Moulding and millworkrecovery or mirage?

D ecexr HEADLINES FROM ACRoss l\the country have noted signs of life in the moulding and millwork industry. But is news of a turnaround premature?

"Hiring with Hope" ran a Chico, Ca.. newspaper headline announcing that Sunset Moulding was looking to add workers at its local plant. In actuality, Sunset needed to fill just three entry-level positions-and those were to replace one employee who retired and two others who resigned.

"It's not that business is getting better," said plant manager Tom Maclean. "I've got spots to fill. They're labor jobs."

He received about 25 applications in the first three days the hiring sign was up. even though the starting wage was low. But benefits are included and. he said. "those can be more valuable than the wage."

Maclean hopes for better days, but thinks they're not here yet. "I started in the lumber business out of college, and I've never seen it this bad," he said. When the housing market was booming, Sunset employed approximately 150 full-time. The plant currently has about 45 employees.

At the close of 2009, American Millwork, Elkhart, In., was able to put 18 employees back to work. Earlier in the year, however, American had laid off 72 workers when parent RAF Industries shifted production to sister company Ferche Millwork, Rice, Mn.

"I'm so excited about hiring people back," said Tom Harper, who has served as president of American Millwork for the past year. "It's a good feeling because it was awful when we had to let those people go."

Harper hopes to be able to rehire more workers before the end of 2010. "I'm pretty optimistic we're going to see good sales growth this year," he said. "As we grow, we've got plenty of space here."

According to RAF Industries, "options and incentives not available to us previously" prompted the company to reconsider its plans to close the Elkhart facility. Other factors were a slight upswing in the housing market and employee wage concessions. The equity firm also said that ramping up production in Elkhart "represents the best long-term positioning of the combined businesses when our industry recovers from the current economic conditions."

Unfortunately, just after American took a step forward, Ferche took two back. In early January, Ferche laid off 22 employees on the night shift, representing less than l07o of the company's work force. "lt's economic in nature. Under current conditions, you don't need that capacity," said Gerald Grider, president of Ferche. "We'll certainly take that capacity back when conditions change."

There was no way to spin the news as good at Union Planing Mill, which was forced to close at the end of 2009 after 118 years in Stockton, Ca. "The state of the construction industry right now is terrible," said president Matt Brodie. "You bid and you bid and you bid, with very little to show for it."

One of the problems, Brodie said, was that the company lacked the deep pockets needed to continue operating in an uncertain economy. "It comes down to capital," he said. "The bigger, better capitalized companies will be the survivors."

Scott Schmidt, ex-Correct Building Products, has joined Fiberon, New London, N.C., as regional mgr. for eastern Pennsylvania, southern New York, Long Island, and northern Delaware.

Larry Stoddard, ex-Wolseley, has been named c.e.o. of Bradco Supply, Avenel, N.J., succeeding Tom Karol, who continues as executive chairman.

Dennis Weaver is the new engineered wood products sales mgr. for Smith Phillips Building Supply Winston-Salem, NC ww.fascoamerba.qxn

Doug Willey has been named mgr. of Habitat for Humanity ReStore, Dover, N.H.

Michael Mordell has been named executive v.p.-purchasing for Universal Forest Products. Grand Rapids, Mi., replacing David Phelps, who is retiring. UFPI is also splitting its Eastern Division into a Northern Division, headed by divsion president Scott Greene, and a Southern Division, headed by division president Robert Lees.

Craig Ratchford, ex-James Hardie, has joined New Home Building Supply, Greensboro, N.C., as v.p. of sales & marketing.

Bud DeFlaviis has been appointed executive director for the Sustainable Buildings Industry Council, Washington, D.C.

Russ Kathrein has been promoted to president of ProBuild's Northeast region, based in Moorestown, N.J. He replaces Joseph Todd, now president of market development.

Brian Krohn is a new account mgr. in the Denver, Co., office of Capital. Neil Hoffard is a new account mgr. in the Houston, Tx., office.

A.J. Bumby, ex-Timber Holdings International. is now senior v.p.commercial sales at East Teak Hardwoods, Dallas, Tx. Matt Mladenka, director of marketing and sales, has passed U.S. Green Building Council's LEED Green Associate accreditation exam.

Scott Banda has been named business mgr.-consumer products group for Bostik Inc.'s Construction & Industrial Business Unit, Middleton, Ma.

Dave Smith has rejoined Town & Country Homecenter, Crawfordsville, In., as mgr. of its Carpet One flooring department.

Jimmy Harris, Harris Ace Hardware, Brevard. N.C.. was named the Retailer of the Year by the county board of commissioners and economic development advisory board.

Sherry McFarland is now a Certified Bath Designer at Atlantic Design Center, York, Me., a division of Eldredge Lumber.

Ken Iverson, Marvin Windows & Doors, Sioux Falls, S.D., was named Remodeling Council Member of the Year by the Home Builders Association of the Sioux Empire.

Carrie Mayer is a new interior designer at Van's Lumber and Custom Builders. Dvckesville. Wi.

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Minnesota Glulam PIant Plans Expansion

Alanrco Woocl I)roclncts. Albert [.ca. MN.. will bcgin an $8-50.000 crpansion this surrrrner. installing -slularrr ccpriprrcrrt and hiring at least l2 rnorc wrlrkcrs.

"Wc arc anticipating the rnarkct u ill courc back tclward thc cnd tll'this vcar ancl grcw into next ycar. cspc ciallv for the power polc inclustrl'." saicl general mana-ger John Folrnan. "We nant to be poised to takc aclvanta-rc of markct -growth."

Hc said scr clal u'oocl larrrinating companies har c closccl bccausc ol thc recession. bringing nror-c ri.'ork to Alamco. Thc conrl:xrrtv ulso rcccivccl state artcl locul tlx br-clks thut hclpccl rnake thc crpartsion 1-rossiblc. "You neecl sonrc rcits()lr to lcuvc vorrr .jobs herc." sltirl ForrtlLlt.

Thc conrl.ranl' got its slar1 in 1t)-lcJ. as Rock Islunrl Lunrbu'. and lrccanre a clivision o1' Wc1,'crhacuscr in 1960which cklscd thc plant in 1t)112. Liiter that ycar. it'uvus pr.rrchased and rcopcnccl by l0 filnrer cnrplovecs. In 2(X)9. Alarnco was acquilecl b1' Bcll L.unrbcr.& Polc. Ncw Bri-chton. Mn.

Thieves Make Yard Closure Even More Difficult

Closing afier 30 years of busincss u as clil'l-icult cnough {br thc owncrs ol' P1'lc's Hornc & SLrpply. Avonrlalc. Pa. But brcak-ins and shol.rlil'ting nraclc it cvcrl \\'orsc.

"Pcoplc n.oLrlcl pull into thc lurn ben'ald at night. loacl up. ancl clrivc a\\'a\'.' saicl A lcr [)r lc. son ol' prcsiclent Jcffrcr l)r'lc. rr ho aclclccl that shoplifting cl Lr rins thc clty also incrr'ust'rl. Hc saitl thrrt ht'$oulcl huVe prclcllccl to givc uuuv itcnrs to loval custollrcrs. r'lthcr tlrln ilcul u ith sLrclr ncgativc bchuvior'.

Altcl thc stolc of'f iciulll closed the lrtrl wcek ol Dcr'erttlrcr. rrnr t'ennlining invcnlory was clonated to local nonploI'it organ izations. includin-g Ilabitrt lirr l{unranity and the SPCA. ancl thc buildin-e. equipment. ancl pfol)cftv rvcrc listcd fbr sale

Pr'le's tnther and uncle fbuncled thc store 30 )rears ago. The farnily blarrccl the closin-g on a poor econonry ancl the fact that the construction of a clrus store u ould virtually lund-lock thc SIOIC.

In contrast. saicl P1'lc. busincss at the store actuall)' \\'cnt up rvhcn u Lolve's olrened neurb\'.

Lowe's opened new stores Jan. 22 in Clemson, S.C., and Jan. I in Chalmette, La., and Greenland, N.H. (Jose Franqui, store mgr.).

Menards expects an early spring opening for a 162,000-sq. ft. store in Jefferson City, Mo. (Dave Helmick, general mgr.), and paid $4.5 million for about 11 acres in Otter Creek Township, In., site of a former Monninger concrete products plant.