Linden Lumber to Close Hardwood Flooring Division
Linden Lumber, LLC is closing its hardwood flooring division effective today. As a result, its work force will be reduced by 37 employees. “This has been an incredibly difficult decision to make, but we believe it is the right decision given the ongoing depressed state of the solid flooring industry. Any time business decisions such as this negatively impact employees, it is very emotionally difficult for everyone,” says Hugh Overmyer, Linden Lumber’s President.
The solid flooring market across the United States has been in a slump for the past year, and Linden Lumbers’ flooring sales have been no different. Nationwide, solid wood flooring mills have struggled on and off the last few years dealing with volatile price swings, while engineered flooring mills seem to be quite healthy and growing at a robust pace. Industry insiders believe that solid wood flooring is losing market share to its nearest relative—engineered flooring.
The company says its decision to exit the flooring business in no way affects the ongoing operation and manufacturing of its lumber and industrial wood products. Linden Lumber has invested heavily in recent years in new machinery, and has outpaced many of its competitors through the investment of the latest optimization technology for sawing lumber. The 150-acre site where Linden Lumber operates today has been the home of a high-quality lumber operation since 1963—some 53 years. Company management looks forward to producing quality hardwoods for another 53 years or more.
While the news of closing its hardwood flooring plant might seem bad, it’s not all bad. Jamey Hurst, Linden Lumber’s Director of Sales & Marketing said, “This will simplify our business model and will help us be more focused on growing our hardwood lumber sales both domestically and worldwide. We’ll continue to push the bounds of our industry, with the goal of Redefining Southern Lumber.”
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