1.BriMar Wood Innovations Inc.
GOSHEN, IN
‘07: $1,154,000
‘08: $2,408,000
Growth ‘08: 108.666%
Projected ‘09: 10%
Est.: 2004 Employees: 20

Standard and custom casework
The fastest-growing company of 2008, Bri-Mar’s President and Owner Brian Roe credits much of his company’s success to hard work and positioning of high volume products to utilize the company’s automated equipment. Equipment purchased in 2008 included an edgebander capable of applying up to 3/4-in. solid bands, an RF gluer, mortise and bore machine, veneer hot press, splicer and clipper, panel saw, spray booths and finishing equipment, shaper and computers. “Repeat customers also ordered more and larger projects in 2008 due to name exposure and referrals in the field,” he says.

2. Gillpatrick Woodworks Inc.
LOUISBURG, KS
‘07: $1,426,000
‘08: $2,849,000
Growth ‘08: 99.790%
Projected ‘09: 0%Est.: 2003 Employees: 24

Residential and commercial woodwork
Diversification into larger commercial architectural woodworking projects to balance out the steady stream of custom residential work was a key to Gillpatrick Woodworks moving from the #36 ranking in 2007 to #2 in 2008, according to company President Bob Gillpatrick. “We will continue to look for markets and services that supplement our core business,” he says. “We will also continue to focus on our established relationships with our existing customer base.”

3. Eureka Woodworks Inc.
DALLAS, TX
‘07: $582,000
‘08: $1,151,000
Growth ‘08: 97.766%
Projected ‘09: 15%
Est.: 2002 Employees: 9

Outdoor and wooden furniture
The prospects for Eureka Woodworks Inc. look good, according to Harry Wilk, president of the growing company. Purchases in 2008 included a widebelt sander, MultiCam Series 5000 CNC, better vacuum systems and new design software, but Wilk also credits the company’s new marketing program for much of the company’s success. “We enlisted the help of professionals to develop a very good sales, marketing and advertising campaign to reach more potential customers,” he explains. “In addition, we hired more professional sales personnel...all while we continued to develop and add new products to our existing line of outdoor furniture.”

4. Premium Woods LLC
LINCOLN, NE
‘07: $319,000
‘08: $589,000
Growth ‘08: 84.639%
Projected ‘09: 40%
Est.: 1998 Employees: 7

Plastic laminate and wood casework for the commercial market
Shortening lead times and increasing on-time delivery without sacrificing quality helped Premium Woods reach the #4 spot in this year’s rankings, according to company President Bob Long. To meet the challenges of increasing profit margins in a poor economy, Long says, ”We have made changes in the front end, adding a purchasing agent/draftsman to our mix. Lowering your costs is one of the easiest, quickest and most controllable ways to increase your bottom line.”

5. Weaver Fine Furniture & Cabinets Inc.
COLUMBUS, IN
‘07: $213,000
‘08: $392,000
Growth ‘08: 84.038%
Projected ‘09: 0%
Est.: 1999 Employees: 3

High-end custom cabinetry and furniture
Having the right marketing materials is paramount to a company’s success according to Weaver Vice President DeAnne Weaver. “We have a full-color, four-page brochure that shows our prospective customers a wide range of styles of kitchens and furniture pieces that we have done,” she explains. “It also includes testimonials and the quality differences that set us apart from the competition.” The company plans on continuing to build its word-of-mouth network and to make connections with high-end builders and designers outside its current territory.

6. SilverWalker Inc.
RICHMOND, CA
‘07: $706,000
‘08: $1,298,000
Growth ‘08: 83.853%
Projected ‘09: 50%
Est.: 2000 Employees: 7

Green cabinetry and closets
William Walker’s Richmond, CA-based SilverWalker continues to lead the way in achieving impressive profits, while using green materials in the production of FSC-certified, no-added formaldehyde products. Moving up from #27 last year, SilverWalker proves that the increased costs of green materials do not have to be a drag on the bottom line. Waker says he invested in new automated sanding equipment and plans on focusing on getting “mean and lean” this year.

7. Meyer & Lundahl Mfg. Co.
PHOENIX, AZ
‘07: $14,521,000
‘08: $26,554,000
Growth ‘08: 82.866%
Projected ‘09: 0%
Est.: 1948 Employees: 170

Architectural millwork
Meyer & Lundahl saw an impressive increase in sales in 2008 and “plan on continuing to be aggressive in pursuing new projects in 2009,” according to company Vice President and COO Matthew Lundahl. The company built a 10,000-square-foot addition and added a Makor finishing line, new sanding machine, spray booth and oven to add to its capabilities. Customer service and a new marketing program, as well as promoting personal contacts, also have been major factors in the company’s growth, WR Lundahl, president and CEO adds.

8. Mission Bell Mfg. Co. Inc.
MORGAN HILL, CA
‘07: $23,847,000
‘08: $42,614,000
Growth ‘08: 78.698%
Projected ‘09: 0%
Est.: 1959 Employees: 160

Commercial architectural millwork and casework, finish carpentry, countertops, fixtures and wall paneling
The economic woes of the industry have caused many manufacturers to get “lean,” and Mission Bell is a perfect example, as company CFO Clint Ramsey explains. “Our employees utilized lean manufacturing techniques to improve current processes and eliminate waste,” he says. This example of “employee skill and dedication” was the single biggest factor in the nearly 50-year-old company’s success, Ramsey adds. In addition to transitioning to lean manufacturing, a newly purchased CNC router has added to the company’s improved production.

9. Cougar Custom Cabinets
REGINA, SK
‘07: $605,000
‘08: $1,079,000
Growth ‘08: 78.347%
Projected ‘09: 30%
Est.: 1982 Employees: 10

Custom cabinets, door manufacturing and finishing
Up north of the border, Cougar Custom Cabinets President Ken Kraushaar says his company’s outlook is “excellent.” Increased productivity was spurred by investments in technology. “The tools we purchased at the 2007 AWFS in Las Vegas helped us to meet the growing sales demand and therefore increased our production and sales,” he says. Equipment purchased included a new Dodd’s CNC dovetailing machine, a Ritter pocket hole machine, SuperMax sander and Denray sanding table and a custom-built, multi-head biscuit joiner. More advertising and a showroom expansion are next on the agenda.

10. Custom Millworks & Cabinetry Inc.
HOWELL, MI
‘07: $684,000
‘08: $1,193,000
Growth ‘08: 74.415%
Projected ‘09: 10%
Est.: 2002 Employees: 9

Custom casework, laminate and veneer, solid surface, finish carpentry
Marketing, marketing and more marketing is the key to Custom Millworks’ drive to the #10 spot. “We have an aggressive sales approach,” says Greg O’Brien, vice president. O’Brien also credits a “highly-skilled and versatile” group of employees for keeping the company profitable and moving forward.

11. Cabinet Max Corp.
BALTIMORE, MD
‘07: $3,522,000
‘08: $6,076,000
Growth ‘08: 72.516%
Projected ‘09: 0%
Est.: 1982 Employees: 25

Custom casework and architectural woodwork
Cabinet Max returns with a bang after a one year absence, with a nearly 73% increase in sales. The long-established company says it purchased a Weeke CNC router, Schmalz vacuum lift system, Homag edgebander and Top Solid engineering software during 2008 to give added automation. Company President George French also credits dedicated and skilled employees as the biggest contributing factor and says they are “the best group of employees that we’ve ever had, across all departments.”

12. Kawartha Cabinets
PETERBOROUGH, ON
‘07: $220,000
‘08: $375,000
Growth ‘08: 70.455%
Proj. ‘09: 75%
Est.: 1996 Employees: 3

Custom residential cabinetry
Expressing an optimistic outlook for future sales, Kawartha Owner Mike Mills says a devotion to providing 100% customer satisfaction has resulted in increasing word-of-mouth sales. Employees who go the extra miles, as well as renting the use of a Thermwood CNC router for processing also have contributed to the company’s present and future growth.

13. Fon-Seca Cabinet & Fixture
PACOIMA, CA
‘07: $990,000
‘08: $1,594,000
Growth ‘08: 61.010%
Projected ‘09: 0%
Est.: 2006 Employees: 7

Custom casework and store fixtures
Though a relatively young company, Fon-Seca Cabinet & Fixture has been very successful. President Julian Fonseca cites increased productivity for the company’s success last year. Fon-Seca was awarded a large project in the summer of 2007 which spurred the purchase of CNC equipment such as a router, beam saw, edgebander and a horizontal drill and dowel, as well as a CTD miter saw with a TigerStop, an Altendorf F45 saw and a SawStop table saw, and aided the company in its growth for 2008.

14.Giffin Interior & Fixture Inc.
BRIDGEVILLE, PA
‘07: $13,246,000
‘08: $20,079,000
Growth ‘08: 51.585%
Projected ‘09: 20%
Est.: 1980 Employees: 180

Custom architectural woodwork
After taking the #29 spot last year, Giffin Interior moves up to #14. The company invested in a slew of equipment in 2008, including Weeke CNC machining centers, Oliver jointer and planer, Altendorf sliding table saw, Dantherm dust collector, lift tables, GreCon spark detection, conveyers and Microvellum software. “Our employees embrace the new technology we buy,”says Gordon Giffin, president, ”and they quickly make the necessary changes to achieve the maximum increases in production possible. They make every effort necessary to complete the work we are able to sell on time, and on budget.”

15.Creative Concepts of Orlando
ORLANDO, FL
‘07: $6,250,000
‘08: $9,125,000
Growth ‘08: 46.000%
Projected ‘09: 0%
Est.: 1997 Employees: 55

Commercial casework and architectural millwork
Wayne Bishop, president of Creative Concepts of Orlando, says better utilization of the company’s CNC equipment on the architectural side, and implementing dowel construction on the casework side, achieved the desired results in 2008. Purchase of a dowel inserter, case clamp and production software also contributed. In order to overcome the concerns of the economy, Bishop says the company plans to expand its territory.

16.Helmstown
ARAB, AL
‘07: $832,000
‘08: $1,200,000
Growth ‘08: 44.231%
Projected ‘09: 0%
Est.: 2001 Employees: 12

High-end cabinetry for the bathroom and kitchen, and luxury product displays
A member of the WOOD 100 for the last four years, Helmstown went from #75 on last year’s list to #16 on this year’s. New product development, including an expansion into manufacturing outdoor kitchen and grill displays, was the biggest contributor to the company’s growth, according to John Evans, vice president of sales and marketing for the company.

17. Khoury Inc.
WACO, TX
‘07: $2,900,000
‘08: $4,162,000
Growth ‘08: 43.517%
Projected ‘09: 0%
Est.: 1946 Employees: 30

Premium architectural woodwork
John Manchen, estimation and project management lead for Khoury Inc., says that they were successful in 2008 by streamlining processes, while maintaining quality: “In essence, working smarter, not harder,” he says. New Microvellum and Tractivity software, a dowel insertion machine and case clamp helped the company in its quest to improve productivity.

18.Creative Laminates Inc.
LACROSSE, WI
‘07: $3,276,000
‘08: $4,685,000
Growth ‘08: 43.010%
Projected ‘09: 0%
Est.: 1992 Employees: 20

Custom architectural casework
Creative Laminates returns to the WOOD 100, and company Vice President Jody Lyon the architectural casework firm has been able to tap into new markets through excellent customer service and management of details, and by packaging multiple projects together. New equipment purchased in 2008 includes an Altendorf sliding table saw and Tritec boring and dowel machine to improve productivity.

19. Island Custom Cabinetry
SIDNEY, BC
‘07: $350,000
‘08: $498,000
Growth ‘08: 42.286%
Projected ‘09: 24%
Est.: 2000 Employees: 6

High-end residential cabinetry
Island Custom Cabinetry President Jack Van Domselaar says his company moved into a new space in 2008. It also added a new panel saw, dust collection and new cabinet design software. But, he says, staffing is the most important component in the success. “We are supported by a great group of employees that continually work very hard to produce beautiful cabinetry delivered on time,” he says.

20. Jake’s Creative Woodworks Inc.
SMITHTON, MO
‘07: $835,000
‘08: $1,162,000
Growth ‘08: 39.162%
Projected ‘09: 25%
Est.: 2003 Employees: 9

Custom woodworking and cabinetry
Skilled and dedicated employees providing excellent customer service is the major factor behind the continuing success of three-time WOOD 100 member Jake’s Creative Woodworks, according to Owner Jake Gieschen. “I am very thankful for my employees, and for our loyal customers who always refer us to someone else,” Gieshen says.

21. Creative Custom Components LLC
NEWCOMERSTOWN, OH
‘07: $3,029,000
‘08:$4,206,000
Growth ‘08: 38.858%
Projected ‘09: 0%
Est.: 2005 Employees: 21

Custom components, including turnings, stair parts, columns, legs, etc.
Our top company from last year’s rankings, Creative Custom Components, stays in the top 25 with a sales increase of nearly 39%. New and innovative designs and turned products, along with an added door light and louver insert division kept the company moving forward during tough economic times, according to company President David Weissman. “Our goal is to be the industry leader in new and innovative turned products,” he says.

22. Eastern Millwork Inc.
JERSEY CITY, NJ
‘07: $9,338,000
‘08: $12,839,000
Growth ‘08: 37.492%
Projected ‘09: 20%
Est.: 1992 Employees: 60

Architectural millwork
Andrew Campbell, president of Eastern Millwork, says the company increased productivity by updating its machinery and software, and utilizing advanced technology. Monitoring non-job related costs and increasing oversight over the bidding process is expected to help the company achieve a 20% increase in 2009 sales, according to Campbell.

A Ward Design (No. 24), making its second consecutive WOOD 100 appearance, is also projecting a 30% increase in sales for 2009.

Aubin Woodworking Inc. (No. 23) experienced a nearly 37% increase in gross sales for 2008, in part due to new equipment purchases that spurred production.

23. Aubin Woodworking Inc.
BOW, NH
‘07: $2,112,000
‘08: $2,892,000
Growth ‘08: 36.932%
Proj. ‘09: 0%
Est.: 1994 Employees: 16

Architectural millwork
Aubin Woodworking returns to the WOOD 100 with a nearly 37% increase in gross sales. A new SCMI sliding table saw, Gannomat CNC horizontal bore and dowel inserter, SawStop table saw, Festool miter saw and Atlas Copco rotary screw compressor were among the equipment purchased by the company in 2008 to improve production. “We are trying to diversify,” says President Tony Aubin. “We have tried to cut costs in all areas, from rent and materials to labor. We are servicing current customers to the best we can, and we are always on the lookout for new customers and more efficient ways of doing things.”

24. A Ward Design
WINTER HAVEN, FL
‘07: $586,000
‘08: $802,000
Growth ‘08: 36.860%
Projected ‘09: 30%
Est.: 2001 Employees: 9

Custom cabinetry and woodwork
Ranked #44 in last year’s listings, A Ward Design moves up to #24 and has a 30% increase in sales projected for 2009. A 37-in. Timesavers widebelt sander, Kremlin airless pump and 21-in. spiral cut planer were purchased in 2008 to help improve production and customer service. Company President Kevin Ward says they have seven master craftsmen with a total of 170 years experience working for the company, “giving us an edge on understanding the customers’ questions and concerns. We put forth extra effort in taking care of our customers and in building lasting relationships.”

25. Stanton & Stanton Inc.
SYLVA, NC
‘07: $180,000
‘08: $245,000
Growth ‘08: 36.111%
Projected ‘09: 100%
Est.: 2005 Employees: 8

Architectural woodwork
A manufacturer of stile and rail doors, cabinet doors, windows, mouldings, stair parts and radius woodwork, Stanton & Stanton increased its productivity through the purchase of a Kentwood 649 2cd moulder, resaw, single-end tenoner, 32-1/2-in.-wide planer and a profile grinder. Although the company advertises only through word-of-mouth, due to its customer service, President Charles Stanton says it has increased the workload tenfold. Stanton adds that the company plans to stock up on raw materials due to many sawmills closing down.