TROUTMAN, NC — Jasper Library Furniture, a manufacturer of workstations, tables, shelving and seating to the library market, on July 2 was acquired by LIAT LLC, a management team partnership formed to purchase Jasper Group Brand from Jasper Group, an 80-year-old contract furniture manufacturer located in Jasper, IN.

The new owners are Brian Lish, Fred Schutmaat and Jane Schutmaat, all formerly with Jasper Group. Brian Lish, president, will manage the daily operations of the company, as well as overseeing the manufacturing facilities.  Fred Schutmaat, executive vice president of sales, will be coordinating sales strategies and efforts, as well as LEED certification, FSC implementation and emerging technologies.  Jane Schutmaat, executive vice president, will be managing projects and leading new product development.  The team worked together to build the Jasper Library Furniture Brand within the Jasper Group organization.

“When the idea was presented that the Jasper Library Furniture Brand may be available from Jasper Group, we jumped at the opportunity,” Lish said.  “Jasper Library Furniture has a stellar reputation for providing customers with wood furniture solutions and this reputation has been building within the library industry.  We welcomed the chance to purchase this brand from Jasper Group and the ability to partner with them as projects arise to solve furniture needs that merge the two companies expertise — library furniture along with casegoods and seating.”

The purchase includes full ownership of the Brand, all product lines and two manufacturing facilities located in Troutman and Taylorsville, NC.  Jasper Library Furniture currently has a total of 56 employees.  The new corporate headquarters will be located at the production facility in Troutman, while the finishing lines and inventory will continue to be handled at the Taylorsville facility.  Customers will see a seamless transition to new ownership as library orders were already managed, produced and shipped from the North Carolina facilities while under Jasper Group ownership.