It was a good year for the FDM 300, but not for every company. Eleven companies left the FDM 300 and 11 others were added for this year’s listing, which reflects the industry in 2012.

After five consecutive years of declines in annual sales, the FDM 300 recorded a sales gain in 2012. We estimated sales for this group of 300 companies in the United States and Canada to be $37.632 in 2012. That’s an increase of 4 percent over sales for this group in 2011, which was $36.167 billion. In 2011 we estimated that sales had declined 2.25 percent from the year before.

The FDM 300 is a group of the 300 largest cabinet, furniture, millwork, store fixture, office/contract and component producers in North America. Additional information can be found at www.cabinetmakerfdm.com by clicking on the FDM 300 tab or searching for a specific company.

New companies in 2012

Most of the companies going out of business were mid-size or smaller manufacturers, and the new companies that we’ve added are mostly smaller cabinet or millwork companies that have enough annual sales (about $10 million) to qualify. New companies not listed in previous years include Dakota Kitchen and Bath, Harlan Cabinets, Elmwood Fine Custom Cabinetry, Leland International, Eggers Industries, Metropolitan Cabinet and Thos. Moser Cabinetmakers.

We do list a few importers. This isn’t our main area of interest, but it’s worth pointing out that a few companies have gone to an all-import model and then returned to manufacturing in North America, either on their own or through a contract company.

Closed in 2012

Taylor Companies closed in July 2012. The company, reportedly the oldest in Ohio, manufactured desks, reception stations, office chairs and conference tables at plants in Bedford, Ohio, and Lynwood, Calif. In recent years, the company had 115 employees and annual sales of $15 million, according to FDM 300 data.

Royal Seating, Cameron, Texas, reportedly closed its operation in early November, according to KXXV-TV in Waco. We were not successful in contacting the company. This operation had employed as many as 300 in recent years making educational and library furniture, church and auditorium seating.

Hamilton Fixture closed its 320,000 square foot plant in Hamilton, Ohio, leading to the loss of about 100 jobs, according to a report in May in www.journal-news.com. The company made store fixtures, casework, and cabinets for retailers. Three years ago, we listed this company with 500 employees and annual sales estimated at $40 million.

Regal Kitchens LLC reportedly closed its Medley, Fla., cabinet factory last year. An auction was held in October. The company has employed 150 people making stock cabinets, closet systems and countertops. Annual sales were $20 million several years ago.

Columbia Showcase and Cabinet’s web site was down and phone disconnected in mid-December. We could not confirm closure of the Sun Valley, Calif., company, and were unable to make contact. A year ago we had estimated sales for the company to be about $15 million.

Orleans Furniture Inc. closed its furniture manufacturing operation in late 2009, but continued as an importer, and had been listed in the FDM 300. Their web site was down and phone disconnected, and we were unable to get any information in late 2012. Going back to 2009, the company had estimated annual sales of $25 million and employed 115 in its Columbia, Miss., factory.

Company changes

Laboratory Workstations is the former ALC-Collegedale, sold by Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc. to Los Angeles-based Open Gate Capital in October 2012. The company makes wood and metal laboratory furniture and fume hoods in locations in Ooltewah, Tenn., and Round Rock, Tex., and employs as many as 500 people.

Thurston Furniture, Grass Valley, Calif., was formerly known as Furniture by Thurston Inc. It closed in late 2011, but we were able to confirm in December 2012 that the company is in business making furniture under this new name, although we were unable to get complete details. The company had more than 100 employees a few years ago, and they made entertainment centers, chairs and residence hall furniture for hotel and military applications.

Woodhaven Industries is the new name for Mactavish Furniture Industries. The company manufactures desks, credenzas, upholstered chairs, love seats and sofas in a number of locations for Aaron’s Rentals, and was featured in a CabinetMaker+FDM article in 2012.

U.S. Home Systems, Inc., was purchased by Home Depot in October and continues to be listed here. The company makes kitchen cabinets and countertops exclusively for the retailer. U.S. Home Systems is based in Lewisville, Texas, and operates a cabinet plant in Charles City, Va.

Jasper Group and Jofco, two manufacturers in Jasper, Ind., announced in October that the two companies signed a letter of intent to explore a possible future merger of the two companies. Jasper Group makes furniture and seating for office, lounge and hospitality. Jofco makes a line of office and conference furniture.

Sligh Furniture was a former manufacturer that made residential and contract/office furniture in a factory in Holland, Mich. The company had been part of Lexington Home Brands and was listed in 2011 as an importer. In 2012 all operations were moved to Lexington’s North Carolina headquarters. This still exists as a Lexington brand.

Riverside Furniture Corp. closed its Fort Smith, Ark., residential furniture factory more than a year ago. They are still listed here as a furniture importer in 2012. Five years earlier this company employed 550 in plants in Fort Smith and Russellville, Ark., and had reported annual sales of $115 million.

Nemschoff Chairs announced the closing of its plant in Sioux Center, Ia., in May, according to a report from KELO-TV. The company makes furniture for health care markets and is based in Sheboygan, Wis.

MasterBrand Cabinet announced the closing of its Martinsville, Va., in August. According to a report by WDBJ-TV, 335 people in the custom cabinet plant lost their jobs due to the closing.

Sagus International Inc. was purchased by HNI in late 2011 and was listed as a separate company a year ago. This year, its Artco-Bell, Midwest Folding and LSI Corp. divisions are included in HNI’s listing.

Also, the Smithfield, Ky., operations of Select Veneer were purchased by Eggers Industries, the Two Rivers, Wis., door and millwork manufacturer which is listed. The former Leland Manufacturing is included in the part of Best Chairs, Inc. listing. The Monarch Windows and Doors operation in Anniston, Ala., is included in the Woodgrain Millwork listing.

The former Monarch Industries in Warren, R.I., is listed as Paramount Restaurant Supply. The former Flanders Industries is listed as Lloyd Flanders Industries Inc. Homeshield is listed this year as Quanex Building Products, Engineered Products Group.