter machines, CNC shapers, tool changers, robotics and special application machinery. 
 
KOMO MACHINE INC.
Tel: (320) 252-0580 
www.komo.com
Contact: Jeff Erickson, Director of Sales & Marketing or Sheldon Prom
Products: Komo Machine designs and builds high-speed precision CNC routers integrated with CIM-Tech’s premiere machine programming software for a complete CNC solution. Komo is proud to be an American manufacturer. 

LACEY-HARMER CO.
Tel: (800) 367-9992 
www.laceyharmer.com
Contact: Judy Cope
Products: Products include Lasalign® and Laser Blazer® Guidelines to maximize quality and yield; Easy Empty Self-Dumping Containers; RENS Metal Detectors; and a full line of Summit® Chain products. 
 
MEREEN-JOHNSON MACHINE CO.
Tel: (612) 529-7791 
www.mereen-johnson.com
Contact: Marv West
Products: Mereen-Johnson manufactures quality woodworking machinery: fixed arbor and movable blade ripsaws, single- and double- end tenoners, panel-sizing equipment, dovetailers, and complete rough mill material handling systems.  

NEWMAN MACHINE CO. INC.
Tel: (336) 273-8261  
www.newmanwhitney.com
Contact: Mike Harris; [email protected]
Products: Newman Machine manufactures and designs precision woodworking machinery, including double roughing planers, double and single surfacers, gang ripsaws, presses, trimmers and knife grinders. 
 
NORTHTECH INDUSTRIAL MACHINERY LLC
Tel: (502) 719-0015
www.northtechmachinery.com
Contact: Lisa Drury
Products: Northtech Industrial Machinery suppl