Shareholders of door manufacturer, Masonite, in a special March 1 meeting, voted to approve resolutions enhancing the company's ability to go public at a future date.

HIGH POINT, NC - New orders for residential furniture soared 15% in December 2011, compared to December 2010, according to accounting firm Smith Leonard PLLC.

WASHINGTON - A federal court ruled last week that employers must post notices that inform workers of their right to join a union.

LOS ANGELES, CA - Ashley Furniture Industries has agreed to pay $356,000 to the estate of Marlon Brando to settle a federal lawsuit in which Ashley was accused of infringing on the screen legend's name.

WOBURN, MA - Arbotjet, a company focused on developing "effective and environmentally sound formulations and equipment" for combating the emerald ash borer, Asian long-horned beetle and other tree-killing insects, claims its products helped save some 350,000 trees in the United States last year.

LEESBURG, VA - North American shipments of both composite panels and thermally fused melamine (TFM) were up to start the new year, according to the Composite Panel Association.

Blum says it is expanding U.S. manufacture of its functional cabinet and furniture hardware at its plant in Stanley, NC.

International Veneer Company president H. Tyler Howerton admitted in court his company smuggled 700 pallets of wood veneer sheets and three forklifts to Syria, and attempt shipments to Iran.

Lumber production dropped 6% and International Forest Products (Interfor) reported a net loss of $6.5 million in the fourth quarter of 2011.