Lexington, NC -- Valendrawers, the Lexington, North Carolina manufacturer of drawer components and cabinet doors, celebrated its 25th anniversary with a luncheon for 150 people celebrating its employees and the community. Keith Crisco, Secretary of the North Carolina Department of Commerce, was the featured speaker. The event was held in Valendrawers’ new 40,000 square foot warehouse addition. The company is expanding and plans to add 60 new jobs over the next few years.

Valendrawers is owned by the Italian-based Della Valentina family of Bologna and Sacile, Italy. 50 years ago Amedeo Della Valentina presented the original concept that a specialized wood component producer could deliver ready-made parts faster and better than they could be built in house by furniture and kitchen specialists. He and his son Piero, who is President of Valendrawers, attended the luncheon and spoke.

Amedeo Della Valentina and his family became specialists in manufacturing drawer components and cabinet doors, achieved high efficiencies, and showed the way for a whole new way of producing furniture. Now, virtually every furniture and kitchen producer has embraced outsourcing to lower costs and increase quality.

“We made a very wise decision 25 years ago when we selected Lexington in the heart of the US furniture industry, as our US location. We have skilled and dedicated employees who understand the need for producing a high-quality product. Our relationship with local economic development officials and local and state officials has always been excellent. They have supported us 100 percent and we are grateful for that," said Piero Della Valentina.

North Carolina Secretary of Commerce Keith Crisco, the son of a cabinet maker, noted similarities between his family and the Della Valentinas and praised the Italian owners for their devotion to the State and their efforts over the years to assist State officials in recruiting other Italian businesses to locate in North Carolina. Carla Della Valentina, who came to the United States to represent the family when Valendrawers was founded, lives in Lexington, is active in community affairs and is now a US citizen. She serves on the board of the Italian-American Chamber of Commerce of the Carolinas.

Tommy Hedrick, chair of the Davidson County Economic Development Commission, introduced Amedeo Della Valentina who addressed the guests. He asked his two grandsons, Sean and Luca, to stand with him as he expressed appreciation to employees, public officials, customers, suppliers and friends gathered for the celebration. Sean and Luca were born in the US and both are students at Appalachian State University in Boone. “As you can see,” he said,” I have my feet in two countries. I live in Italy, but I have wonderful family here in your state.” He also has a granddaughter, Valentina, who is a graduate of East Carolina University. Both he and son Piero visit Lexington several times each year.

The Della Valentina family not only pioneered the concept of outsourced components, but in 1964 was instrumental in the development of the first modern “flat-line” finishing system for furniture components. Its finishing lines produce a high quality finish at a lower piece cost than hand applied finishes. Today their components continue to be known for their distinctively high quality finish. Their success has showed the way for the development of an entirely new way of approaching manufacturing for both large and small furniture, kitchen, and office producers.

Source: Valendrawers