Hardwood Blog
Perspectives and insights on the hardwood lumber industry.
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Wednesday, 09 May 2018 18:29
Keeping Pace with Technology
Technology advances at an exponential rate. Every day we are notified of a new update, computer system, app, or program that is better than the one that you are currently using. Given the pace of technology it can be very hard to keep up with all of the latest advancements. Determining the technology that is right for your business and incorporating it the right way can give your business a competitive advantage in the marketplace.…
Monday, 23 April 2018 14:45
The Value of Tropical Lumber Shorts for Manufacturers
Inventory management issues, shipment lead times, and currency fluctuations are just some of the common issues United States tropical hardwood importers who bring in millions of board feet each year -like American Lumber- are challenged with. When it comes to tropical lumber, not all species are sold in 8’ and longer bundles. One of the challenges to this is that it results in the regular accumulation of lumber less than 8’ long. This is…
Thursday, 12 April 2018 18:23
Developing New Managers Into Effective Leaders
Being a good manager doesn’t necessarily translate into being a good leader. Often, employees who get promoted to management positions have steadily increased their responsibility levels within the organization or possess excellent technical skills. However, while these employees often possess these “hard skills” they are sometimes lacking the “soft skills” that allow them to be effective leaders for their teams. Promoting employees from within is a very common practice in the hardwood lumber industry. At…
Tuesday, 20 March 2018 14:37
Soft Maple: Could it work for you?
Soft Maple is regarded by many experts in the hardwood lumber industry as one of the most versatile species in the industry. With its ability to sand nicely, machine easily, stain well, hold firm edges in joinery, and its reputation for having a straight grain, Soft Maple is a very popular choice for furniture and cabinetry. However, Soft Maple is not only used in these type of applications. It is also used in a variety…
Wednesday, 07 March 2018 21:48
Does your company promote work-life balance
Many business leaders understand the importance of encouraging employees to find the right “work-life” balance. However, that is not always as easy as it sounds. Many times it starts with helping employees develop personal habits at work that allow them to be successful so they can create more time to do things they want to do away from work. At American Lumber, we have been focusing on a few best practices that we have found…
Wednesday, 28 February 2018 21:04
Have you considered using Sycamore?
It is not often in the hardwood lumber industry that you hear about a manufacturer using Sycamore in their production. However, that doesn’t mean it should be overlooked. Sycamore is an excellent species choice when used in the right situation. American Sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), can go by a variety of names, such as Buttonwood, American Plane, Water Beech, Ghost Tree, and sometimes Virginia Maple. Sycamore is usually found throughout the eastern portion of the United…
Friday, 16 February 2018 15:41
Custom Grades could be your key to greater yields.
Could changing your perspective on hardwood lumber grades allow you to buy materials that meet your needs more effectively? A custom grade of hardwood lumber might be exactly what you need! The grading system that is used for the hardwood lumber industry was established over 100 years ago by the National Hardwood Lumber Association, (NHLA). Unlike softwoods, which are graded on the entirety of the board, hardwoods are graded based on the amount of clear…
Thursday, 01 February 2018 18:04
5 Tips for Being a Better Resource for your Customers
Generally speaking, in the hardwood lumber industry, relationships mean everything! The act of buying and selling lumber usually happens with suppliers and companies you know, trust and depend on. That is why we find it is important for us to constantly be focused on developing strong, long lasting relationships. One way to do that is by trying to become a more valuable business resource for our customers. From our experience, we have found that these…
Thursday, 11 January 2018 14:18
Are you considering yellow birch?
For most of us in the hardwood lumber industry we typically think of yellow birch when we think of plywood. But there are many other applications birch can be an excellent choice for! Yellow birch is one of those species commonly harvested throughout the New England States, New York and Pennsylvania. You will also find it in parts of Appalachian region as well. In general birch represents about 5% of the overall hardwood lumber production…
Friday, 08 December 2017 14:06
Four Tips for Touring a Sawmill
In the hardwood lumber industry, sawmill tours are the norm. When customers can visit a sawmill, they can get a better idea of the suppliers capabilities, products and ability to service them. Many times, especially for someone new to the industry, customers find it interesting to see firsthand how a log is processed from a round log to a bundle of random width and length boards. However, not all sawmill visits are the same. We…
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Tuesday, 21 November 2017 16:43
Using Customer Feedback for Improvement
We know how competitive the hardwood lumber business is. From firsthand experience, we have learned there is no room for complacency when it comes to meeting the needs of your customers. It is important to think of each interaction with your customers as an opportunity for your team to provide significant value and further enhance your customer’s overall experience. These interactions can also be of great value to your any your organization and lead to…
Tuesday, 24 October 2017 14:38
Would More Effective Delegation Help Your Team?
Many business leaders understand the importance of delegation. But delegation isn’t always easy. Some contend it’s in the psychological makeup of business leaders to insist on doing (or trying to do) everything themselves - or at least insist on overseeing how others get things done. Here at American Lumber, we are constantly reminding ourselves f the importance and value of proper delegation. We work hard to leverage best practices in this area and constantly monitor…
Monday, 09 October 2017 15:55
5 Reasons to Consider Ripped-to-Width Hardwood Lumber
Manufacturers that use hardwood lumber to produce their products typically order lumber is random width and length bundles. However, some request their hardwood lumber suppliers to provider them products in special width sorts or even SLR2E ripped-to-width lumber they can use as moulder ready blanks. From our experience, we find the manufacturers that request ripped-to-width blanks are using this type of hardwood lumber product to manufacture specific cabinet parts, face frame, mouldings, custom flooring and…
Wednesday, 20 September 2017 14:09
Is Rustic Grade Hickory for Flooring on the Rise?
Rustic grade lumber has been a popular request for some time now. We often receive inquiries for rustic white oak, cherry and even walnut. But recently requests for rustic hickory have been on the rise. People define rustic grade lumber in numerous ways. In general, it is boards described as having all of its natural characteristics present. The lumber is structurally sound with tight knots, color variation, and a general natural appeal included. We find…