Armstrong Cabinets Sold, Masco Countertop Closing Tops News
Fender Musical Instrument Co.

Armstrong Cabinets Sold, Masco Countertop Closing Tops News  Armstrong's sale of its kitchen cabinet business topped the wood industry reports this week. The unexpected cabinetry business exit came just weeks after Armstrong divsted its flooring distributorshop.

Hardwood plywood manufacturers filed a formal dumping complaint against China. The success of another wood industry segment, bedroom furniture, in its dumping complaint against China, provides a model for the plywood manufactures. Other wood manufacturing news dailies quickly picked up the story after Karen Koenig broke this news at WoodworkingNetwork.com Sept. 28.

Fender Muscial instrument's decision to withdraw its public offering, made quietly in an SEC filing, also led the news, as well as a unique story: a 2012 MaArthurd Foundation Grant of $500,000 went to a genius wood crafter in Boston whose studio produces wood bows for the world's greatest cellists and violinists. Benoit Rolland need not change his daily routine: the grant is provide purely to reward and inspire he and his cohorts.

Here are the top stories of the week:

Hardwood Plywood

Hardwood Plywood Group Files Dumping Petition Against China
By Karen Koenig | Updated: 09/28/2012 10:12:00 AM
The Coalition for Fair Trade of Hardwood Plywood (CFTHP) has filed an unfair trade petition against China for products "sold in the United States at dumped prices." News of the antidumping petition was announced Sept. 27. Read more

Armstrong Cabinet Products

Armstrong to Sell Cabinet Business
By Karen Koenig | Updated: 09/27/2012 10:10:00 AM
Armstrong World Industries Inc. announced late Wednesday it will sell its cabinet business to American Industrial Partners for $27 million. The deal closes next quarter.  Read more

Fender Musical Instrument Co.

Why Fender Guitar Withdrew Public Offering
By Bill Esler | Updated: 09/29/2012 3:13:00 PM
Fender's slipping profits felled its public offering. The famed wood guitar and musical instruments manufacturer formally withdrew its plans to go public in a letter to the Security & Exchange Commission. Read more

Uniboard Laval

Uniboard Canada Acquisition by Kaycan Finalized
By Bill Esler | Updated: 10/02/2012 10:21:00 PM
Kaycan Ltd., supplier of vinyl, aluminum and engineered wood siding and trim, finalized its acquisition of engineered wood products firm Uniboard Canada, from Pfleiderer. Read more

Masco DeNova

Masco to Close NJ Countertop Facility
By Karen Koenig | Updated: 10/03/2012 1:00:00 PM

Masco Cabinetry said it will close its countertop manufacturing facility in Lakewood, NJ, on Nov. 21. The closure will result in the layoff of 191 employees. Read more

Wood Bow Master Is MacArthur 2012 Genius Grant Winner
By Bill Esler | Updated: 10/02/2012 8:20:00 AM
A wood bow craftsman, Benoît Rolland, has been named a 2012 MacArthur Fellow, winning a $500,000 genius grant. Working in pernambuco and other rare woods, Rolland has advanced the science of bow making. Read more

Tischlerei-Fine Woodworking Opens in Salina, KS
By Bill Esler | Updated: 10/02/2012 1:00:00 PM
Tischlerei - Fine Woodworking opens a 44,000 square foot plant today in a Salina, KS airport industrial center. Manager Olaf Gerhardt says he already has a healthy backlog, and is hiring to ship high end millwork worldwide. Read more

Modern Kitchen Cabinets Made in America
Posted by Michaelle Bradford | Updated: 09/27/2012 9:00:00 AM
The IMBUE modern kitchen cabinet line, designed and built in Portland, Oregon by collaborators bright designlab and Hammer & Hand, brings a new entry to the world of high design cabinets.
Read more

Oakleigh Custom Woodworks

Millwork Step by Step at Oakleigh Custom Woodworks
Posted by Bill Esler | Updated: 10/02/2012 10:41:00 AM
Oakleigh Custom Woodworks shows how it router and milled its way to winning a 14-window rebuild contract, using specially treated wood that resists swelling and rot, and CNC machines.
Read more

J Alexander Fine Woodworking Jared Patchin

Ribbon Sapele Veneer Console Table
By Jared Patchin | Updated: 09/25/2012 10:00:00 AM
A side table is veneered in ribbon sapele and finished with a bright-rubbed conversion varnish. This table will be sitting off to the side of the client’s hearth. Read more

White Oak wood lumber panel

Poplar Orders Strong; Millwork Firms Demand More Oak
By Andy Johnson | Updated: 09/27/2012 7:18:00 PM
Poplar demand hasn't deteriorated as summer ended. Increasing moulding and millwork demand in the U.S., plus China's demand, will hike upper-grade red oak prices, says Hardwood Review's Andy Johnson. Read more

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