GREENSBORO, NC – CFP Components, a division of Columbia Forest Products, has acquired Cabinotch, the Challenger Award-winning company that has developed an innovative system for assembling face-framed cabinet boxes that feature Columbia’s domestically-produced, formaldehyde-free PureBond hardwood plywood.

The Cabinotch system, which involves a patent-pending interlocking side panel-to-face frame joint, has been shown to help cabinet shops reduce costs and improve productivity. Customers report that it helps them minimize low-profit hours spent at the table saw in favor of time spent designing, selling, finishing and adding value to their cabinet projects.

Mike Lee, Director of CFP Components, says that Cabinotch is a modern extension of Columbia’s cut-to-size operation. “Ever since we first trimmed-down a piece of plywood for somebody, we’ve been asked to provide more and more value-added services to make life in the shop easier for our customers. Through the years, we have developed pre-finishing, edgebanding, drawer side blanks, and paper laminating capabilities in response to market demand.

“Now, through the Cabinotch offering, we can deliver a set of custom-sized American Hardwood parts – from the face frame through the sides, backs, bottoms, tops and shelves – that the fabricator can finish and assemble along with their doors and drawers,” Lee said. “It supports the market shift toward outsourcing, and delivers production efficiencies that shop owners are quick to appreciate.”

Through a web portal (Cabinotch.com), customers can register, then specify, face frame and interior face species, adjust sizes and order their cabinet box parts, which are then shipped directly to their shop. Videos on the website illustrate the ease of box assembly, made possible through the notch in the back of the face frames, and the strength and alignment of the box when assembled.

“You can order your box parts from Cabinotch,” said Lee, “and start working on your doors, drawers, range hoods and trim. When the Cabinotch parts arrive, you just finish them and put everything together. Our customers can’t believe the time they’re saving, and the elimination of low-value work that this system delivers.

“But beyond the cost savings and production efficiencies, our customers are mostly excited about the world-class, top-quality ‘cabinet chassis’ that they can build out and finish to their customers’ specifications,” said Lee. “They can market an all-wood cabinet box that’s made in America and features PureBond formaldehyde-free technology – three of the most powerful selling points in the consumer’s mind today. True value in product composition and in assembled product integrity. This is a cabinet box that the shop can be proud of promoting and putting their name and reputation on.”

Columbia is expanding awareness of the Cabinotch cabinet box system through promotion by their network of independent wholesale distributors. Customers will continue to order their products online and receive them directly from the plant.

“We feel that Columbia distributors can offer a lot in the way of training shops how to maximize the value of the Cabinotch system, and are looking forward to rolling our program out to more cabinet shops in 2012,” said Lee.

For more information, visit Cabinotch.com or email [email protected].

Source: Columbia Forest Products