ASI Lumber: A Hybrid Powerhouse In Hardwood And Softwood Supply
“When building suppliers run into something unexpected, they come to us and say, ‘Hey can you manufacture this?’ That’s where we shine.”– Chad Duncan, managing director, ASI Lumber
One of the 16 moulders used by ASI Lumber, a fully integrated lumber partner focusing on softwood and hardwood.
Since its founding in 1989 by Alan Ackerson and Roger Stevens, ASI Lumber has carved a unique niche in the building materials industry. Based in Ware Shoals, SC, the company now stocks over three million board feet of inventory and sources more than 50 wood species, blending softwood and hardwood to meet diverse project needs.
The softwood lineup includes Cypress, Eastern White Pine, reclaimed and new-growth Heart Pine, aromatic Red Cedar and Southern Yellow Pine, supported by extensive milling capability. ASI’s facility operates with gang saws, straight-line rips, chop saws, plus 16 industrial moulders such as Weinig, Paulson, Diehl and Leadermac USA, enabling them to fulfill custom cut requests on demand.
ASI specializes in premium hardwoods such as red and white oak, hard and soft maple, hickory, cherry and poplar, all available in rough and surfaced forms. Roughly 60 percent of their annual nine million board feet haul is hardwood, with the remaining 40 percent designated for softwoods.
Depicted here is one of six trucks being loaded for daily deliveries.
“We’re set up to do ad hoc, on-demand services,” said Managing Director Chad Duncan. “When building suppliers run into something unexpected, they come to us and say, ‘Hey can you manufacture this?’ That’s where we shine.”
ASI Lumber maintains tight control over its supply chain by sourcing directly from mills—no MDF, OSB, or plywood. Their operation includes rough-to-finished millwork processes, producing everything from tongue-and-groove flooring to teak hardwood. Clients needing niche profiles or material dimensions consistently praise ASI’s boutique manufacturing responsiveness.
With three semi-tractor-trailers and three curtain‑side support trucks, ASI guarantees industry-leading delivery service across the Southeast all the way up to New York. They also routinely ship their manufactured products to Texas, Denver, and every state east of those locations. “The curtain system keeps the wood dry and saves time,” Duncan said. “We’re not having to tarp and untarp on every stop.” Their fleet can deliver most orders within five days, a capability their competitors find hard to match.
Despite economic cycles and the 2008 downturn, ASI has posted profits annually. “We’re big enough to absorb market swings, but small enough to maneuver,” Duncan said. “If white oak slows down, we shift to other species. There’s always something moving, and we find the gaps and fill them.”
An aerial view Ware Shoals, SC-based, ASI Lumber’s facilities where over three million board feet of lumber is processed.
In late 2023, ownership reinvested $3 million into new equipment and four new buildings, bringing their Ware Shoals footprint to 200,000 square feet across 22 acres. “We pretty much retooled and expanded in just six months,” Duncan said. “December through May—we went all in.”
They also routinely manufacture reclaimed Heart Pine flooring and moulding sourced from historic structures—like textile mills from the 1800s. “Some customers asked where the wood was sourced—it had history,” Duncan said. “And when they find that connection, they want the story in their homes.”
Customer relationships are central to ASI’s operations. Their sales team emphasizes honest, upfront service—informing customers when something isn’t available and helping them pivot to alternatives that meet spec. With more than 30 species in stock at any given time, this transparency earns trust and repeat business.
“We manufacture everything to industry standards,” said Duncan. “We don’t try to say our quality is 100 times better than the next guy’s. But if anything ever goes wrong, we stand behind it. If it’s not right, we make it right.”
Their responsiveness and ability to deliver value without overpromising has helped solidify their reputation. “If I don’t have it, I’ll tell you. And if we can’t bring value, we’ll let you know. But if there’s a hole in the market, we’ll fill it,” Duncan said.
Duncan explained that the company’s size plays to its strength. “Even though we’re doing $20 to $25 million a year, we’re still small enough to be nimble. If the business drops for everyone by 10 percent, we look for the 90 percent that’s still there. That’s what we go after.”
This is a snapshot of ASI Lumber’s shipping department.
The company’s down-to-earth style matches its origin. “A boutique experience from a blue-collar town,” Duncan added, “isn’t just a motto—it’s how we build trust with some of the largest flooring distributors, building suppliers and regional and national distributors like BlueLinx.”
ASI Lumber is a fully integrated lumber partner. “From three million board feet of raw inventory to finished mouldings and custom dimensions, they combine scale, accuracy and attentiveness. Their investments in equipment, logistics and facility expansion—along with flexible, transparent service—make them a standout in both the hardwood and softwood markets,” added an ASI Lumber company representative.
For more information visit asilumber.com.
