“It’s going to place us on the map. Companies and lumber professionals will look at us more seriously, knowing that we possess our own iron and steel, as they say in the sawmilling business. Our lumber partners appreciate that we’re heavily invested in our industry, and they want to align themselves with us.” – Brad Rodakowski, President, Prime Forest Products
While aiming for a larger share of the wood industry’s market, Prime Forest Products intends to remain faithful to its core values of sustainability, quality control, longevity, and fostering close relationships with customers, suppliers, and vendors.
Last December, the Beaverton-based company, which specializes in customized industrial millwork markets, acquired Rainier Custom Remanufacturing in Sweet Home, OR; a facility Prime Forest has utilized for 15-plus years for its custom manufacturing. The 22-acre remanufacturing operation has been renamed Prime Forest Remanufacturing (PFR) under the umbrella of Prime Forest Products. In addition, Prime Forest also operates a cut stock facility in Springfield, OR.
With the new acquisition, Prime now positions itself as a major manufacturer of high-grade Softwood.
Brad Rodakowski, President of Prime Forest Companies, states that the merger “opens up unprecedented possibilities” for industrial lumber manufacturing. “Our existing customers want to grow and do more business with us because they like the quality and variety of our products and want to see Prime Forest Products expanding and thriving,” said Brad, who has worked in the lumber industry for more than 47 years. “We are now positioned to control and tailor the production, sizing, drying and grading for our industrial customers. Our objective is to optimize production and strive for efficiency as much as possible.”
Brad explained that the acquisition was primarily made to better serve their customer base, as Prime Forest was already utilizing the Sweet Home plant to process wood long before the purchase was made. “We want to ensure that the wood is dried correctly,” he said. “Our customers inspect our lumber and conduct a prong test to ensure that the moisture content on the outside matches that in the core. The Sweet Home operation is the only place we have been able to have good success drying lumber,” he continued. “We’ve been processing our wood at this facility for the past 15-plus years and the owner wanted to sell the operation. The opportunity allows us to create a solid foundation for the next generation in the industry.”
Another reason for acquiring the Sweet Home facility was to diversify the company’s offerings. “It’s going to place us on the map. Companies and lumber professionals will look at us more seriously, knowing that we possess our own iron and steel, as they say in the sawmilling business. Our lumber partners appreciate that we are heavily invested in the industry and our products and customers want to align themselves with us. This growth is going to require more creativity and innovation and we are excited about the future,” Brad said.
“When we engage with new potential customers we have a lot more to offer,” he added. “This sets us apart now that we control all aspects of production.”
Prime Forest Products manufactures 22 million board feet annually of beveled siding, tongue and groove, pattern stock, molding, ship lap siding, cut stock and core block using Douglas Fir, Hemlock, Western Red Cedar and Ponderosa and Sugar Pine. Grades are shop through clear industrial lumber, and thicknesses include 1×2 – 1×12, 2×2 – 2×12, 3×3 and wider, 4×4 and wider and up to 12×12 and wider. Products are sold green or kiln-dried to 12 percent moisture or less – rough, surfaced or patterned.
They also supply stock for the door and window market, vertical grain Douglas Fir finger joint blanks, engineered style blanks, pattern stocks, flooring, paneling, ceilings, and custom patterns according to customer specifications.
Prime Forest exports to the United Kingdom, Belgium, Holland, Northern Africa and Japan, as well as importing Radiata and Taeda Pine out of South America and New Zealand. “We added a new salesperson who focuses on imports of Radiata and Taeda Pine from South America and New Zealand.”
At the Sweet Home mill, Prime Forest Products now employs 30 workers, and the Beaverton and Springfield locations have an additional 20 employees combined. The business has retained all mill employees since the acquisition. “Every employee has remained with us,” Brad said. “I’ve talked with each of them, listened to their feedback and have made improvements so they know we care and are invested. They are all very enthusiastic about the developments here, and they want to continue growing. Many of the employees reside in Sweet Home, a small community of about 10,000 people. It’s a good fit.
“We hope to foster an environment where word spreads about Prime Forest Remanufacturing, about what we do with the facility and how we give back to our employees. We want people to know we care, and this is a great place to work.”
Regarding the company’s growing efforts to improve sustainable initiatives, Lucas Rodakowski, Vice President and Marketing Director of Prime Forest Products, said that the company is working with tree planting organizations, as well as indigenous cultures to replant twice as many trees as those harvested. “Reforestation and responsibly managed forests are important to our company culture and for the future of the industry”.
“Every year we donate money to organizations to replant two trees of the same species in the same region as the tree that was originally harvested,” he added. “We are giving back to the communities and to the environment,” he said. “Sustainability and regeneration of people, as well as the planet is important.”
Prime Forest Products sets itself apart by emphasizing sustainability for the long-haul – “for the health of people, planet and win-win partnerships,” said Terree Rodakowski, Sustainability Director. “To be a responsible business partner in the value chain for our customers, suppliers, and for the long-term benefit of our vendors, we have made the decision to accept the call to action to adapt our business model to better align with a thriving planet and humanity.”
Established in 2012 in Brad’s garage, Prime Forest Products has evolved into a company with multiple facilities and an expanding workforce.
“I worked in the garage for two years, and then I hired an assistant, and soon after, another salesperson. We really started to branch out in 2014 and by 2016 we started to add more team members. We have done well because we are family-owned and operated with talented team members. When we make a commitment, we stand by our word. Our word is gold.”
Prime Forest Products is a member of the North American Wholesale Lumber Association, Forest Stewardship Council, Program for the Endorsement of Forest Certification, and they participate in events organized by the Portland Wholesale Lumber Association, along with other industry events like the Global Buyers Mission.
Learn more at www.primeforest.com.
