American hardwood dimension and components

This section provides information on the American hardwood dimension and component industry, the approach to manufacture, guidance on availability for export and industry representation in the USA.

Dimension is defined as lumber that has been re-manufactured to specific sizes and is normally surfaced on two or more sides. These boards can be cut to exact lengths, widths and thicknesses specified by the customer. They are often referred to as cut-to-size dimension blanks. Wood components can be either semi or fully machined parts of an end product.

HARDWOOD DIMENSION AND COMPONENTS INDUSTRY

The dimension and components industry in the United States exists primarily to service the requirements of furniture, kitchen, and joinery manufacturers, as well as DIY consumers.

Of the specialist producers, some companies specialise in either softwood or hardwood, others do both. The capacity of the industry to produce hardwood dimension and components is increasing as a result of hardwood sawmills and producers investing in added value manufacture and thus diversifying their activity. Many of these producers are already committed exporters of lumber so this development has helped improve the potential for export.

PRODUCTION

Semi-machined components begin as rough dimension blanks and are carried one or more steps further in the manufacturing process. These processes can include surfacing, gluing, finger-jointing, tenoning, trimming, shaping, mortising and routing. Examples of semi-machined components include edge-glued panels, solid and laminated squares, and cabinet frames. Fully machined components are parts that are completely machined with no additional work necessary prior to assembly. Examples of fully machined components include cabinet and kitchen doors, table and chair legs, staircase spindles, table tops and mouldings.

For the domestic market in the USA the industry produces a wide range of products specifically to customer order, as well as standard ranges of building and joinery components. In the main, manufacturers are able to utilise the lower grades of lumber, using equipment and technology such as optimisers that can help to maximise yields, without losing product flexibility. Yield is also improved by techniques such as edge gluing and finger jointing, with the added benefit of improving the stability of the end product. Edge-glued and finger-jointed components are widely accepted throughout the American domestic market and are gaining in popularity in several export markets.

Product grades tend to be set by individual producers and are appearance-based, incorporating many of the criteria used for lumber grading. Hardwood dimension and components buyers are encouraged to follow the guidelines set out in the Wood Components Manufacturers Association 'Rules and Specifications for Dimension and Woodwork'. These guidelines are established as a basis for common understanding between the manufacturer, distributor, exporter and user when specifying dimension and components.

EXPORT AVAILABILITY

Dimension and components for export are custom produced. Therefore, in principle, availability is limited by a minimum volume for each item at which it is cost effective for the producer to manufacture. Availability of dimension and components will also depend on the lumber supply of a given species. The grade and specifications of the lumber available will also determine the type of products that can be produced.

Examples of typical dimension and component products that are exported include:

  • rough sawn dimension strips for flooring manufacture
  • edge-glued panels for furniture and kitchen manufacture
  • planed dimension blanks for furniture and kitchen manufacture
  • mouldings for joinery applications
  • cabinet doors for kitchen and furniture manufacture

 

EXPORT DISTRIBUTION

Generally, dimension is not held in stock in export markets as dimension and components are usually manufactured to individual customer requirements. Therefore, specialist hardwood importers and agents are able to supply products to order from producers in the United States.

A wider range of dimension and component profiles, especially for custom sizes or smaller production volumes, is likely to be available from producers in export markets. These are companies who specialise in the manufacture of dimension and components from imported American hardwood lumber.