HNI Downcast, Hardwood Spike, China-US Furniture Plant Top News
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Good news dominates the wood industry reports this week, with insourcing by a Chinese furniture plant by far the most viewed story at Woodworkingnetwork.com. Danville, VA will be the site of an assembly plant that will employ hundreds.

Home Depot's closure of seven big box home improvement stores in China also drew many views. Do-it-yourself is not popular in China, where most people live in small apartments, not houses.

Woodworkers concerned about California table saw safety legislation can relax for the moment; the bill was allowed to expire after the state's legislature adjourned.

An item that looks cool and just arrived at our newsroom: Furniture maker KI and students in the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee School of Architecture and Urban Planning are exhibiting a public seating prototype, called “DRIFT,”  through October 30 at Discovery World, Milwaukee’s science and technology museum. It uses an unusual

Here are the week's top wood industry reports.

Cane Creek Shell Building

Chinese Furniture Assembly Plant Coming to Virginia
By Rich Christianson | Updated: 09/19/2012 2:41:00 PM
GOK International, a Chinese wood furniture company, will develop an assembly and finishing plant in Danville, creating 300 jobs over the next three years. Read more

 Das Williams Table Saw Safety Act

Table Saw Safety Act Dies Quietly in California Senate
By Rich Christianson | Updated: 09/14/2012 7:46:00 PM
California's controversial Table Saw Safety Act, which breezed through the Assembly in a 64-4 vote, is dead - for now at least - after the Senate failed to bring the bill up. Read more

 

HNI Lowers Q3 Office Furniture Projections
By Karen Koenig | Updated: 09/18/2012 1:07:00 PM
While still projecting a profit, softer than expected demand in office furniture has forced HNI Corp. to lower its projections for the third quarter. Read more

 Patrick Industries Shamrock logo

Creative Wood Furniture Acquired for $5.7M; 250K sq.ft. Plant
By Bill Esler | Updated: 09/16/2012 6:26:00 PM
RV hardwood furniture maker Creative Wood Designs, Inc. its existing 250,000 square foot factory and assets were acquired by Patrick Industries for $5.7 million. Read more

Home Depot

Home Depot Closes All Its Stores In China; 850 Layoffs
By Bill Esler | Updated: 09/17/2012 9:38:00 AM
The Home Depot closed its remaining seven home improvement big box stores in China, laying off 850. Lack of a DIY culture and fewer free standing homes were cited. A $160 Million charge against earning will be taken. Read more

 Harmonson Stairs newell post

Harmonson Stairs Woodshop Auction
Posted by Bill Esler | Updated: 09/12/2012 9:58:00 AM
Harmonson Stairs will be the site of an auction Oct. 2, as the company sells off its Multiax 4-axis and 5-axis CNCs, Cantek rip saw, and Timesavers and other sanders, as well as a Weinig Profimat 5-head moulder. Read more

 Lumber pricing and sales

Fourth Quarter Hardwood Price Increase Expected
By Andy Johnson | Updated: 09/13/2012 2:59:00 PM
Hardwood price increases are expected in the fourth quarter, say Hardwood Review's analysts.
Read more

 Morantz Custom Cabinetry

Custom Cabinetmaker’s Double-Digit Growth? It's Marketing
By Karen Koenig | Updated: 09/13/2012 11:42:00 AM
Morantz Custom Cabinetry makes the WOOD 100 for 2012, as it looks to repeat its high levels of sales following double-digit growth in 2011. Read more

Wood Design Rocks at Wood Tech Summit
By Bill Esler | Updated: 09/18/2012 5:00:00 PM
Powerful woodwork by Straight Line Designs' team will inspire managers to think out-of-the-box. Straight Line owner Judson Beaumont keynotes Wood Tech Summit 2012, Oct. 22-23 at the downtown University of Vancouver, BC campus. Read more

Prime heat UV3D finishing robot

Robot UV Cures Fully Assembled Furniture, Cabinets
By Bill Esler | Updated: 09/17/2012 9:29:00 PM
Prime Heat says its robotic curing lamps coupled with self-guided guided carts automates three-dimensional curing of assembled furniture and casegoods. Halogen and UV versions are available. A video shows it work. Read more

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