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Woodline Manufacturing has its roots in two entrepreneurial ventures: Northwoods Sawmill, Aurora, Minnesota, and D&R Products, Brooklyn Park, Minnesota.

Northwoods Sawmill, Inc. was started in the summer of 1984 by Paul Maki and Gary Chilcotte. Their goal was to establish a small, quality wood processing plant specializing in the utilization of local wood species such as ash, cedar and pine, serving both contractors and lumberyards. Their main products were 3/4" paneling and flooring, S4S lumber, and custom planning. By early 1986, Gary Chilcotte had left he company to pursue other interests, and Paul Maki was left short on cash with a struggling company. Chuck Baxter, an Iron Range native with an interest in investing in the region, heard of Northwoods Sawmill's plight. In the fall of 1986 Chuck purchased 52% of the company. Chuck soon found that additional major investments were needed for equipment, inventories and receivables. These investments raised his share of the company to 100%. While sales increased during 1987, they were not enough for the company to be profitable.

D&R Products, Inc. was started in 1983 by Ron and Dennis Hanson in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota. Having limited resources, they started with used equipment and rented manufacturing space. Their main product lines were 3/8" thick oak planking and wainscoting distributed through retailers like Budget Power, Plywood Minnesota, The Floor To Ceiling Stores, and various lumber yards. In addition, ceiling systems were being made for a company called ASI. Sales grew, but the old equipment and inadequate facilities prevented the company form being profitable. In 1988, when efforts to obtain additional capital in the Metro area failed, Ron Hanson started looking for other alternatives.

Chuck Baxter heard about D&R Wood Products, and in the summer of 1988, contacted Ron and Dennis Hanson. A joining of the two companies seemed to make sense considering D&R's markets and Northwoods' better equipment. A decision was made to relocate both companies to a new, larger facility in Eveleth, Minnesota, which is our present location. The new building was purchased at the end of August 1988. In September, Northwoods Sawmill moved their equipment and D&R moved their equipment and inventories into the new building. Woodline completed the purchase of D&R's assets in May of 1989.

But the dreams of the original companies' owners were not quickly realized. Woodline Manufacturing Inc. experienced many difficulties and suffered large losses during the first years of operation. John Baxter joined the Company as its President in 1991, and became part owner, along with Chuck. Over time, a solid base of customers was developed and our reputation as a high quality, flexible manufacturer of wood products was established. Woodline Manufacturing Inc. opened a plant in Shawano, Wisconsin in mid 1996, and purchased equipment for producing engineered wood parts, as well as significant kiln drying capacity. Later, equipment was purchased to put together a state-of-the-art gluing and surfacing production cell, but sales of these products proved elusive. In 2002, a decision was made to consolidate production into the Eveleth location, and a new production building was constructed to house equipment transferred from the shawano facility, as well as newly purchased equipment, further enhancing Wooodline's production capability as a manufacturer, and adding to the size of our employee team here in Eveleth.

Custom Examples

Woodline Manufacturing, Inc. is a wood component manufacturing company dedicated to products that meet the price, quality, and delivery expectations of our customers.

Here is a partial list of hardwood dimension components manufactured by Woodline Manufacturing, Inc.:

• Custom Mouldings
• Flooring Mouldings and Transitions
• Profiled Slab Drawer Fronts & Doors
• Assembled Drawer Fronts & Doors
• Assembled Face Frame
• Stiles & Rails
• Profiled Insert Panels
• Wainscot
• Bed Platforms and other wood products
• Edge Glued Panels
• Faced Glued Panels
• Moulder Blanks

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