Capital Investments Position Holt & Bugbee For The Next Century
Based in Tewksbury, MA, Holt & Bugbee Company handles approximately 25 million board feet of hardwood lumber annually, with a species mix that includes Red and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, Ash and Cherry, along with a wide range of imported hardwoods. In addition to domestic hardwoods, the company supplies imported species and softwoods for a variety of applications, supported by in-house kiln drying and custom millwork capabilities. Holt & Bugbee handles approximately 200,000 board feet of softwood lumber annually, and according to its website, it offers a variety of softwood species, such as Alaskan yellow cedar, Atlantic white cedar, cypress, Douglas fir, pine and western red cedar.
It’s a thumbs up among these Holt & Bugbee employees! The company’s workforce reflects a blend of experience and new talent with about 180 employees.
With more than two centuries in operation, Holt & Bugbee continues to evolve, recently marking its 200th anniversary and now operating in its 201st year. Today, the company is focused on a new phase of growth centered on capital investment, operational efficiency, and long-term sustainability.
According to Ben Pierce, head of marketing at Holt & Bugbee Company, the company’s current initiatives are centered on upgrading core infrastructure to support future growth. “The biggest thing is that we’re updating our current infrastructure,” Pierce said. “We’ve been around for 200 years, and we’ve just made a big effort to update our most important infrastructure so we can move forward and not have to worry about it for the next 30 years plus.”
A major component of this effort is a full-scale mill modernization project. After decades of operation, the company is rebuilding and reconfiguring its mill to better align with current production needs. This includes the installation of new equipment and updated material handling systems designed to streamline workflow and improve efficiency.
Holt & Bugbee is working to expand its facilities to bring more operations indoors and centralize production.
“We put in a new planer, and we have new material handling when it comes to that,” Pierce said. “We’re also updating our dust collection and moving machines around to be more in line with our current workflow.”
As part of this upgrade, the company installed an EQ3-24 equalizing planer manufactured by Newman Machine. The “24” designation refers to the planer’s width capacity, with the model available in both 18-inch and 24-inch configurations, enabling greater flexibility and efficiency when processing a range of hardwood products.
In addition to equipment upgrades, Holt & Bugbee is expanding its existing facilities to bring more operations indoors and centralize production. The goal is to create a more efficient, cohesive system that improves throughput while maintaining the company’s quality standards.
“We’re expanding an existing building and putting all of the material handling in one place,” Pierce said. “It’s a more streamlined production.”
The project is currently underway and is expected to be completed before next winter. The company is continuing production throughout the transition by moving machinery in phases to minimize disruption.
Ben Pierce, head of marketing at Holt & Bugbee Company, said the company has the ability to handle multiple aspects of a big project, from exterior decking to flooring to mouldings, such as the millwork seen here.
Beyond its Massachusetts headquarters, Holt & Bugbee is also investing in future growth at its Pennsylvania operation. The company recently acquired approximately 10 acres adjacent to its Mount Braddock, PA, distribution yard, positioning the site for future expansion.
“We acquired about 10 acres next door,” Pierce said. “So we have the ability to build out some new sheds. That’s kind of the next project we’re thinking about after we get done with the new mill.”
While infrastructure improvements are a major focus, Holt & Bugbee continues to expand its product offerings. The company has recently begun distributing accoya, strengthening its presence in the exterior and specialty wood markets. In addition, the company continues to grow its exterior lumber segment, including imported species sourced from South America.
Holt & Bugbee’s core business remains rooted in high-quality, custom-focused work. The company specializes in smaller, precise orders that require premium material and attention to detail, often supporting complex residential and commercial projects.
“The thing that we specialize in is smaller, precise orders that require high-quality material,” Pierce said. “We’re very quality-focused, and we have the ability to handle multiple aspects of a big project, from exterior decking to flooring to mouldings.”
That flexibility allows the company to serve as a one-stop resource for many customers, supplying materials for both interior and exterior applications on a single project.
The company’s workforce, currently at approximately 180 employees, reflects a blend of experience and new talent. Pierce emphasized the importance of collaboration across departments, particularly between sales and purchasing, to ensure customer needs are met efficiently.
Holt & Bugbee has recently installed new equipment and updated material handling systems designed to streamline workflow and improve efficiency.
“We have a great mix of people right now,” Pierce said. “There’s a huge knowledge base to refer to, and we have a very collaborative atmosphere. Sales and purchasing work directly together to source whatever is needed for a project.”
Sourcing remains a key strength, with the company working primarily with independently operated mills throughout the Northeast and Midwest. Lumber is brought into the yard, kiln dried, and processed to meet customer specifications.
The company also maintains a strong commitment to sustainability. Holt & Bugbee works with FSC-certified products when required and has maintained involvement with FSC programs for more than 15 years. Much of its material is sourced regionally, contributing to a lower environmental footprint.
“We work with FSC and sell FSC products as needed,” Pierce said. “A huge percentage of our wood comes from the Northeast and Midwest, so it’s very locally sourced.”
Holt & Bugbee Company, based in Tewksbury, MA, recently marked its 200th anniversary and is now operating in its 201st year. The company is focused on a new phase of growth centered on capital investment, operational efficiency and long-term sustainability.
In addition, the company utilizes wood waste to support its operations and supply other industries, including pallet manufacturers, maximizing resource efficiency.
Holt & Bugbee’s products continue to be featured in high-profile projects. Most recently, the company supplied a White Oak floor for a home in Needham, MA, which is scheduled to appear on the television program This Old House.
“We get to show the entire process of turning that from a rough board into tongue-and-groove flooring,” Pierce said.
As Holt & Bugbee looks ahead, its leadership sees the current wave of investment as a bridge between generations. With experienced team members working alongside a younger, dynamic staff, the company is positioning itself for continued success.
The exterior of Holt & Bugbee’s facility is seen here.
“We’ve got the older generation and the next generation working together,” Pierce said. “We’re in a really good place right now. We’ve invested a lot, and we’re moving forward.”
Holt & Bugbee is a member of the National Hardwood Lumber Association (NHLA) and the Indiana Hardwood Lumbermen’s Association (IHLA) and supports the Real American Hardwood campaign and the Hardwood Federation.
For more information, visit HoltandBugbee.com.
