WOOD 100 Strategies for Success 2014: Technology Integration
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WOOD 100 Strategies for Success 2014: Technology IntegrationTechnology can transform small-sized firms into production powerhouses, and enables large firms to batch-one process quickly and easily. The right route for success often involves ensuring that the proper technology is in place to meet the needs of the project.

Plus Closets, Elmhurst, IL — In 2013, the closet systems manufacturer invested approximately $2.5 million in machinery for its 60,000-square-foot facility. Read more about Plus Closets' technology and increased productivity.

transFORM, New Rochelle, NY — From its 30,000-square-foot state-of-the-art facility, transFORM designs, manufactures and installs custom storage cabinetry for closets, home offices and wall units. The company’s products are sold throughout New York, New Jersey and the Connecticut metro market. Read more about transFORM's new technology.

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Chandler Cabinets, Pilot Point, TX
Founded in 1975, the family-owned custom firm is known for its custom cabinetry and architectural products. “We have grown almost 400% since 2005,” notes CEO Josh Chandler. 2013 sales alone grew 23.3% as the company expanded its capabilities, including with the purchase of a miter door machine, two paint booths, four table saws, two framing tables — and three new buildings. 2014 sales are projected to exceed last year’s as the firm looks to add a beam saw plus “finishing equipment to expand our pre-finishing department.” 

Dubworks LLC, Erie, CO
Focusing on its core competencies, the casework and architectural millwork maker‘s sales grew 30.2%. A number of capital improvements were made including replacement of a throughfeed point to point with a new Giben. “We also purchased the required equipment for the expansion to a second Colorado location,” says President and CEO Jake West. That plant is now equipped with: a Biesse machining center, edgebander, and boring and doweling machine; Uhling case clamps; a Star V twin-head V-groover; and Tradesoft software.

Custom Source Woodworking Inc., Olympia, WA
In addition to exceeding customer expectations, the architectural woodworking firm also attributes its 25.0% growth to a “continued implementation and integration of technology,” says President James Mammina. Among the purchases last year were a second CNC nested machine, another edgebander, a gang ripsaw, planer and a CNC sliding table saw.

Cabinet Components, Bessemer, AL
With a focus of improving quality and customer service, the cabinet components firm purchased Cameron optimizing saws and a Timesavers planer/sander last year. The investment has paid off, with 2013 sales growing 5.6%, says President Wayne Moore. Not done, the firm plans to add a Cameron ripsaw with an optimizing infeed and CNC software.

Taghkanic Woodworking, Pawling, NY
Specializing in cabinetry and CNC machining services, the firm’s 2013 sales grew 19.1%. “We added a new edgebander which increased the quality and quantity of work produced. This also allowed us to offer edgebanding services to our CNC customers, including 3mm banding,” says President Leland Thomasset. “We increased our labor force from 4 to 6 and we also outsource work overflow to other shops,” Thomasset adds.

Village Handcrafted Cabinetry, Lansdale, PA
“Now that the overall construction and remodeling market has picked up, we are primed to see double-digit growth,” says Joseph Trave, partner at the cabinetry and millwork firm. 2013 sales grew 13.8% and look to be even better in 2014, he says. Aiding production was the purchase of a 5-head Weinig moulder, Pistorius hauncher, TigerStop with Oliver upcut saw and Cabinet Vision software.

Rodgers Wade, Paris, TX
The fixtures and millwork maker revamped its 275,000-square-foot plant for high-speed production, including adding an SNX contour bander. For its efforts, it won the WMIA’s 2014 Wooden Globe for Commitment to Excellence through Technology. “We have had constant growth due to the commitment from our ownership, sales and entire staff,” says Darren Hamner, Director of Client Solutions. “In the past five years we have averaged 100% growth each year due to these commitments.”

Walker Woodworking, Shelby, NC
The cabinetry firm added an Scm CNC router, increasing its capacity and sales, says Travis Walker. Other shop equipment includes a Kentwood moulder, Butfering sander, Brandt edgebander, Balestrini mortiser/tenoner and Cabinet Vision software.

Closet America, Lanham, MD
“Last year, we invested in three key areas of our business - employee training, equipment, and technology. Closet America is a growing company, and we felt that strategic investments in these areas would allow us to retain our focus on customer satisfaction as we expand our business,” says Joshua Kiernan, marketing manager. The decision paid off with 2013 sales up 54.6%. In addition to software investments, the firm installed the first hot air edgebander in the United States, a Biesse AirForce, which produces seamless edges.

Cutting Edge, Maple Creek, SK
The solid wood components maker has been hard at work meeting clients’ needs, says Arden Bond, managing director. To aid in the production process, the firm “purchased an automated chop saw which ‘de-skilled’ the operation and has maximized material and labor utilization.” A second saw was added this year, and the firm also plans to add a sander and another CNC for sizing.

North American Plywood, Parsippany, NJ
In addition to offering plywood, the firm also has full production facilities for value added plywood products. “We just installed the largest UV coating line in the United States,” says Donald Kuser, general manager. Capable of finishing to 5-ft x 12-ft panels, “This line is fully automated and has the fastest production speed available.” 2013 sales grew 5.3%.

Jack Daniel’s Cooperage, Decatur, AL
At its new 150,000-square-foot facility, Weinig CNC stave jointers and planers have automated the barrel making process. “The new jointing equipment that we put in, by cutting the exact right angle for every individual stave, means that we have a much cleaner fitting barrel and a much tighter barrel,” says Larry Combs, senior vice president/general manager. James L. Taylor and Brown-Foreman Engineering assisted in the upgrade. The firm won the 2014 WMIA Wooden Globe for Innovator of the Year.

Industrial Shipping Products, Latrobe, PA
Business is looking good, says Frank Rozik, owner of the IPPC certified shipping containers and wood parts maker. In 2013 it added a straightline ripsaw, with 2014 plans to add a beam saw, gang rip and CNC machine center.

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