MARYLAND HEIGHTS, Mo. -- Schattdecor Group has announced that it has purchased U.S. Coating Co. of Lexington, South Carolina, a provider of decorative surfaces. This purchase will is intended to provide the furniture, kitchen cabinet, and other industries with more options and products from one source.

The Schattdecor Group purchased 100 percent of the shares of U.S. Coating and has completed ownership of the company. The corporate structure of U.S. Coating will remain the same and will operate independently of Schattdecor, which is located in suburban St. Louis.

The current CEO, Mike Moore, will continue with the company to manage U.S. Coating operations. Schattdecor CEO Flavio Nunes said that this is a great opportunity for both companies. There will be an exchange of new technologies and competencies for both organizations. With this acquisition the Schattdecor Group will increase production in the U.S. and create an expansion of the Schattdecor portfolio.

U.S. Coating Co., founded in 1994, is located in South Carolina and provides decorative surfaces in manufacturing eco-friendly solid color electron beam cured coatings on various paper substrates. This includes a wide variety of finish foils in many solid colors and different finishes. As the company joins the Schattdecor Group, they will start to produce a wider range of products that Schattdecor has already pioneered in many other markets.

Schattdecor has been supplying printed decor paper, finish foil and melamine film globally to the wood based panel and furniture industries for 30 years. In 2018 the family owned company, headquartered in Thansau, Germany, processed about three billion square meters of paper in the areas of printing, impregnation and lacquering. Through this acquisition Schattdecor will increase its production and sales of finish foils in North America. To date Schattdecor’s USA finish foil supply came from the group’s production facilities in Poland and Italy. See www.schattdecor.com

ST. CLAIR, Mich. -- Modified wood cladding and decking manufacturer Kebony has launched a line of shiplap paneling for interior applications, according to Kebony U.S. manager Andy Hehl.  

Traditional shiplap has been used for cladding for centuries, often employed for siding sheds, barns, and homes. Traditional shiplap has a groove cut into the top and bottom, enabling the pieces to fit together in a tight seal, giving the shiplap its distinctive appearance, with subtle horizontal reveals between each lap.

Kebony's new tongue-and-groove Nickel Gap shiplap is available in Kebony Clear, and initially is offered throughout the North American market. It comes in 6-inch (nominal) and narrower widths as specified. Kebony's traditional shiplap is available in both Clear and Character grade.

The company's global headquarters is based in Oslo, Norway, with production facilities in Skien, Norway, and now Flanders, Belgium. The Kebony USA team is located in St. Clair, Michigan, with local representation both on the East and West Coasts. See https://kebony.com/us/

LANCASTER, Pa.— Armstrong World Industries Inc. announced it has entered into an agreement to acquire the business and assets of Architectural Components Group, Inc., a producer of custom wood ceilings and walls with annual revenues of approximately $35 million.

Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed, although Armstrong World Industries (AWI) said it will fund the acquisition with available cash. Announced Jan. 22, the acquisition is expected to be finalized in the first quarter of 2019 and is subject to customery closing conditions.

AWI said Architectural Components Group's (ACGI) capabilities and product solutions will complement the company's existing wood ceiling and wall solutions, and further strengthen its growing position in the market.

“This acquisition will mark our largest to date and a continuation of our inorganic growth initiatives to increase our participation in the high-value Architectural Specialties segment," said AWI CEO Vic Grizzle. "With ACGI, we will dramatically expand our Architectural Specialties portfolio and capabilities to meet the growing demand for wood ceilings and walls.

"We look forward to completing the transaction and welcoming the ACGI team to AWI in the near future,” he added.

ACGI manufactures various types of wall and ceiling systems, including curved, acoustic and linear panels, baffles, beams, cubes and grilles. The wood systems are offered in a variety of species and finishes, according to the company's website. ACGI was founded in 2001, and is based in Marshfield, Missouri.

Founded in 1860 and based in Lancaster, Pennsylvania, Armstrong World Industries (NYSE: AWI) is a global leader in the design and manufacture of  commercial and residential ceiling, wall and suspension system solutions. Its sister business, Armstrong Flooring Inc., is an independent, publicly traded company.

A Walk Through Mission Bell Manufacturing, which will be the site of a plant tour during the 2019 Executive Briefing Conference, April 14-16 at the San Jose Marriott. 

Arauco is adding to its internationalization process and strengthening its presence in the North American market by closing an agreement for the purchase of Masisa’s industrial assets in Mexico, which involves two industrial complexes located in Durango and Zitácuaro.

The operation considers an investment of $160 million, and positions Arauco as the world’s second producer of wood panels, with an annual 10 million square meters.

In terms of production, both facilities combined have three particleboard lines with an annual installed capacity of 339,000 square meters, an MDF panel line with an annual capacity of 220,000 square meters, melamine laminate lines with an annual installed capacity of 309,000 square meters, a chemical plant that produces resin and formalin, and treatment lines.

Arauco’s senior vice-president commercial and corporate affairs Charles Kimber said, “We are very happy with this new purchase, which is set within our internationalization plan, aiming to position Arauco as a global company and market leader. With this acquisition, we will be extending our presence in the North American panel market, where we see very favorable signs of a rising trend regarding these types of products for the furniture and home industry.” See https://www.arauco.cl/na/

ZURICH - Switzerland firm dukta gmbh, seeing continued adoption of its Dukta Flexible Wood, has named Spinneybeck, Buffalo, New York, as a U.S.-based seller.

Dukta Flexible Wood is a sandwich of engineered wood and felt layers that allows the material to be bent and shaped readily into curves and contours. Dukta's Zurich location serves as a development and design office, from which it helps clients develop new applications based on its internationally patented dukta incision process, for use in architectural interiors and for numerous products. (At the 2019 Executive Briefing Conference, a video short on dukta is among several materials fabrication videos the will be shown during session breaks.)

Around the world dukta has licensed building owners and designers, and wood products firms, to use its Dukta Flexible Wood, advising customers through technical and design matters, including Creatop in Uznach, Switzerland and in the U.S., Spinneybeck, a Getzville, New York fabricator of custom architectural interior surfaces and furnishings. 

Two brothers, Serge and Pablo Lunin, have been jointly leading dukta gmbh since 2015. The complex, versatile and patented process has its roots in wood bending experiments dating to 2007. Thanks to a CTI research project and various exhibitions and awards, dukta has become synonymous with flexible wood products throughout the world. Since 2015, products based on dukta processes have been manufactured and marketed throughout Europe by licensed partners.

Creatop in Uznach, Switzerland
 
The origins of dukta – flexible wood go back to 2007. In a training course run by Serge Lunin, Christian Kuhn had the idea to construct a lounger made from multiple curved wooden elements. Together they tested the alternatives to the well-known processes such as steam bending or gluing layers together. They carried out numerous experiments which showed that certain arrangements of incisions give the wood a great deal of flexibility but also weaken it. From humble beginning, the investigations soon became more targeted and, by 2009, they had received many awards and started to lead an 18-month CTI research project.

Together with the Institute for Design and Technology at the ZHdK, the architecture, wood and construction departments at Bern University, as well as Schreinerei Schneider AG in Pratteln, Serge Lunin and Christian Kuhn started an 18-month CTI research project under the leadership of Ralf Michel. This enabled them to attain the fundamentals for further product development and manufacture. Both founders investigated technical production issues in addition to the phenomenological investigations.
ForschungKommission für Technologie und Inovation.

In August 2011, Serge Lunin and Christian Kuhn founded dukta GmbH with the aim of establishing dukta on the market. In 2013/14, work concentrated on large contracts such as the cinema and concert hall in Toni-Areal, as well as on the two large Wood Loop exhibitions in the Winterthur Museum of Commerce and the Brengenzerwald Exhibition Centre in Andelsbuch. The designer Pablo Lunin has been Serge Lunin’s business partner since early 2015. Developing new products and working with new partners in production and distribution domestically and internationally are the current focus. https://dukta.com/en/  www.executivebriefingconference.com
 

DULUTH, Georgia -- USA Millwork is a new national supplier of custom architectural millwork and commercial casework. The newly formed company provides planning-to-completion services for complex, large-scale projects across the country that includes Architectural Woodwork Institute-certified millwork.

USA Millwork combines the expertise and industry knowledge of four regional companies, including Cabinets by Design in Atlanta, O’Keefe Inc. in Minneapolis, Freelance Millwork in Denver, and IBS Millwork in Washington D.C. into a single national company. 

“The four brands within the USA Millwork portfolio are true leaders within the industry, and together, we have our sights set on becoming America's millwork company,” says Patrick Dickinson, CEO. “We leverage best-in-class construction and installation practices, a nationwide supply chain, and an integrated technology platform across brands to exceed our customer’s expectations.”

To better serve its expanding customer base, USA Millwork, which has more than 350 employees, is looking to add more project managers, engineers, and skilled craftsmen. The company currently has more than 30 openings around the country for those looking for their next career move.

On top of expanding its workforce, the creation of USA Millwork also shares best practices and resources between each brand. That collaboration is paying off in significant ways for customers as it simplifies the project management process for national and regional commercial turnkey projects. Clear, delineated quotes, dedicated project managers, quality control standards in both manufacturing and installation, and specialty materials integration is how USA Millworks services the design and build of corporate, academic, hospitality, entertainment, healthcare, retail, and multifamily projects.

USA Millwork has created custom design work for companies such as Google, Coors Field, Kaiser Permanente, British Petroleum, Georgetown University, International Monetary Fund, Amazon, Cinemark, and Ritz-Carlton. See http://usa-millwork.com/

TOCCOA, Ga. -- Osborne Wood Products, Inc. is celebrating 40 years of supplying the cabinetry, remodeling and furniture trades with decorative wood components. Founded in 1979 in the Appalachian foothills of Toccoa, the family-owned and operated company has grown to become a major wood furniture components manufacturer and high-tech logistics company.

Osborne Wood’s origins trace back four decades to when Leon and Janice Osborne began manufacturing wood furniture components in their garage and selling them through a local country co-op. The company’s offerings have grown, as has its 80,000 square-foot manufacturing and distribution location equipped with state-of-the-art CNC woodworking equipment.

Noteworthy changes through the years have included the 1998 debut of its e-commerce website. In 2006, lean management tactics were employed. In 2008 Osborne expanded using environmentally-friendly products, and the in 2012 introduced full table and other furniture kits.

Osborne Wood sells unfinished wood furniture components, hardware, acrylics, metal corbels, casters and wood project kits to cabinetmakers, furniture builders, cabinetmakers, and hobbyists. It offers more than 1,500 SKUs in 15 standard wood types, 92 percent of which are available for same-day shipping. See http://www.OsborneWood.com.

Adobe’s renovated vertical campus was reimagined to embody the company’s culture and brand.

A global brand known widely for its visual applications, marketing workflows, and of course, for the ubiquitous PDF, Adobe was one of the earlier entrants in Silicon Valley's series of blockbuster corporate successes. To refresh its 1990's building Adobe retained architectural firm Gensler. Established in 2000, Gensler San Jose is highly regarded for its thought leadership in workplace architectural design for the technology sector. Leveraging its Bay Area roots, Gensler delivers unparalleled design services to an impressive list of top Silicon Valley clients both locally and globally. 

The project by the San Jose office of Gensler, was managed by Devcon Construction, with architectural millwork and other contributions by Mission Bell Manufacturing. Both sites will be part of a plant tour during the Executive Briefing Conference in San Jose in April. 

Gensler says the design aligns with the needs of client Adobe's creative and innovative employees, providing an environment that empowers people to participate, encourages a sense of community and inspires exploration.

A fresh face was given to the campus’s 1990s aesthetic with new open workspaces and numerous gathering/meeting areas. This includes a terraced meeting space with bleacher seating and “living rooms,” outside collaboration spaces, creative conference rooms and amenities that allow employees to connect in a multitude of ways.

Adobe’s culture of collaboration and creativity is achieved through an open and vibrant work environment, as Gensler describes it. 

CHICAGO -- Chicago Scenic was engaged by Nike Basketball and experiential agency Momentum Worldwide to transform the Church of Epiphany on Chicago’s West Side into the ultimate basketball training program for inner-city youth.

The program was called Just Do It HQ at the Church and it was timed to the 20th anniversary of the Just Do It tagline, which Nike focuses on ‘chasing your crazy dreams’.

Momentum Worldwide’s creative vision was to create Just do it HQ at the Church as a place for Chicago to reignite belief in the next generation and help them chase their hoop dreams, powered by the best coaches, players, innovative products, and elite training.

Nike said the following about the program: “Nike Chicago is transforming the Church of Epiphany on the West Side into a cultural hub for basketball, inspiration and the ultimate summer training program to help Chicago’s youth chase their dreams. Just Do It HQ at the Church will include elite basketball training for young athletes while offering a series of interactive youth workshops, pro athlete appearances, and skills clinics designed to help Chicago athletes chase their dreams—both on and off the court.”

The program included daily training, skills development and drills for on court game play and physical off-court training, plus teaching about mental health and the importance of nutrition and recovery. The program was held over four weeks with 23 days of active programming, accommodating 1,997 students and 67 schools.

Momentum Worldwide approached Chicago Scenic to help with scenic design and technical direction to ensure the project could be built in the allotted time and space. According to Chicago Scenic’s project manager, Doug Pokorny, Momentum knew they could trust Chicago Scenic as a valued partner to also fabricate and install the event design. “This is what we do. Very few companies have the bandwidth, space, and capacity to turn around a project of this magnitude.” said Pokorny.

The ambitious environmental design took several weeks to carefully plan and prep. Design and staging were evolved continually with an eye toward product quality and to carefully protect the historical integrity of the 120-year old church. Every element was thoughtfully designed—from temporary walls to intricate basketball-themed metal grills designed to protect stained glass, as well as special raised athletic flooring. Also, Chicago Scenic completed heavy preconstruction in several areas of the church before training program elements were installed.

Four rooms in the church were repurposed into separate areas to serve the programming—including a locker room, training room, an equipment room, and the main room transformed into the basketball court. On the area that formerly was the altar, a camera “confessional booth” and recovery session area were also installed.

According to Doug Pokorny, time was short: Fabrication was done in just two weeks and installation completed in a week and a half.

Chicago Scenic team included: Doug Pokorny (project manager), Stefan Koniarz (account representative), Angelo Petratos (shop coordination), Alyce Iversen (onsite coordination), Mark T. Goeke (job lead), Alan Gugel (job lead), Jason Jones (job lead), Andy Lemerand (job lead), and Ben Morin (job lead). See https://www.chicagoscenic.com/

SAN ANTONIO, Texas – Jeld-Wen's motion to overturn an antitrust verdict stemming from its acquisition of an interior moulded doorskins plant has been denied.

On March 13, Judge Robert Payne, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, denied Jeld-Wen's motions to overturn December's ruling which required the window and door giant to divest its Towanda, Pennsylvania facility and pay millions in damages for antitrust violations.

Brought by Steves & Sons Inc., the federal lawsuit accused Jeld-Wen of reducing competition in the U.S. market for interior moulded doorskins following the company's acquisition of CMI (CraftMaster Inc.). Acquired as part of the 2012 acquisition, the Towanda plant is one of four domestic doorskin manufacturing facilities currently owned by Jeld-Wen.

The jury award of $58.6 million in antitrust damages to Steves automatically trebled to $175.8 million, according to documents. In his memorandum opinion, Judge Payne noted that “a review of the record shows that the evidence amply supported both the antitrust verdict and the breach of contract verdict,” and that “every element of those claims was proved by a preponderance of the evidence.”

A court-appointed Special Master, the Honorable Lawrence F. Stengel, retired chief judge for the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, has been assigned to supervise the divestiture of the Towanda doorskin facility and ensure Jeld-Wen’s compliance with the Amended Final Judgment order.  That judgment also states Jeld-Wen must extend its supply agreement with Steves "for one year beyond the conclusion of the appeal" if not completed by September 2021. During any appeal, Jeld-Wen is also required to “maintain the status quo at the Towanda facility.”

“The judge’s Amended Final Judgment makes clear that, during any appeals process, Steves will continue to receive doorskins from Jeld-Wen under its existing contract,” said Marvin Pipkin, attorney for Steves & Sons.  “In lieu of receiving a significant portion of the jury’s damages award, Steves sought the divestiture by Jeld-Wen of the unlawfully acquired Towanda plant, which can build well over 20 million doorskins per year,” he said.

The majority of Towanda's doorskin manufacturing capacity is currently used by Jeld-Wen for its own door production.  External customers of the plant, including Steves, generated revenues of approximately $120 million in 2017, according to a December 2018 statement from Jeld-Wen.

Founded in 1866, the family-owned Steves & Sons has interior and exterior door plants in San Antonio, and interior door plants in Richmond, Virginia and Lebanon, Tennessee. Steves & Sons employs more than 1,100 associates.

“Once again, our company has been vindicated in court," said Steves CEO Edward G. Steves. "The jury decisively and unanimously agreed with Steves. Now the Court, in very clear terms, has rejected Jeld-Wen’s arguments and has upheld the jury’s verdict. We are confident that the Court of Appeals will agree with Steves as well. We are moving forward at full speed.”

Jeld-Wen (NYSE: JELD) is one of the world's largest door and window manufacturers, Founded in 1960 and headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, the company has manufacturing operations in 20 countries located primarily in North America, Europe and Australia.

New age brackets are growing as a percentage of the wood industry workforce: those in their sixties and even seventies, and those in their twenties. 

“For the first time in modern history, the manufacturing industry consists of four different generations spanning over almost 70 years,” says Thomas Allott, manager of of Stiles University, a training center for machine operators. 

For both groups, technologies are being added that can radically alter working conditions – for the better. For the older generation, whose joints are aging as well, there are exoskeletons - bionic suits that displaced workloads or give a pneumatic assist in during load lifts, or while wielding heavy tools.

For the younger generation, there are intuitive computer production interfaces, that can guide newer workers, bringing them up to speed more aptly than a line supervisor shouting above the din on a cabinetmaking line. These include improved graphical user interfaces on individual machines, as well as plant floor control systems - known as Mannufacturing Execution Systems, known as MES, that network the individual work cells together. An added benefit: the systems can coach less-experienced workers step-by-step through parts assembly or hardware insertion. In some cases, younger workers may even be more comfortable getting guidance from a familiar source, a video screens, rather than a supervisor, who can sometimes be gruff. In the case of the Production Coach from RSA, the MES draws 3D views from the same CAD/CAM design files the drive the CNC machining center, showing the worker exactly what to do at his step of the job.   

Work Cell Manufacturing Execution System

WB Mfg.'s Cabinet Division began using a Manufacturing Execution System to optimize plant floor production way back in 2005, when it was known as Wisconsin Bench.

Nearly 15 years later, the company has expanded the use of its MES system. Now the majority of the nearly 5,000 parts processed daily in one workcell section of its 250,000 sq.ft. plant, move into and through production with no paper trail or human intervention in the process management - other than barcode printing and scanning.

WB Mfg.'s operation had been described variously as an example of Industry 4.0, an Automated Work Cell, or Batch 1 production. But the enabling technology does have a precise name: a Manufacturing Execution System, or MES for short.

So what is an MES? In industries other than the wood products sector, the concept of the Manufacturing Execution System has been around since the 1990s. But in recent years, driven by labor shortages, and enabled by more automated machining systems, Manufacturing Execution Systems have been picked up by wood manufacturing firms. Examples range from smaller businesses like Muskoka Cabinets in Ottawa; or garage cabinetry firm Monkey Bar Storage Systems, in Rexburg, Idaho; to mammoth firms like American Woodmark, among dozens of others.

Often mislabeled as an ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) system, the Manufacturing Execution System has a much more distinct purpose: it is aimed specifically at integrating data that drives and manages plant floor manufacturing.

As the name suggests, a Manufacturing Execution System concentrates its usefulness on production, serving as the link between the CAD/CAM design systems, and the delivery of information about work in progress and work completed to the ERP above it. Unlike an ERP, the MES tracks all the individual components comprising a cabinetry or furniture project

An MES updates job status of individual parts (including outsourced hardware and components). It also tracks cabinets and entire projects at each step along the way, through shipping. It is even possible to run an MES, and skip the ERP. Some managers feel they get more bang for the buck by concentrating data efforts in manufacturing instead of trying to write the entire business.

 In the case of American Woodmark, as well as Muskoka Cabinets (shown at left), the manufacturing system was developed internally, and it relies on RFID codes embedded into individual parts.

At Monkey Bar Storage Systems, which operates two 32,000 sq.ft. plants, the MES application is called Production Coach, distributed and implemented in the U.S. by RSA. WB Mfg. uses 2020 Insight, which has been continuously developed and was relaunched at IWF 2018.

Detailing their user of a Manufacturing Execution System at EBC 2019 www.executivebriefingconference.com will be Henry Nisiobincki, RFID Manager for American Woodmark; Kris Nielson, CEO, Monkey Bar Storage Systems; and Kent Barby, Cabinet Div. Manager, Wisconsin Bench. Barby will travel to San Jose for the 2019 Executive Briefing Conference in San Jose in April, to provide a snapshot of the WB Mfg. application of 2020 Insight. He will be joined by Henry Nisiobincki of  American Woodwork, and Kris Nielson, CEO of Monkey Bar Storage Systems and the three will address the use of Manufacturing Execution Systems at their firms.

Subhead: Powerlifters: Exoskeletons spare joints  

As the working population ages, factories around the country are giving their workers a boost with exoskeletons, wearable devices that use springs and pulleys to assist in handling heavy loads.

Exoskeletons help carry weight that a single individual might not be able to handle; or assist in awkward lift angles that present risk of injury; as well as repetitive movement such as unloading a skid and moving stacks of panel.

The exoskeleton contains a frame that goes around a user’s body or part of the user’s body. The frame is sometimes made out of a hard material, such as metal, and sometimes out of soft material, such as special kinds of fabric. Some exoskeletons contain sensors, which monitor and respond to users’ movements.

Among suppliers are San Diego-based Levitate Technologies, which makes the AirFrame. "It is truly a meeting of human and machine," the company says.

Just as there are different kinds of frames for exoskeletons, there are also different ways to power them. Exoskeletons can be motorized or mechanical. Some run on electricity, while others, which don’t need electrical power, offer more freedom to their users.

Exoskeletons are beginning to appear in construction and wood manufacturing settings, according to Berkeley, California-based SuitX, which offers three types: legX, which protects knees and hamstrings and can be used while still wearing and using tool belts; backX to provide additional support; and shoulderX - with some workers even wearing all three.

Exoskeletons originated to help disabled people walk, and have measures of built-in intelligence. SuitX, which has sold devices to a number of millwork and construction companies, says its legX is an intelligent system that can distinguish between walking, ascending/descending stairs and squatting. legX also has a locking mode, where the exoskeleton can be used like a chair.

A plant tour of Mission Bell Manufacturing, part of the 2019 Executive Briefing Conference in San Jose in April, will see workers using the SuitX devices and an explanation of the various technologies. "We will give demonstrations of how Mission Bell is using its industrial exoskeleton technology on the job site to benefit both their installers and customers," says Glenn Ripley, CEO. Learn more at www.executivebriefingconference.com

YOUNGSTOWN, FL– “We have all learned what we think of most in life when everything is in peril, and it is not the things that can be repaired or replaced,” said Edward San Juan, president of E. F. San Juan Custom Moulding & Millwork based in the rural community of Youngstown, Florida in the northwest part of the state, just north of Panama City. A third-generation craftsman of high-quality custom wood mouldings and other architectural millwork, San Juan was one of the hundreds of thousands whose lives were impacted by the Category 4 Hurricane Michael on October 10, 2018.

The storm destroyed E.F. San Juan’s main production facility, but that didn’t stop San Juan and his team—including his father, Ed, his brother-in-law, Buddy, his wife, Mary Kathryn, and their son, Eddie—from getting back to work the week after the storm hit. This work included helping E. F. San Juan’s employees and neighbors, as well as continuing efforts to help those in the community rebuild alongside them.

San Juan expressed his gratitude for the Bay County government and relief organizations’ quick response to the community’s needs and for helping to expedite the process of getting Youngstown back on its feet.

“I’ve never been in that spot before—directly affected by a disaster such as this,” he said. “Today, we feel completely different about it because we’ve seen and experienced it firsthand. It’s an uplifting gift to see how people have responded. We decided to do Christmas bonuses early this year, with additional contributions from various vendors and individuals.” Those donations from outside the company were a welcome respite for E. F. San Juan’s sixty-five employees (they employed eighty before the hurricane), and San Juan expressed his great thanks to all who have given back to the community in many ways.

Businesses such as Northwest Florida’s St. Joe Community Foundation, Disney, Alys Beach, Visit Florida, the Seaside Institute, and many others have made generous donations toward relief, while government aid and national organizations such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army, and Volunteer Florida have been at the foreground of large-scale efforts. But it’s neighbors, friends, and local nonprofits that seem to be making huge impacts across the Florida Panhandle and parts of lower Alabama and Georgia. They have made supply runs almost daily since the storm hit, helped cut and remove fallen trees and debris, secured tarps on damaged roofs, and offered helping hands and shoulders to cry on for survivors. Donations, especially monetary ones, are still very much needed as these organizations continue to help people rebuild their lives.

E. F. San Juan founders Edward F. San Juan and son, Edward San Juan.

Despite the obvious setbacks, San Juan and his team have found another silver lining as they rebuild their facilities after Hurricane Michael.

“It was an opportunity to slow down a little bit, think about what we needed to do, and make improvements and changes to our facilities and our processes, procedures, and technology,” he said. “This gave us the chance to make those improvements and come back better than before.”

The company was back up and running just a couple of weeks after Hurricane Michael struck, and San Juan and his team have worked tirelessly since then to get back to full capacity. Their offices recently received a new roof and drywall, new paint, and new carpet, and the hardwood flooring was equalized and refinished. Concrete for the foundation of the new production facility was poured on January 7.

“I think everyone on our team will feel the effects of the hurricane for years to come,” said San Juan, “but everybody is glad to be working, and we’re looking forward to a new year.”

A long road to recovery lies ahead for the area affected by Michael, but in the storm’s wake, a united community rises with a clear vision of a much brighter future.

E. F. San Juan's main production facility sustained major damage from Hurricane Michael on October 10 2018, and their offices were uninhabitable following the storm. The good news is they have just poured the foundation for a new production plant and moved back into the renovated / updated office in Janaury.

About E.F. San Juan, Inc.
The San Juan family’s roots in woodworking can be traced back to the mid-1900s. At that time, Eddie San Juan, father of company founder, Edward F. San Juan, was the family patriarch and a master craftsman whose skill and entrepreneurial spirit formed the basis for E. F. San Juan, Inc. Three generations later, the E. F. San Juan companies have evolved from modest facilities and equipment to a state-of-the-art facility featuring the world’s finest woodworking equipment based in Youngstown, Florida. Coupled with a highly-skilled and dedicated work force, the company continues to set the standard for quality architectural millwork in the markets it serves.
Visit EFSanJuan.com to learn more.

TEUTOPOLIS, Ill. -- Stevens Industries, Inc. has announced the addition of Karine Turmel to the StevensWood sales team. She will serve as the western regional sales manager and is based in Arizona. Turmel’s background in product specification, design and construction made her an ideal choice for the decorative panel division of the company.

Previous experience in the design world meant Turmel came on board already familiar with StevensWood. Leading roles at Artopex and Premoule in Quebec, as well as with Peterman Lumber in Arizona, afforded her the opportunity to work with the products she now represents.

Bill Lane, marketing and distribution chain manager, said, “Karine is an excellent fit for our team. Her understanding of our design collections and customer-centered approach to business are tremendous assets as we continue growing in the Southwest markets. Her skills and background will
give her insight to assist architects, designers and distributors alike.”

StevensWood, the decorative panel division of Stevens Industries, Inc. supplies high-pressure laminated panels, thermofused panels, matched edgebanding, doors and mouldings to fabricators across the country. See http://www.stevens-wood.com.

FREMONT, CA -- Lockdowel is testing their fasteners to pass eight new AWI (Architectural Woodwork Institute) standards for commercial and institutional joining methodologies of construction, according to the company. In the latest preparation test their Channel Lock fasteners held 1,164 pounds - or 210 lbs/sq. foot - on a one inch thick board shelf of a tall cabinet.  “We are really pleased. Lockdowel fasteners are holding more than a 1,000 pounds on a shelf,” CEO Steven Anderson says. “These tests have never been performed before, and Lockdowel fastening is not only meeting commercial requirements but we are passing the heavier duty institutional requirements as well.”
Lockdowel said its fasteners have always tested and passed ANSI and BIFMA standards for AWI and WI (Woodworking Institute). However, this is the first time AWI National Testing Center (NTC) has validated joinery through their own performance testing methodologies. According to the AWI, these tests will determine the structural integrity of architectural casework assemblies using various joinery methods and materials.  

“This is the next generation of standards,” Ashley Goodin, AWI Technical Director, says.  Goodin adds that AWI recognized the need to validate new methods of joinery and materials in 2014, and these new testing methodologies have required three years of research.  Lockdowel testing has included wall, tall, upper and lower base storage cabinets, drawers and shelf support.

Lockdowel's barbed Channel Lock fastener was used in the new AWI testing standards.

 “The testing example of our tall cabinet is a real torture test,” Anderson says. “We were seeking to pass Commercial Standards, which is 155 lbs/sq foot. But this test used Institutional Standards of 210 lbs/sq foot - 1,164 pounds on a one inch board. This is the most extreme possibility we could imagine Lockdowel fasteners needing to hold. The other tests will be a piece of cake!”