CIDA Member News
OMNOVA 3D Laminate TFM Matching Program Expands to Include Designs from Flakeboard
FAIRLAWN, OHIO, March 24, 2008 – OMNOVA Solutions, (NYSE: OMN) working in cooperation with Flakeboard Company Limited, has expanded its portfolio of 3D Laminates to match four popular selections in a straight teak woodgrain design offered by the TFM (thermally fused melamine) producer. Now available from OMNOVA are Baroque , Libretti , Seria and Verismo , all of which match popular Flakeboard TFM designs of the same name.
By utilizing Flakeboard's woodgrain TFM panels for the cabinet shell and matching OMNOVA 3D Laminates for the doors and drawer fronts, fabricators can easily create a complete-design, matching cabinet system. This coordination of kitchen and closet cabinetry designs enables specifiers to achieve a unified look with excellent performance of each component, resulting in years of lasting beauty and functionality.
Products in the Flakeboard color-matching program may be purchased in small, 50 yd. rolls, as well as larger, 250 yd. quantities with two to three day availability. For more information or to order samples from the newly expanded 3D Laminates portfolio, please visit www.omnova.com/laminates.
OMNOVA Solutions designs and manufactures decorative, functional and affordable Paper Laminates, vinyl-based Flat Laminates and 3D Laminates, and alternative construction Specialty Laminates for a multitude of end use applications. Its laminates provide innovative, productive, long lasting, and cost effective solutions for a wide range of interior environments and applications.
Flakeboard, a privately held company located in Markham , Ontario , Canada is the largest manufacturer of particleboard and medium density fiberboard panels in North America .
OMNOVA Solutions Inc. is a technology-based company with 2007 sales of approximately $746 million and a current workforce of 2,850 employees worldwide. OMNOVA is an innovator of emulsion polymers, specialty chemicals, and decorative and functional surfaces for a variety of commercial, industrial and residential end uses. Visit OMNOVA Solutions on the internet at www.omnova.com.
Organizational Changes Announced at C.H.Briggs Company
Reading , PA – February 18, 2008 – C.H.Briggs Company today announced organizational changes within its Sales and Marketing functions. Effective immediately, Joseph Kearns will assume the new position of Chief Sales Officer and Luis Arias has been appointed Chief Marketing Officer. Both will continue their roles as executive team members.
As head of sales, Kearns has responsibility for developing and expanding customer relationships, and will oversee all sales personnel and activities. Additionally, Kearns will continue to oversee customer service.
As head of marketing, Arias will oversee all marketing and product management functions with responsibility for identifying and developing market opportunities; launching and managing products and programs; and developing and executing advertising, public relations and marketing communications activities.
President and Chief Operating Officer Don Schalk said: “This realignment is driven by our desire to optimize the company's ability to be market-driven. By consolidating our sales and marketing experts into functional teams, our focus on the customer will be sharper. We'll drive deeper into understanding and delivering what our customers need, enabling C.H.Briggs to be even more responsive to the market. Both Luis and Joe are seasoned executives with deep competencies in the areas they will oversee. Their leadership and functional expertise will be fully leveraged in these new roles.”
Arias most recently served as Vice President of Surfacing with responsibility for the premium decorative surfaces portfolio and the company's partnership with DuPont. Before leading the Surfacing business unit, Arias held a variety of positions within Marketing and Product Management at C.H.Briggs during his 14-year tenure. Additional work experience includes outside sales positions at Hettich America and The Pillsbury Company. Arias holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from the University of North Carolina .
Kearns joined the company in 2005 and most recently served as Chief Sales and Marketing Officer for the hardware and board divisions. Prior to C.H.Briggs, Kearns was Vice President of Sales and Marketing for MasterCraft Cabinets, a subsidiary of Elkay Cabinet Group, the fourth largest residential cabinetry manufacturer in the United States . Prior to that Kearns served in executive leadership positions in the communications industry, and with Whirlpool Corporation, the world's largest manufacturer of kitchen and laundry appliances. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Management from Tusculum College .
About C.H.Briggs Company
C.H.Briggs Company is one of the largest independently-owned distributors of specialty building products on the east coast. Representing more than 200 brands, C.H.Briggs is a leading provider of hardware and production supplies; hardwood plywood and other board and panel products; and premium surfacing products such as DuPont Corian â solid surfaces, DuPont Zodiaq â quartz surfaces, and granite natural stone; as well as an environmentally-friendly GreenGuard and FSC-certified product line under its BriggsECO mark. Serving the residential and commercial construction industries, as well as the architecture and design communities, its customers include manufacturers of countertops, cabinets, and commercial casework, as well as kitchen/bath and specialty retailers. Through distribution centers in Reading and Telford, Pennsylvania and Savage, Maryland, C.H.Briggs provides next day delivery in the Mid-Atlantic region, as well as Ohio, Michigan, and North Carolina. Headquartered in Reading , Pennsylvania , the firm's web site is www.chbriggs.com.
Tafisa Canada Prepares For the Launch of its Line 2 Particle Board Press
Lac Mégantic, Québec - Anticipation builds as Tafisa Canada prepares to press the first particle board panel from its state-of-the-art particle board press.
Tafisa's major 18 month Line 2 project - designed with maximum security measures, an improved production layout and the most modern equipment on the market - is rapidly nearing completion.
Under the supervision of the Canadian firm Sandwell EPC Inc. and the construction site management of L Nardella Associes Ltee, there were in excess of 400 employees employed on site during peak periods. The construction of this project consumed over 435 000 man hours while material requirements exceeded 3250 metric tons of steel and 11 500 cubic meters of concrete.
Employees are poised and ready for action. With years of experience behind them, 100 percent of the Line 2 team members have been rehired and have undergone specialized re-training for optimal production efficiency once the particle board line reopens.
Tafisa has plans to re-emerge with major impact and will be a powerful force with which to contend. With experienced personnel, state of the art equipment, guaranteed supplies of raw materials, a recipe for consistent quality panels and solid product designs, Tafisa has taken steady measures to regain its client base and to reestablish its standing as a market leader.
Established in 1990, Tafisa Canada manufactures particleboard and thermofused melamine. The Tafisa plant, located in Lac Mégantic, is the largest particleboard production plant in North America . Tafisa employs 325 workers with a production capacity equivalent to approximately 10 percent of the North American market.
Tafisa and Kruger Sign a Partnership Agreement for Recycled Wood Procurement in Quebec Montréal (Québec), December 10, 2007 – Tafisa Canada and Kruger announced today that they have signed a partnership agreement for the purchase in Québec of grade A and grade B recycled wood, two resources that are vital to their daily operations. With this agreement, the two partners will form one of the largest buying and selling consortia in the field of fiber and recycled wood in Québec.
Grade A recycled wood is an essential component of Tafisa's particleboard production, since it can be upgraded through proper conditioning, while grade B recycled wood, which is less clean and more degraded, is used as boiler fuel by Tafisa and by Kruger at their Brompton (Sherbrooke) biomass cogeneration plant.
This exclusive joint venture will not only reinforce business relations between the two partners and recycled wood producers, it will also facilitate the purchase of grade A and grade B recycled wood by guaranteeing sales volumes for wood recyclers who provide these two products.
This partnership agreement is perfectly aligned with the environmental mission of the two parties who are both committed to an optimal and ecological use of all types of recycled wood products.
Established in 1990 in Lac Mégantic (Québec), the Tafisa Canada plant is the leading particleboard and thermofused melamine production plant in North America . Tafisa employs 325 workers and its production capacity represents approximately 10% of the North American market.
Founded in 1904, Kruger Inc. is a major producer of publication papers, tissue, lumber and other wood products, corrugated cartons from recycled fibers, green and renewable energy and wines and spirits. The Company is also a leader in paper and paperboard recycling in North America . Kruger operates facilities in Quebec , Ontario , Alberta , British Columbia , Newfoundland and Labrador, in the United States and the United Kingdom and has 10,000 employees.
INFORMATION:
Jean Majeau
Vice-President, Corporate Affairs
Kruger Inc.
514/343-3213
jmajeau@kruger.com
www.kruger.com
Tafisa Canada
819/583-2930
tafisa@tafisa.ca
www.tafisa.ca
Klise Manufacturing announces the latest additions to its growing team of nationwide sales representatives.
Grand Rapids , Michigan , November 26, 2007 - In order to better serve clients in their growing markets, Klise Manufacturinga premier crafter of decorative wood moldings and trimhas introduced three new representatives to serve as points of contact for their Midwest and West Coast territories. Scott Smythe will serve the Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska and Colorado regions; Gary Hubbert, Glen Hall and Jeff Philips will cover the Arizona, Nevada and Southern California territories; and Lee Donaldson in Michigan. Because of the ever-expanding number of uses for Klise productswhich include custom cabinetry, kitchen and bath design, home remodeling and upgradingthese additions to their team of representatives will provide a more effective, and personalized, communication of the benefits and varied applications of their extensive product lines.
An Ohio native, Scott Smythe spent 12 years in the paper and converting industry, servicing clients throughout the Midwest before settling in Kansas City as the owner/operator of Sunflower Wood Products.
Hub Marketings team includes their founder, Gary Hubbert who history includes Vice President of Sales and Marketing at DAP Incorporated/Roberts Consolidated for fifteen years. Gary has also held various key executive sales and marketing positions in related industries. Glen Hall who served as president of Phillips Plywood Co., Inc.a major distributor of laminate, veneer and wood productsfor over 20 years, with 35-years total as a member of the wood product industry. And, Jeff Phillips with experience in industrial sales of laminate and wood products for various large distributors. Jeff specializes in working with the design community focusing on Casinos and Hospitality industries.
Lee began his extensive career in the wood-related market, after earning a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Operations and Materials Management from Michigan State University . Prior to joining Klise as a representative, he was a senior purchasing professional with over 25 years experience in Operations and Manufacturing.
These gentlemen will supply those interested in Klise products or distributorships with a broad knowledge base, and the highly personalized service that is a hallmark of the Klise experience.
To view Klises distinctive product lines, featuring over 5,000 patterns , learn more about distributorship opportunities or contact any Klise representatives, visit www.klisemfg.com .
ABOUT KLISE MANUFACTURING Based in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Klise Manufacturing Company began serving the furniture market in 1910. Today, the company is a leader in providing unique, beautiful, exotic and luxurious wood detail for a wide variety of applications.
Columbia Forest Products Executives Elected to Prominent National Sustainability Organizations
Portland, OR – Two executives from Columbia Forest Products have been elected to board positions with prominent national organizations in the green-building and sustainable forestry industries.
Columbia's director of corporate sustainability, Elizabeth Whalen, has been elected to the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)'s Board of Directors; and the company's environmental programs manager, Paul Davis, has been selected for a board position with the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC-US).
“These are key positions with two of the most important green building and sustainability organizations in the country,” company executive vice president Ed Woods said. “Elizabeth and Paul have been instrumental in pushing the company to the forefront of sustainable manufacturing and have significantly contributed to Columbia's emergence as an industry leader in the green building movement.”
Whalen, who will fill a product-manufacturer position on the 32- member USGBC board, has been with Columbia for six years. There she is responsible for the overall company strategy and implementation around environmental stewardship and corporate responsibility. Previously, she was Columbia's manager of brand strategy and was charged with the development, launch and brand positioning for PureBond®, Columbia's proprietary formaldehyde-free plywood. In 2008 Whalen will receive her MBA in sustainable business from the Bainbridge Graduate Institute.
Davis, an 11-year veteran with the company, has joined the economic chamber of the 10-seat, three-chamber (economic, social, environmental) FSC board. He was instrumental in expanding Columbia's FSC certification across 10 different North American facilities and managing the compliance of each. Davis also sits on the board of directors of the Harwood Plywood and Veneer Association (HPVA) and is the chairman of the HPVA's marketing committee.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non-profit organization committed to expanding sustainable building practices. USGBC is composed of more than 12,000 organizations from across the building industry that are working to advance structures that are environmentally responsible, profitable, and healthy places to live and work.
The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is a non-profit organization devoted to encouraging the responsible management of the world's forests. FSC sets high standards that ensure forestry is practiced in an environmentally responsible, socially beneficial, and economically viable way.
Founded in 1957, Columbia Forest Products is North America's largest manufacturer of hardwood plywood and hardwood veneer. Columbia's decorative interior veneers and panels are used in high-end cabinetry, fine furniture, architectural millwork and commercial fixtures. In 2005 the company converted all of its hardwood plywood plants to formaldehyde-free manufacturing processes and introduced PureBond, the industry's first cost-neutral, formaldehyde-free, decorative hardwood plywood panel. One hundred percent employee-owned, Columbia employs more than 3,500 and operates facilities in locations throughout the United States and Canada.
Wurth Makes New Acquisition
Mepla has belonged to the globally operating Würth Group since 1996, Alfit since 2000 and GRASS since 2004. The strategic decision by the Würth group to acquire Mepla, Alfit and GRASS was to capitalize on the research and development know-how of these companies. In the past, Mepla-Alfit has demonstrated great achievements in development within all product groups, one example being the world's first cushioned Soft-close® CS and Soft-close® CST hinge which clearly expresses the innovation capability and speed of the Mepla-Alfit Group. With the product group DWD Dynamic XP, Mepla-Alfit was once again able to set a milestone in the double-wall drawer system and has one of the best systems in the market.
In the same way, GRASS has permanently proved its capability to innovate with the introduction of new systems. These include the drawer slide system Nova Pro which is used by leading customers in the kitchen and living room furniture industries. In the area of handle-free furniture, GRASS is also seen as a trendsetter with its product “Senso”. With “Sensotronic”, GRASS has developed the first electronically controlled drawer system which is now ready for the market.
In order to significantly increase the competitiveness and innovation speed of Mepla-Alfit and GRASS , the development departments of Mepla-Alfit and GRASS were merged some time ago. In addition, various functional areas such as HR Development, Purchasing, and IT already operate on a group-wide basis.
Duplicating investments in identical product groups at different locations makes no entrepreneurial sense. On one hand complexity is increased unnecessarily and on the other it is not possible to achieve operationally efficient production volumes. Every product differentiation, however small, means a huge reduction in productivity. Only by focusing all the resources of Mepla-Alfit and GRASS will it be possible to realize competitive sales prices and win market shares. At the same time, we must understand the priorities of our customers and rapidly implement enhancements with benefits our customers can experience.
In order to achieve our vision and our common goals, not only competitiveness but also a strong brand is necessary. Following extensive market research and in-depth discussions with customers and partners, it clearly emerged that the GRASS brand stands for innovation and quality worldwide, and for many renowned customers this was the deciding factor when entering into partnerships with the company. For you, GRASS is a partner who addresses your needs and those of your customers.
For over six decades, the GRASS brand has been a well-known name in the furniture hardware industry and possesses a high level of awareness.
For these reasons we have decided to focus the strengths of Mepla-Alfit and Grass under the strong brand and to merge the two companies worldwide. The i mplementation of the Grass brand is to be completed by the end of 2008; Mepla-Alfit will then be incorporated into the GRASS brand .
What does this mean for you as our customer and partner?
You will continue to receive the same products from Mepla-Alfit and Grass as before, but under the GRASS brand throughout . Differentiation based on the various existing product groups will remain. However, all new product developments will no longer show differentiation.
The newly formed group of companies can look forward to synergy effects in a wide range of areas which will be invested in the future of the company and will safeguard jobs in the long term.
The Sales and Marketing areas of the two companies will also be merged. Werner Bosch will be responsible for Sales in the Grass Group and Chuck White for Marketing.
For us it is important to answer any questions you may have personally. For this reason we shall be contacting you during the course of the next few days and weeks to arrange an appointment.
Heinz Grabher Tel. +43 5523 5960 20 e-mail: sandra.hart@mepla-alfit.com
Werner Bosch Tel. (336) 289-2300 e-mail: Werner.bosch@mepla-alfit.us
Chuck White Tel. (336) 996-4041 e-mail: cwhite@grassusa.com
We are also delighted to announce another addition to the Würth family. The Würth Group has acquired a 100 % interest in the Hetal Group, which will take effect retroactively as of November 1, 2007. Needless to say, this acquisition is subject to the approval of antitrust authorities.
For both companies, this represents the next logical step towards expanding their product portfolio, their know-how and their competitiveness in the area of furniture hardware.
In the past, Hetal has successfully built up and expanded its market position in their core product areas, corner carousel mechanisms, flap fittings, hinges for office and institutional furniture and cabinet suspension systems through high flexibility, good service and quality as well as through a high level of innovation capability.
Today, Hetal ranks amongst the most recognized companies in the market with high development and production know-how in these technically challenging product segments. In 2006, Hetal generated sales revenues of approx. EUR 36 million with 300 employees. Particularly in the last two years, Hetal has enjoyed a huge success as a result of innovative new product developments above all in the area of flap fittings. Hetal's product portfolio therefore provides the ideal complement to our existing product range from GRASS and Mepla-Alfit.
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