Industry News – June 2026
Midwest Hardwood Company Welcomes Matt Grube
Matt Grube recently joined Midwest Hardwood Company in a sales and business development capacity. He is located and will be based at his home in Greenville, WI. He will regularly spend time working at Midwest Hardwood’s mills and at offices in Minnesota.
“Matt brings valuable industry experience in product development, sales and territory leadership. His initial focus will be getting onboarded into the business and aligning with our sales efforts as we continue strengthening how we operate and serve customers,” stated a Midwest Hardwood Company representative.
Grube is from Neenah, WI, and after high school, he served six years active duty in the Air Force with three tours between Afghanistan and Iraq. He met his wife Cara while stationed at McChord AFB in Tacoma, WA. They have been married for 20 years and have two children, Taylor and Benjamin. Grube has a passion for leading and shares that in his community as an assistant high school football coach. He also enjoys hunting, watching his kids play sports, road trips and traveling with his family.
Across all locations, Midwest Hardwood Company employs roughly 550 people. The company is a member of the National Hardwood Lumber Association and the Hardwood Manufacturers Association.
For more information, please call 763-425-8700 or visit midwesthardwood.com.
Sam Damiani: The Newest Member Of Overseas Hardwoods Company
Sam Damiani recently joined Overseas Hardwoods Company (OHC) and his responsibilities include strategic planning for sales and marketing, managing the millwork and outdoor living sales team, identifying and developing new product lines, collaborating with various departments to optimize and enhance sales, operations and profitability. Damiani is also working with Abodo in New Zealand to add to their product list.
OHC is an importer and manufacturer of high-performance lumber products for the marine, millwork, outdoor living and transportation industries.
Including their headquarters in Mobile, AL, OHC has five locations. They have manufacturing facilities in Stockton, AL, Lufkin, TX, and warehouses in Milwaukee, WI, San Leandro, Rancho Cucamonga and Stockton, CA, and Vancouver, WA.
They import roughly over 40 species of lumber from Southeast Asia, Africa, South America and Europe and stock a handful of domestics. OHC custom manufactures lumber in their stateside facilities with the following capabilities: CNC, custom moulding, straighline ripping, resawing, pre-drilling, finger jointing, gluing, precision-end trimming, surfacing and sanding.
OHC manufactures decking, porch flooring, custom railing, siding, trim, moulding, trailer flooring, laminated door cores and door stiles. They are also a distributor of DuxxBak Dekk®, Kebony® and Dasso XTR Fused Bamboo®.
Damiani’s first job in the industry was at Mason’s Mill & Lumber in 2004. He started as a warehouse helper and then a delivery helper. His first opportunity in sales came later that year when a counter sales position became available.
While studying Business Management and Marketing at Eastern University in Wayne, PA, Damiani met Ashley. They have been married for 22 years and have five children and one grandchild.
Visit ohc.net to learn more.
Beckwith Lumber’s Extensive New Cleereman Equipment Line
Beckwith Lumber in Slaty Fork, WV, had a mill fire in early 2025 and lost nearly everything in the sawmill. Owner Danny Woods called Newald, WI-based, Cleereman Industries Inc. shortly after to assess the damage.
Cleereman Industrial Sales Engineer Rob Kittle met Woods and his Mill Manager Zach Currence on site.
It was determined that the Cleereman Carriage could be rebuilt along with the modular track-frame. The rest of the equipment would need replacing.
Ray Tharpe of RTM Industrial Maintenance, a long-time contact of Cleereman, handled installation of the new equipment.
Cleereman Industries, along with Cleereman Controls technicians, did the wiring and start-up of the optimized carriage and Edger lines.
Below is a list of the equipment that Cleereman Industries and Cleereman Controls supplied for this project:
1. Rebuilt LP-42 Carriage and changed carriage to 17-degree slant
2. New Heavy Duty Log Deck with nose skids and Cleereman 42” bar log turner built into head end
3. New Back Drop Rollcase for double cut
4. Used McDonough 6-ft Bandmill (supplied by customer)
5. New Cleereman Sawyer cab with Cleereman Optimization and Cleereman Dispatch and Auto Saw Guide (Everything was premounted in cab to save time and labor on installation)
6. New Drop Belt with Cant Pins
7. New Head Rig Rollcase with sweep chains to New Edger transfer
8. Cleereman 854 combination optimized Edger with 8” Gang Saw
9. Cleereman 100-HP Hydrostatic carriage drive with cable tensioner
10. Rebuilt their track-frame and re-machined rail
For more details, visit cleereman.com.
Comact Completes Acquisition of Oleson Saw Technology
Mirabel, QC-headquartered, Comact recently announced the completion of its acquisition of Oleson Saw Technology, a leader in wide bandsaw blade manufacturing.
Based in York, PA, Oleson Saw Technology has built a reputation for supporting sawmills across North America with wide bandsaw blades and filing room equipment. Oleson will continue operating from its existing York facility, ensuring continuity for customers and employees. As part of the transaction, Comact reaffirms its commitment to supporting Oleson’s continued distribution of Swiss-made ISELI filing room equipment for bandsaws and circular saws.
“Oleson Saw Technology has been built on a strong commitment to its employees, its customers and delivering high-quality bandsaw blades to the industry,” said Mary Chairs, president of York Saw & Knife Company Inc. and Oleson Saw Technology.
“This acquisition represents an important step in strengthening our cutting and saw technology portfolio,” said Adam Infanti, executive vice president and chief financial officer of Comact. “Oleson’s expertise in wide bandsaw blades and its strong market reputation complement our existing capabilities and strengthen our position in cutting solutions.”
As part of this transition, Oleson Saw Technology will introduce an updated visual identity aligned with Comact’s branding, along with a new website at olesonsaw.com.
For over 100 years, Comact has been a leading OEM in high-caliber wood processing equipment, digital technologies, cutting solutions, project services and aftermarket support. “Driven by innovation and excellence, we are dedicated to helping our customers address their most pressing operational and business challenges in today’s industry,” shared a Comact company representative.
“Whether for brownfield or greenfield projects, Comact’s expertise provides wood processing facilities with the confidence that their investments will yield superior performance, throughput and ROI. This ensures they remain competitive and achieve sustained growth in an ever-evolving market. Trust Comact to deliver exceptional performance every time,” added the representative.
For more information, visit comact.com.
Dolbeau Oxygène (DO2) Appoints Patrick Sasseville As New CEO
After more than 20 years as CEO of DO2, Stéphane Tremblay has announced his decision to step down and pass the leadership to the next generation. Patrick Sasseville has been appointed CEO, effective immediately. DO2 is headquartered in Dolbeau-Mistassini, QC.
Tremblay will remain actively involved in the company as Chief Financial Officer, continuing to contribute to key projects while supporting a smooth leadership transition.
Having joined DO2 as an intern in 2007 and progressed through multiple strategic roles, Sasseville now takes the helm to further the company’s international presence while strengthening its local impact.
“DO2’s diversification is what makes us unique. It enables us to meet challenges across multiple industries worldwide and to continuously innovate,” said Sasseville.
“This leadership change does not alter DO2’s core values, culture or ambitions — it represents a new chapter in the company’s evolution while maintaining its commitment to clients, partners and stakeholders,” shared a DO2 representative.
DO2, according to a company statement, is a leader in automated wrapping, material handling and robotic solutions, known for its innovation and expertise across multiple industries worldwide.
Visit do2.ca/en for more.
NWFA Completes 85th Home With Gary Sinise Foundation
The National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA) has provided flooring for its 85th 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. Army Sergeant First Class Joe Bowser took place recently in Ashland City, TN. Flooring for the project was donated by NWFA member Mullican Flooring.
After an honorable discharge during his first enrollment in the Army, Sergeant Bowser reenlisted in the Army Reserves following the events of September 11, 2001. While deployed in Iraq in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom, he was injured when a 122-millimeter rocket exploded right behind him, followed by another immediately after. The blasts resulted in the loss of his right leg.
Retired U.S. Army Sergeant First Class Joe Bowser with his wife Michele
In addition to the 85 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, 163 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/.
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 (U.S. and Canada), 636-519-9663 (local and international), or at nwfa.org.
MityLite Expands With New Orem, UT, Facility
MityLite recently began operations at a new manufacturing facility in Orem, UT, expanding production and creating 65 new jobs.
The expansion brings the company’s premium Holsag wooden furniture line to Orem. Located near 400 N. and 1200 W., the facility supports growing demand for high-end craftsmanship. MityLite, according to their company website, offers products constructed with Maple, Oak and European Beech.
After announcing the shutdown of its Lindsay, ON, plant in October, the company hired nearly 65 employees through a job fair in January. The event generated a turnout and allowed for on-the-spot interviews and hiring.
MityLite recently hosted a ribbon-cutting ceremony with local and state officials. The event was expected to include a presentation highlighting the transition to the new facility.
MityLite is a division of MITY Inc. The MITY, Incorporated family of products includes Bertolini, MityLite, Holsag by MityLite and Broda. Holsag by MityLite manufactures commercial seating for hotels, restaurants, healthcare settings, senior living, government buildings and other public and commercial properties. Products are sold through sales representatives and through a partnership of dealerships throughout North America. MITY, Inc. is based in Orem, Utah.
For more information, visit mitylite.com.
