HOLLAND, Mich. – Intelligent manufacturing solutions provider JR Automation has acquired the automation systems group of Doerfer Corp. The group includes Advanced Automation, Wright Industries, FSA Systemes D’Assemblage, FSA Romania, PSB Technologies and equity interests in Beijing BYJC-Fabricom Assembly Line Co., Ltd. Terms of the December acquisition were not disclosed.

Escue Wood Treated Products, a manufacturer of pressure-treated wood, will invest $3.3 million in a new manufacturing facility in Tennessee - creating 100 jobs.

Mullet Door makes cabinet doors in a shop in Abbeville, South Carolina.

Preliminary plans for WMS 2019 include 2 days of education sessions, morning keynotes, hands-on demonstrations, a plant tour and the largest exhibition of woodworking machinery, supplies and software in Canada.

Self-described "Lean Maniac," Paul Akers will keynote the Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association's Western Regional Meeting at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport February 5-6.

MONAGHAN, Ireland - Material handling provider CombiLift will host a grand opening for its new 500,000-square-foot manufacturing facility this spring. The company said it has invested more than $55.4 million in the new factory in Ireland.

Back in October of 2016, office furniture maker HNI announced it would close its manufacturing operations at Paoli Inc., its contract furniture division located in Orleans, Indiana. Now the plant is staying open.

As cooking with wood continues to boom, Cooks BBQ Products will open a $1.4 million manufacturing facility, creating 45 jobs.

Office furniture giant Steelcase is accepting applications for up to 16 educational grants - each of which are worth $67,000.

SOUTH SHORE, Ky. - No one was injured in the fire that destroyed Graf Brothers Flooring's 75,000-square-foot warehouse on Dec. 30. The manufacturer of rift and quartered lumber and flooring said firefighters were able to contain the fire and "save the overwhelming majority" of its South Shore, Kentucky sawmill. The company also has a flooring plant in Portsmouth, Ohio. The cause of the fire is still under investigation, according to local media sources.