Heitink Veneers Inc.

• Private
• US

Dow Jones Description

Jan contacted a used machinery dealer in North Carolina. The company had a used Fisher & Ruckle splicing line for sale, but it was located overseas. "This was a crucial time for HVI," Jan Berend recalls. "The company had come to a crossroads and had to choose between staying a custom cutter and brokering veneers to other splicing manufacturers or becoming its customers' competition and join them in the manufacturing of spliced face veneers." HVI decided to go forward with the splicing program primarily due to the enormous increases in log prices in maple and cherry. The transition had to go very quickly since cash flow was limited. Gerrit flew overseas to inspect and purchase the splicing line with the green light from the bank and SBA. Jan Berend began interviewing potential employees and coordinating the building expansion to 12,500 sq. ft. to house the manufacturing equipment. The splicing line was purchased in April 1997. The building expansion was completed in July and the company was splicing its first faces in the middle of August. The used splicing line consisted of a 1982 Kuper 800 KW cross clipper, a 1985 Ompec TRO 2M 2700 mm double knife guillotine, a 1991 Fisher & Ruckle FLA glue machine, and a 1985 Fisher & Ruckle FZS 28.1 crossfeed splicer with stacking unit. To bring the used machinery on line, HVI initially had to clip with one knife and apply glue with rollers by hand--crude when compared to today's standards.

Owner

Number of Employees 34

Contact Information

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