Recent Winners

The Woodworking Machinery Association announced the winners of the 2009 Wooden Globe Awards at the 22nd annual awards dinner in Woodstock,Vt. Pictured here are WMIA member Jim Besonen, Keith Hanstad of Hennepin Technical College, WMIA member Joe Wentzlof, Kurt Friedhoff of Hoff Enterprises, Randy Deem of Anvil Motion and WMIA member Michael Cassell.

 

At its 22nd annual Awards dinner, the Woodworking Machinery Industry Association (WMIA) announced the winners of the 2009 Wooden Globes for its Innovator, Educator and Commitment to Excellence through Technology awards at the Woodstock Inn and Resort (Woodstock, Vt.).

 

After welcoming the WMIA's Board of Directors, guests and media representatives to the event honoring those who have made outstanding contributions to the woodworking industry, David Rothwell, WMIA President and Stiles Machinery Inc., Executive Vice President, said,“One of the main characteristics the companies we are honoring this evening have in common is that they are extremely efficient and let technology drive their businesses. They have a relatively low labor content in their products because they rely heavily on technologically advanced equipment, systems and processes in order to achieve a competitive advantage.”

 

Addressing the current economic climate, Rothwell said, “No doubt we are in almost unprecedented times, the deepest and longest-running recession since the Great Depression of the1930s.

 

“One could argue, and not get much resistance, that our particular industry is in a depression. However, most economists now are saying the bottom has been reached and the recession most likely is over. Opportunities abound in times like these and those companies that position themselves by ReEngineering, ReTooling and ReEducating their plant and team members with modern, state-of-the-art equipment and processes will find themselves in an enviable position with competitive advantages to compete in the global marketplace. As one of my customers states, ‘These times are too good to waste.’”

 

Expanding on his personal experience, Rothwell said, “I have two U.S. customers, one large and one medium size, who have eliminated their imported product lines and started manufacturing these same product lines here. They have examined all the costs in a holistic approach – recognizing the escalating increases in currencies and wages in China and the ultimate future increases in energy prices – and have found they can manufacture more effectively in the United States than importing from China.”

 

Rothwell continued, “Overall, while there has seen a downturn in the last 20 years, the United States is a great place to manufacture. Many American and foreign-based companies such as Toyota, Kronotex, IKEA, Volkswagen and many others have expanded their manufacturing operations here. When they explores manufacturing opportunities in the U.S. they find, relatively speaking, inexpensive land, an educated workforce, an abundance of raw materials, and most importantly, the number one marketplace in the world.

 

“As a result, and based on my 28 years in the industry and as witness to many cycles of peaks and valleys, I firmly believe you will see a resurgence of U.S. manufacturing in the future. It will happen with the help of the WMIA's ongoing commitment to retool America with the high-tech, economically competitive woodworking equipment that its members provide. Let technology drive your business!”

 

In closing, Rothwell welcomed the 2009 winners: Innovator, Anvil Motion (Brigham City, Utah); Educator, Hennepin Technical College (Brooklyn Park, Minn.); Commitment to Excellence in Technology, Hoff Enterprises (Johnstown, Penn.).

 

2009 INNOVATOR OF THE YEAR

Anvil Motion, Brigham City, UT

 

 

Michael Cassell of HOLZ-HER US, Inc., gives the Wooden Globe Award for Innovator of the Year to Randy and Nathan Deem of Anvil Motion.

According to Michael Cassell, WMIA member and HOLZ-HER North American CNC Production Manager, “For 22 years, WMIA's Innovator Award has recognized companies who foster and promote innovative thinking and profitability in the commercial woodworking industry through the integration of high-technology equipment.

 

“Anvil Motion, whose roots date back to a residential construction company, was founded approximately 30 years ago. Dissatisfied with the quality of outsourced cabinets, it developed its own custom products. In 2008 it coupled its commitment to Old World quality and craftsmanship with the latest in automated technology.

 

“Today Anvil Motion offers totally new, patent-pending 'smart system' cabinetry that includes recognition sensors that allow the opening and closing of cabinet doors with the wave of a hand, and drawers that open and close with the touch of a finger. It comprises the most sophisticated biometric technology to set the lighting, audio/video equipment and room temperature requirements of the specific individual entering the kitchen. Access to cabinets housing proscribed contents such as prescriptions, liquor and valuables, can be similarly secured. Anvil Motion has produced the first fully automated and integrated system using automated machines and software to send jobs from ‘the screen to the machine.’”

 

In closing, Cassell introduced an Anvil Motion video illustrating the company's "innovative approach to a century's old concept of kitchen cabinets and, obviously, the WMIA's selection committee did as well in naming Anvil Motion as the 2009 Innovator of the Year." Nathan Deem of Anvil Motion accepted the Innovator of the Year Award.

 

2009 EDUCATOR OF THE YEAR AWARD

Hennepin Technical College, Brooklyn Park, Min.

 

 

Keith Hanstad, Cabinetmaking Instructor at Hennepin Technical College, receives the Wooden Globe Award for Educator of the Year from Jim Besonen, CEO of Wood Machinery Systems.

Jim Besonen, WMIA member and Wood Machinery Systems' CEO, recounted his personal experience with Hennepin technical college in presenting the Educator of the Year Award, which honors educational programs that product trained, motivated and skilled employees for wood-product manufacturing companies, particularly those integrating high-technology equipment.

 

“I have worked in the wood products industry for 25 years and my affiliation with Hennepin Technical College goes back even further than that. When I was growing up, my father taught math at the college and I attended many family events and open houses as a child, touring the wood shop with the student-made cabinetry and furniture pieces on display. Later, when I was working as a service technician my father always volunteered to have me fix the wide belt sander anytime there was a problem.

 

“Over the years, I have worked with the college to replace equipment, helping keep them up to date with the industry on machinery technology, and have been supported in that effort by many WMIA members.”

 

Besonen, noting last year’s 35th anniversary reunion and mini-trade show for attending alumni dating from the ’70s, reported, “What was most impressive to me was to see how this school had helped to grow our industry. The alumni are not just skilled craftsmen and woodworkers but many are entrepreneurs, business managers, employers and, maybe most importantly, machinery buyers.

 

“The wood products industry of 2009 has just a great a need for a skilled technical workforce as it did back in the 1970s, and I'm proud to see that Hennepin Technical College is just as committed today to providing us with those skilled individuals as they were four decades ago.”

 

Hennepin's two-year cabinetmaking program was created by the State of Minnesota to provide quality trained individuals for the woodworking industry, which it has done for more than 35 years. Its training follows the Europeans model, focusing on basic hand skills and layout in the beginning of the program and then progressing into more complex work and machining over the length of the program, eventually ending with the CNC machining and CAD layout and design. It also is closely tied to the industry, with an advisory board comprising of local companies, and also with Minnesota's AWI chapter. These associations serve as an excellent source for employment, both during and after training; many companies reimburse students for tuition as an investment in acquiring a skilled workforce. Annual enrollment/participation numbers 47, with an average 18 graduating yearly. Hennepin is justifiably proud of its record of virtually 100 percent placement of its graduates through 2007.

 

Keith Hanstad, Hennepin Technical College Cabinetmaking Instructor, accepted the Educator of the Year Award.

 

2009 COMMITMENT TO EXCELLENCE THROUGH TECHNOLOGY

Hoff Enterprises, Johnsontown, Penn.

 

 

Joe Wentzlof, WMIA member and Regional Sales Manager for HOLZ-HER US, Inc., presented the fifth annual Commitment to Excellence through Technology Award. It recognized companies that have achieved consistent growth and profitability in their market segments, and attribute much of their success to on-going investment in WMIA-member-supplied high-technology equipment.

 

Wentzlof said, “Through working in the capital equipment industry for many years I've seen hundreds, if not thousands, of manufacturing facilities around the U.S., and I've found that within minutes of arriving at a facility it's easy to determine how that company is managed and operated.

 

Upon entering Hoff Enterprises' 50,000 sq. ft. manufacturing space, it quickly became evident that the owners have invested in technology -- both equipment and software -- as well as in their employees’ continuous training and support.

 

Hoff Enterprises was founded in 1970 by Walt Friedhoff, father of current president Kurt, and it has grown to manufacture a wide range of primarily laminated but also wood casegood products and sold-surface countertops, for facilities including government offices, medical facilities, financial services, as well as residential construction.” He noted that the company is committed to the concepts of ReEngineering, ReTooling and ReEducating.

 

Wentzlof noted, “I’ve had the opportunity of working with Kurt on some purchases and found his knowledge of the industry and its equipment was amazing. He knew what he wanted, where his business was heading and how he planned to get there; this commitment, even in a tough economy, has kept him ahead of his competitors. In 1980 they moved from the original garage-based facility to the Johnstown, Penn. Main facility in use today, which has undergone a number of expansions. The company currently employs four engineers, 30 shop employees and the average tenure is 12 years. Its market area ranges from New England to North Carolina and the East Coast to Illinois.

 

"As Kurt became more involved in operations, he determined that the only way to stay ahead was through technology. Today, his 'can do' mentality and openness to new markets allows him and his employees to find business where others may not look. He's a certified AWI member, is PSC and SFI certified, serves as a local municipal supervisor and sits on multiple local boards that support the construction industry."

 

Kurt Friedhoff accepted the Commitment to Excellence in Technology Award.