With the wood products industry still struggling, business and production strategies to help companies to survive, and even thrive in the woodworking industry, were among the most-read stories of 2011. Also of interest to followers of WoodworkingNetwork.com, and the publications Wood & Wood Products and Custom Woodworking Business, were stories on market trends, new product developments and manufacturing abroad.
Based on the number of page views garnered, the following rank as top stories for 2011.
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Wood Industry 2011 Market Leaders
By Karen Koenig | Updated: 11/29/2011 12:01:00 PM
Profiles of movers and shakers at eight forward-thinking wood products companies highlight their impact on the wood manufacturing industry as a whole.
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2011 WOOD 100: Readying for the Future
By Karen Koenig | Updated: 09/01/2011 4:04:00 PM
More so than perhaps any other market, woodworking businesses have been hard hit by the economy. Here are some of the strategies that are implementing to not only survive, but thrive.
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Fallen 1500-Year-Old Redwood
By Jo-Ann Kaiser | Updated: 11/04/2011 4:06:00 PM
A tree falling in the forest usually isn't news, unless the tree happens to be a 1,500 year-old giant sequoia that comes to rest in the middle of a popular hiking path.
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VT’s Lean, Sustainable Door Manufacturing
By Karen Koenig | Updated: 11/04/2011 12:48:00 PM
Based in Holstein, IA, VT Industries is one of the largest North American manufacturers of architectural wood doors.
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Against the Grain Shops Cut New Grooves
By Bill Esler | Updated: 09/27/2011 12:42:00 PM
Adding services, sharing plants, outsourcing and insourcing are some creative measures custom woodshops have taken to survive.
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Housing & the Wood Industry:
Trends & Market Conditions
By Urs Buehlmann, Matt Bumgardner, Al Schuler and Karen Koenig | Updated: 07/05/2011 12:00:00 AM
How did the woodworking industry fare in 2010 when dealing with unstable housing markets and what actions are being taken to remain profitable? Read this exclusive survey.
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Tables With Two Legs on the Floor
By Bill Esler | Updated: 10/30/2011 11:22:00 AM
Beijing artist Ai Wei Wei gives wood crafters pause with his 21st Century take on traditional joinery from his homeland.
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Herman Miller Eames Seats Rapper Ice Cube
By Bill Esler | Updated: 12/10/2011 5:46:00 PM
Wood interiors and Eames designs and furnishings, long associated with Herman Miller, are celebrated in a Los Angeles art project, Pacific Standard Time. Actor and rap singer Ice Cube professes his admiration architectural design team Charles and Ray Eames.
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Manufacturing in China
By Karen Koenig | Updated: 04/29/2011 12:00:00 AM
A firsthand look at China, as well as the technology and business considerations in place at the furniture factories of seven major players in the industry.
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Custom Specialty Cases, Digitally Engineered
By Bill Esler | Updated: 09/02/2011 10:54:00 AM
Portland’s Grove LLC has mushroomed from two to 18 employees making custom- and limited-run cases for the iPad and iPhones.
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Also highly popular, the more than 150 Wood of the Month columns provide feature information and pictures of domestic and exotic hardwoods and softwoods used in woodworking, including maple, cherry, pine, chestnut, birch and zebrawood.
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