Industry News – March 2026

Industry News – March 2026

New Installations By Cleereman Industries

Newald, WI-based, Cleereman Industries recently installed a Cleereman Extreme Duty 3- Headblock LP-48 Tilt Linear Carriage at Clinch River Hardwood Inc. in Thorn Hill, TN. A new Cleereman Sawyer Cab with Cleereman Linear Carriage Controls with optimization was also installed. Everything was pre-mounted and wired in the sawyer cab to save time on the installation.

In other news, Kitchener Forest Products in Petersburg, ON, recently had a Cleereman HS-380 4-Headblock Carriage with Cleereman Controls installed. The Canadian hardwood manufacturer is a division of Townsend Lumber in Tillsonburg, ON, owned by Mike Penner. This is the second carriage line that Penner has purchased from Cleereman.

“Cleereman Industries, along with Cleereman Controls, would like to thank both Clinch River and Kitchener Forest Products for putting their trust in Cleereman,” stated Cleereman Industries Vice President Paul Cleereman.

Also, Cleereman Industries recently installed new equipment at LeMoyen Mill & Timber in Morrow, LA.

Paul Cleereman, vice president of Cleereman Industries, received a call from Andre Herpin, the general manager at LeMoyen. Herpin was interested in a new Cleereman carriage line to replace his older line that was costing them down-time.

According to Paul, Herpin had heard a lot of good information about the Cleereman equipment lines and the customer service after the sale.

Once it was decided what equipment was needed, Paul along with Herpin and Greg Thibodeau, took measurements, confirmed them and placed the order. The new carriage line included a Cleereman Heavy Duty linear positioning LP-42” carriage along with Cleereman Controls with 3-D scanning. The controls were all pre-mounted in a new Cleereman sawyer’s booth.

Other equipment supplied by Cleereman included a new 150HP hydrostatic carriage drive with a dual cable tensioner and a modular track-frame with pre-mounted rail for quick and easy installation.

For more information about Cleereman Industries and Cleereman Controls, visit cleereman.com.

Jartek’s New U.S. And Canadian Subsidiaries And Sales Manager

To further support regional sales activities, Jartek recently appointed Jeroen Hinnen as sales manager for North America. Hinnen has more than two decades of experience in the wood industry and heavy industrial machinery, with a strong background in international sales and customer-oriented project delivery.
     “A strong local presence and experienced professionals are essential to operating successfully on a global scale. By establishing subsidiaries in the U.S. and Canada and appointing a dedicated sales manager for North America, we are better positioned to support customers throughout these regions,” said Jartek’s CEO Juho Luoranen.           
    “Jartek’s strong technical expertise and customer-focused approach provide a solid foundation for supporting customers in the region,” said Hinnen.
    Jartek recently founded Jartek US Inc. in the United States and Les Entreprises Jartek Canada Inc. in Canada. The new subsidiaries provide a solid operational base for serving customers across North America and demonstrate Jartek’s long-term commitment to the North American market.
   According to a company representative, “Through establishing local presence, Jartek continues to develop its global operations by strengthening its international footprint and enabling closer customer cooperation and more efficient project execution throughout North America.”
   Jartek already has active projects underway in North America. A thermal modification kiln has been sold to Arbor Wood and is currently in the installation phase. In addition, a project with Western Forest Products has recently been finalized, with delivery and installation scheduled for May 2026.
   “With established subsidiaries in both the United States and Canada, a dedicated salesmanager for North America, and ongoing customer projects, Jartek continues to strengthen its global operations while maintaining a strong focus on technical expertise and reliable project delivery,” stated a Jartek spokesperson.
   For more information, visit jartek.com.

Artistic Finishes Acquired By Versatrim

Artistic Finishes, one of the nation’s premier manufacturers known for its solid wood moldings, stair treads, vents and advanced finishing technologies, has recently been acquired by Versatrim, an industry leader in vinyl and laminate floor moldings and stair solutions. This strategic combination unites two category leaders to create an integrated portfolio of moldings, stair solutions and flooring accessories in North America, according to a company statement.

Species offered by Artistic Finishes in their products, according to the company website, include but are not limited to Beech, Birch, Cherry, Brazilian Cherry, Walnut, Red and White Oak, Maple, Hickory, Pecan, White Ash and African Mahogany.

Customers will now benefit from a combined offering that includes:

• Integrated, end-to-end molding solutions for laminate, vinyl, LVT, WPC, SPC flooring and now wood
• Exact-match stair treads crafted from original floor planks for visual continuity and now offering hardwood stair treads
• Scalable manufacturing with consistent lead times for programs of any size
• A complete accessories portfolio – commercial-grade aluminum moldings, flexible moldings, primed profiles, hardware, adhesives, sealant tape and more
• Precise color coordination with flooring brands for aligned installations
• Versatile solutions engineered for both residential and commercial applications

Artistic Finishes will continue operating as a distinct brand within the Versatrim family as integration advances across manufacturing, product development, sales and distribution. Artistic Finishes was founded in 1985 and is headquartered in Roseville, MN.

Versatrim was founded in 1998 and is headquartered in Henderson, NC. For more information about the company, visit versatrim.com.

NWFA Completes 82nd Home With Gary Sinise Foundation

The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has provided flooring for its 82nd home in support of the Gary Sinise Foundation R.I.S.E. program (Restoring Independence Supporting Empowerment). The R.I.S.E. program builds mortgage-free, custom, specially adapted smart homes for severely wounded veterans and first responders. The home dedication for retired U.S. Navy Commander Robert Ballard took place recently in Chesapeake, VA. Flooring for the project was donated by NWFA member Mullican Flooring.

Commander Ballard started his career as a naval aviator and flew helicopters on multiple deployments throughout the Middle East during his 20-year military career. Upon his retirement, he became a professional flight instructor. In 2021, he was working with a student at a Navy Outlying Field when he was involved in a devastating crash. While his quick actions that day saved his life and his student’s, Commander Ballard suffered severe injuries, including paralysis.

In addition to the 82 homes already completed, NWFA currently is working with its members to source wood flooring for 14 additional R.I.S.E. homes in various stages of planning and construction. Currently, 162 NWFA member companies have donated product, logistics, and installation services in locations throughout the United States, with a total value of more than $7 million. A list of all NWFA R.I.S.E. participating companies can be found at nwfa.org/giving-back.aspx.

The National Wood Flooring Association is a not-for-profit trade organization, with more than 3,000 member companies world-wide, dedicated to educating consumers, architects, designers, specifiers and builders in the uses and benefits of wood flooring.

 The NWFA is located in St. Charles, MO, and can be contacted at 800-422-4556 (USA & Canada), 636-519-9663 (local and international), or at nwfa.org.

Axos Designs Announces Acquisition

Axos Designs, a custom millwork manufacturer located in Queens, NY, whose clients include many of New York City’s flagship retail and hospitality venues, has announced the acquisition of a new 30,000-square-foot facility in Long Island City to support record business growth. The new factory will join Axos’ nearby 10,000-square-foot plant, quadrupling millwork production capacity to nearly 40,000-square-feet in 2026. According to a company representative, Axos Designs purchases all domestic hardwood species for usage in their products.

The new facility will nearly double Axos’ workforce of artisans, cabinet makers, installers and other employees when it is fully operational this year. The company is investing heavily in equipping the space with state-of-the-art machinery, vacuum-sealed spray booths, conference rooms, a showroom and artificial intelligence technology that will help optimize manufacturing, tracking and job analysis.

In addition, Axos Designs is executing a strategic vertical-integration initiative to expand beyond wood fabrication into complementary trades including metal, glass and stone. Axos Designs is also actively looking at several acquisitions in new markets across the east coast in 2026.

Axos’ new plant is located just over the 59th Street Bridge in Manhattan, offering a central hub for access and distribution to key design and construction markets throughout the New York metropolitan area.

For more information, visit nhla.com.

NHLA Members Approve Key Rules Changes For 2027

National Hardwood Lumber Association members recently voted on proposed amendments to the 2027 NHLA Rules, resulting in several approved updates affecting standard grading language, construction grades, and Cypress grading rules 2027 Rules Vote Counts.

Standard Inspection And Standard Grades

• A proposed removal of the pith limitation under FAS grades (Paragraph 56) did not pass (53 for, 61 against).
• A proposed removal of the 1/3 SM knot or hole limitation (Paragraph 60) also did not pass (61 for, 53 against).
• An amendment clarifying manufacturing requirements—changing “lumber should” to “lumber shall be properly manufactured”—was approved (87 for, 24 against).
• Members voted to reinstate the Original Construction Grades as written prior to their removal from later Rule Books (94 for, 14 against). These grades may be modified in the future based on recommendations from the New Construction Task Force.

Cypress Grading Rules (Selects & Better and All Grades)

    Several Cypress-specific changes were approved, including:

• Adding a pith limitation tied to the width of the piece (64 for, 19 against).
• Revising knot allowances for 4”–5” wide pieces, with limited exceptions for longer lengths (65 for, 16 against).
• Updating knot allowances for 6”–9” wide pieces based on length (65 for, 16 against).
• Clarifying that sidebend shall not exceed limits that prevent machining to standard finished width across Selects, No. 1 Common and No. 2 Common grades (65 for, 16 against).

All approved changes will be incorporated into the 2027 NHLA Rule Book and are intended to improve clarity, consistency and application of grading standards across the industry.

Visit nhla.com for more details.