“We are continually striving to bring the best combinations of quality, service and price to our business partners. We know relationships require trust and dependability. So, we continue to work hard building and improving upon past experiences.”
ceo RUSSELL RUCKER
Newton, KS – Wholesale distribution yard PWD Inc., located here, carries Hardwood lumber, Hardwood plywood, decorative panels, and solid surface products.
The company purchases approximately 2 to 3 million board feet annually of: Alder, Aspen, Yellow Birch, White Birch, Cherry, Hickory, Pecan, Northern Red Oak, Appalachian Red Oak, Southern Red Oak, White Oak, Red Leaf Soft Maple, Silver Maple, Hard Maple, Poplar, Walnut and Glacierwood Thermal stabilized wood. Grades purchased and sold are upper quality FAS, No. 1 and 2 Common, kiln-dried and surfaced/straight lined. The majority of lumber stocked at their facility is 4/4 thickness with some 5/4, 6/4, 8/4 and thicker material less prevalent.
Established in 1965, CEO Russell Rucker said PWD Inc. operates under the philosophy of creating good partnerships with their customers and suppliers. “We are continually striving to bring the best combinations of quality, service and price to our business partners,” he explained. “We know relationships require trust and dependability. So we continue to work hard building and improving upon past experiences. We realize that our prosperity is linked directly to that of our customers and we take pride in contributing to their success.”
From a 50,000-square-foot warehouse with average on-hand inventory of 100,000 to 200,000 board feet, CEO Russell Rucker said the company transitioned into Hardwood lumber during the 1980’s. “We distribute our Hardwood lumber and products mostly to cabinet, millwork, OEM, RV and lumber yards in the central United States,” he explained. Other decorative products such as the company’s outdoor living products like Glacierwood or Diamond Surfaces are sold nationally.
The majority of the operation’s Hardwood lumber stocked and sold comes from Northern mills with Appalachian Red Oak and a small amount of Southern lumber, all coming from the United States. “We sell some imported species, but the vast majority is American produced,” Rucker said. PWD’s Hardwood lumber is kiln-dried at a standard of 6 to 8 percent moisture content with very little being air dried.
When asked what advantages there are to the species of wood he purchases, Rucker said, “Color, quality and consistency are always the goal. We use species like Aspen for drawer sides instead of Maple for example. Alder as a Cherry replacement is an example of balancing the value of cost vs. quality. Generally the influx of imported lumber and plywood combined with the quick changes in trends from television, has created a desire for upscale designs on shoestring budgets. So balancing expectations with reality is a consistent theme throughout our industry.”
The company’s surface products include Flagstone, rocks and boulders. Available in several colors including tan, calico, salmon, red and mixed reds, Flagstone is offered by single pallet or full truckload quantities. Rocks are sold in several different sizes by a one ton bag or a truckload. Great for accenting outdoor environments, the operation’s Mossy Boulders are also available in single pallet or truckload quantities.
PWD Inc. is also a distributor for Diamond Surfaces USA. Products available include industrial and residential surfaces such as countertops; backsplashes; workstations; islands; breakfast bars; furniture tops and window sills. Vertical offerings include tub walls, shower walls and bases; and bathroom partitions and wainscoting. Architectural products such as chair rails; crown mouldings; casings; and base mouldings are among other products offered through Diamond Surfaces USA.
Rucker has been in the Hardwood lumber industry for many years. “It is very interesting to look at where our business started and the changes in technology that have made our work lives very different,” he said. “If you are younger and have older co-workers, ask them about giving prices over the phone and following up with paper mail days later; making calls on rotary phones; typing on unforgiving typewriters; and keeping actual hand-written inventory books.”
When asked about the company’s strong points he noted, “Local ownership creates quicker response time and action to be able to adjust to customer needs. Many years of experience in the ranks lets us draw on past business successes and failures to arrive at better solutions.”
Rucker also said PWD Inc. is built around relationships. “Long-term relationships with customers is what we strive for and we do very well at it,” he explained. “We have some relationships that span over 30 years. Above all, we are people who care about doing the right thing.”
Rucker said recent changes include increased sales of European Beech and that tariffs are affecting many businesses. “Paying tariffs on Chinese products are hindering sales of those products and lowering profits,” he said. “Americans are paying for the tariffs and only prolonged tariffs will affect Chinese companies. Many OEM companies have transitioned away from import plywoods because of the unpredictable market.”
He continued, “The changes in large truck regulations on exhaust emissions have hurt every company who moves freight. The large increase in breakdowns and truck life expectancy is taking its toll. The new changes that will go into effect requiring special schools to train CDL drivers is sure to create a shortage of drivers and hurt many businesses who depend on delivery of goods.
“I can see the pressure to deliver goods will add to the autonomous truck race to bypass human drivers in the future. Not a good thing in my opinion. Some of the hardest working people ever have been truck drivers and they represent the backbone of our country.”
The company employs approximately 14 people, many of which have been employed at the operation for many years. Key personnel at PWD include CEO Russell Rucker, Purchasing Agent Bob Jones and Logistics Coordinator Rusty Hartley. As for the future of PWD Inc., Rucker stated, “Over the years our business has changed in many ways and we continue to plan for the future with respect for the past.”
PWD Inc. is a member of the Mid-America Lumbermens Association (MLA), Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI) and the International Surface Fabricators Association (ISFA).
For more information visit www.pwdks.com.
