The Wood Component Manufacturers Assn. (WCMA) will hold its 2011 Fall Conference & Plant Tour Event in the Louisville, KY, area Oct. 2-4.

The WCMA conference features several educational sessions designed to help dimension and component manufacturers improve their businesses. Information will also be provided on the proposed hardwood checkoff program and the WCMA’s product costing project. A Wood Technology Expo will be held in conjunction with the conference. For information contact the WCMA at (770) 565-6660 or visit WoodComponents.org.

Plant Tours Available
Plant tours are designed to encourage an open exchange of ideas regarding the latest woodworking production techniques. Among the plant tour companies scheduled this year are:

• Anderson Wood Products Co., Louisville, KY. Anderson Wood Products manufactures a full scope of component products from dimension blanks to fully machined parts, including stair components and institutional furniture parts.

• Northland Corp., LaGrange, KY. Northland is a full service yard, producing a wide variety of lumber species and rough dimension parts.

• Cox Interior Inc., Campbellsville, KY. Cox Interior manufactures interior trim, custom interior and exterior doors, moulding and millwork; stair parts and stair systems, crown columns, and custom mantels. New equipment includes: stacker and grading system; automated scanning ripsaws and chopsaws, fingerjointers, and programmable moulders, as well as other CNC machines.

• Independent Stave Co./Kentucky Cooperage, Lebanon, KY. Independent Stave is a family-owned, global firm with customers in over 40 countries and cooperages around the world. Kentucky Cooperage, a subsidiary of ISC, manufactures barrels for spirits.

• Kitchen Kompact; Jeffersonville, IN. Kitchen Kompact is a nationwide manufacturer of oak and maple cabinetry since 1937.

• Lebanon Oak Flooring Co., Lebanon, KY. Lebanon Oak Flooring manufactures multiple wood products including hardwood flooring, stairs treads, risers, handrails, mouldings, and edged glued panels.

• VT Industries, New Albany, IN. VT Industries produces architectural wood doors including: 5-ply wood veneer, high pressure decorative laminate, stile and rail doors, and specialty doors.

• Maker’s Mark Distillery Inc.; Loretto, KY. Maker’s Mark is the oldest operating distillery on its original site. From its antique roller mill crushing the grain to the giant cypress tubs full of sour mash to the "white dog" running through the "spirit safe," you can see Maker's Mark being made every step of the way.

Posted by Karen Koenig