Clark Lumber Company Installs New Covered Air-Drying Sheds
Clark Lumber Co., headquartered in Red Boiling Springs, TN, recently added three more covered air-drying sheds, each capable of holding 500,000 board feet of lumber or 1.5 million board feet of new drying capacity. This brings their total covered air-drying capacity to 5 million board feet.
Clark Lumber operates six sawmills, producing approximately 50 million board feet of Appalachian Hardwoods in 4/4-8/4 thicknesses. Species produced are: Red and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, Poplar, Ash, Cherry, Hickory, Walnut and Aromatic Red Cedar.
The company has a drying capacity of 900,000 board feet. All lumber is dried to six to eight percent moisture content and marketed throughout North America and around the globe.
For more information, visit www.clarklumbercompany.com.
Cole Hardwood Welcomes New Sales Representative
Joel Horling recently joined Cole Hardwood, located in Logansport, IN, as their newest sales representative.
Cole Hardwood offers Red and White Oak, Hickory, Poplar, Hard and Soft Maple, Ash, Beech, Walnut and Cherry in 4/4 through 8/4 and up to 16/4 in Poplar, to their domestic and export customers.
Horling has been in the forest products industry since 1997 when he started out as a lumber handler. He has since been a sales representative for various other hardwood lumber companies.
Horling graduated from Grand Valley State University, located in Allendale, MI, in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in business administration.
He and his wife Crista have four children and two grandchildren. He enjoys playing golf.
For more information, visit www.colehardwood.com.
Granite Valley Forest Products Welcomes Adam Hyer
Granite Valley Forest Products, located in New London, WI, recently brought Adam Hyer on board as their supply chain manager. Hyer will oversee kiln-dried lumber buying, inventory turns, product and market development, strategic growth, as well as developing and recruiting talented employees in all roles.
Granite Valley produces Red and White Oak, Hard and Soft Maple, Walnut, Basswood, Aspen, Hickory, Chestnut, Poplar and Eastern White Pine in thicknesses of 4/4 through 8/4, all Forest Stewardship Council certified, BMSB certified in Australia and New Zealand, as well as European Union and United Kingdom compliant. They offer ripped to width lumber. Granite Valley has 40 dry kilns, 60 bay green bin sorter, 100 carts off their dry line and two sawmills. Granite Valley purchases 400,000 board feet of kiln-dried lumber monthly (5 million board feet annually).
Before joining the Granite Valley team, Hyer started piling lumber in 2004, he then went on to be the chief business development officer, chief inventory officer and director of international sales at MacDonald & Owen Lumber. He also serves as a volunteer for the American Hardwood Export Council and previously served as the chairman of the board.
Hyer went to the University of Wisconsin – La Crosse and graduated with a degree in Chemistry in 2004.
Hyer has been married to his wife for 21 years and is a father to five children.
For more information, visit www.granitevalley.com.
Boise Cascade Acquires Brockway-Smith Company
Boise Cascade Company, located in Boise, ID, announced that it has acquired Brockway-Smith Company (BROSCO), a leading wholesale distributor specializing in doors and millwork. The purchase price for BROSCO, including the acquisition of its two full-scale distribution centers, is $172 million, subject to certain closing adjustments. Boise Cascade plans to fund the transaction and closing-related expenses from its existing cash balances.
BROSCO is a fifth-generation, family-owned company founded in 1890. It operates distribution centers in Hatfield, MA and Portland, ME. In addition to interior and exterior doors, BROSCO’s offerings also include mouldings, railings, windows, stair parts and composite products.
Boise Cascade currently operates 10 millwork locations in some of the nation’s fastest-growing markets, specializing in exterior and interior doors, frames, hardware and pre-finishing options.
“BROSCO is a long-standing industry leader in the Northeast region known for high-capacity manufacturing, quality artisanship, and a loyal customer base,” said Jeff Strom, Executive Vice President, Building Materials Distribution. “This acquisition furthers our strategy to expand our millwork business. We are excited to bring this outstanding team on board.”
“Boise Cascade provides BROSCO a unique and exciting opportunity to join a company that is very similar in culture and commitment to customers and associates,” said Charlie Smith, President and CEO of BROSCO. “Boise Cascade is a large and successful organization that will allow all our customers the ability to continue to enjoy the outstanding BROSCO products and service that have been the standard of the Northeast millwork market for over 130 years.”
Boise Cascade is one of the largest producers of engineered wood products and plywood in North America and a leading U.S. wholesale distributor of building products, they also export globally. For more information, please visit www.bc.com.
Delta Cedar Welcomes Rick Harris
Rick Harris is the Director of Strategic Development at Delta Cedar Specialties Ltd., a division of the Delta Forestry Group, located in Pitt Meadows, BC, and is involved in both sales and executive functions. Delta Forestry Group has two sawmills that produce 120 million board feet annually and distributes lumber worldwide. Delta Cedar Specialties offers Western Red Cedar, Alaskan Yellow Cedar, Douglas Fir and Hemlock in low grades through clears, dry or green and rough or surfaced.
Delta Cedar Specialties offers a full line of products milled to their customers specification, whether rough sawn, rougher headed or S1S2E or S4S. Their sawmills are capable of cutting timbers up to 32-feet in length.
Harris recently joined Delta Forestry Group in September of 2023. He has been in the forest products industry for over 30 years. He started his career in the forest products industry at Paynter Timber Ltd., located in New Zealand, where he sold framing lumber and imported hardwood trellis in to the New Zealand domestic market for six years.
He then immigrated to Vancouver in 1997, where he worked for Interfor as general manager of export sales and marketing for 18 years.
He graduated high school from Christ’s College in Christchurch, New Zealand. He then went on to receive a bachelor’s degree in marketing and economics, as well as diplomas in farm management and agriculture, from Lincoln University in Christchurch, New Zealand. He also received a certificate in agriculture from Flock House in Bulls, New Zealand.
In his spare time, Harris enjoys fishing, hiking, rugby, tennis and learning his family’s history. He has been married to his wife Vicky Harris for 28 years and has two sons and one daughter.
Delta Cedar Specialties is a member of BC Wood, North American Wholesale Lumber Association and Truck Loggers’ Association.
For more information call 604-612-0073, email rharris@deltacedar.com or visit www.deltaforestrygroup.com.
Robinson Lumber Company Continues To Make Strategic Moves
Robinson Lumber Company, is proud to announce a significant expansion of its operations in New Albany, IN. The company has acquired an additional five acres of land adjacent to its flagship yard, marking a major step in its ongoing commitment to growth and innovation.
The centerpiece of this expansion is the installation of the new Combilift CSS Slip Loader, a cutting-edge piece of equipment that streamlines container loading, reducing the process to an impressive under-six-minute timeframe. This advancement underscores Robinson Lumber’s dedication to efficiency and safety in its operations.
Further enhancing operational efficiency, Robinson Lumber has also introduced the Combilift Side Loading Multi-Directional Forklift. This addition enables tighter aisle configurations and more efficient storage solutions. These investments are part of a comprehensive plan to reinvest in the flagship yard over the next five years, ensuring that the company remains at the forefront of the global forest products industry.
Robinson Lumber Company is also proud to celebrate the retirement of its esteemed President, Joe Buckhaults. A dedicated and valued employee, Buckhaults’s journey with Robinson Lumber began over 30 years ago, and he worked his way up to the position of President. His leadership and dedication have left an indelible mark on the company, and his retirement is a moment of well-deserved recognition.
To carry the torch forward, the company is pleased to introduce its new Chief Financial Officer (CFO), Cliff Worley. Worley joined the Robinson Lumber team in September 2023 and brings a deep commitment to excellence. His expertise and vision will play a crucial role in propelling this fifth-generation business into a dynamic and prosperous future, according to a company spokesperson.
“This expansion and change in leadership are significant milestones in our company’s history,” said Wesley Robinson, North American Hardwood Manager. “We’re excited about the opportunities they present and remain dedicated to delivering top-quality products and services to our valued customers.”
Robinson Lumber is also pleased to announce they have completed a transaction to sell Robinson’s U.S. Flooring Business to Tradelink Wood Products including Robinson’s U.S. flooring inventory, their flooring brand, associated goodwill and the transfer of related supplier, customer and service provider relationships.
Under the terms of the agreement, Robinson will provide Transition Services to Tradelink Wood Products. Guiding the transition of Robinson’s flooring business is Dan Lennon who will ensure the integration of Robinson’s valued customers, suppliers and service providers into Tradelink’s system while remaining with Robinson as Vice President. Tradelink is pleased to welcome Jacqueline Monteilh, a dedicated nine-year Robinson employee, who has joined the Tradelink Sales Team and is now part of the Tradelink family.
Robinson Lumber Company and Tradelink Wood Products are both family-owned businesses with extensive histories in the wood products industry. The two companies have shared numerous professional relationships since the 1980s, serving as customers, suppliers and competitors across various markets. Through years of collaboration, mutual admiration has grown within both organizations and among the individuals who drive them.
This strategic transaction stands as a mutually beneficial step forward for both companies and their customers and suppliers.
For more information about Robinson Lumber Company and its expanded operations, please visit www.roblumco.com.
BID Group Acquires YGE Inc.
BID Group, located in Mirabel, Quebec, is delighted to announce the successful completion of its acquisition of YGE Inc. This strategic transaction further enhances BID’s product offering within the wood processing saw and tooling sector, while also extending BID’s industry-leading product and service offerings across the entire operational life cycle.
YGE Inc. stands as an innovative supplier and service provider specializing in top-tier saw guides, grinders and critical consumables catering to the wood processing industry. Located in St. Raymond, Quebec, YGE is a trusted partner, having forged strong bonds with BID’S product lines, projects and manufacturing facilities across North America.
“We are excited to reach this agreement with our longtime partners YGE and the Guillemette family. This marks another important step in meeting our valued customer demand for modern, high quality and innovative saw and tooling technology solutions. This partnership builds on previous investments in Smith Sawmill Services, BLADE cutting tools, and the recently announced acquisition of Industrial Cutting Solutions in Alabama,” said Simon Potvin, BID’s President, Wood Processing.
“I am pleased to be able to transition our business with the BID Group,” said Yvon Guillemette, Owner of YGE. “I would like to thank our team for their dedication and hard work to build YGE over the years. I am confident this partnership will provide our employees, suppliers and customers with enhanced opportunities and benefits.”
The transaction formally closed on Oct 1, 2023.
Since 1924, the privately-owned BID Group has been providing industry-leading solutions for its highly valued customers, all over the world. As one of the largest integrated suppliers to the wood processing industry, and the North American leader in the field, BID Group is your one-stop source for guaranteed, comprehensive and innovative solutions.
The ability to provide complete, smart connected, turnkey manufacturing facilities that includes engineering, project management, equipment, software, installation, startup and after sales parts and services is the BID Group companies’ strategic value to its customers. The company has offices in 15 locations situated to serve the predominant wood processing regions of North America.
Learn more about BID at www.bidgroup.ca.
DMSi Announces Log and Lumber Division
DMSi has been at the forefront of innovation for inventory and order management solutions for the building materials industry. With a recent growth initiative, the company is now poised to provide the same level of innovative solutions to the hardwood industry. DMSi’s Log and Lumber Division was officially created early on in 2023, as a way for the company to specifically focus on the inventory, production and order management needs of the hardwood industry.
“Hardwood companies need software that can address their needs that are unique to this industry,” says Henry German, DMSi co-owner and President of the DMSi Log and Lumber Division. “The Log and Lumber Division’s sole focus is on software solutions equipped to handle these needs effectively.”
While just recently announced, the development of DMSi’s Log and Lumber Division was a strategic initiative nearly four years in the making. Beginning with the rollout of TallyExpress in 2018, and more recently, the acquisitions of eLIMBS and Simply Computing International and partnership with Hardwood Timber and Transportation Services; DMSi has been focused on building a team to provide a fully-integrated, end-to-end suite of inventory, production and order management solutions to the hardwood industry.
For each product DMSi has acquired, the first step has been to build out the foundations of a team that can handle their growth plans, then begin the modernization efforts to position DMSi to be the last software provider their customers will ever need.
DMSi’s eLIMBS is currently sold into Canada and they license TallyExpress out of their sister company in Europe.
Headquartered in Omaha, Nebraska for nearly five decades, DMSi has remained an independent, family-owned business, guided by its original core values in a relentless pursuit of excellent customer service.
For more information, visit www.dmsi.com.
