Kitchen & Bath Design News is the industry's leading business, design and product resource for the kitchen and bath trade.
Issue link: http://kitchenbathdesign.epubxp.com/i/165636
Industry Update { Noteworthy developments impacting the kitchen and bath market } Plato Celebrates 120th Anniversary Plato, MN — Plato Woodwork hosted over 90 dealers from across the U.S. to celebrate 120 years in business. During the three-day event, dealers toured the Plato factory, attended a Kitchen & Bath Design News Art+Science educational seminar, enjoyed a Twins baseball game and attended a Dealer Council Meeting. Dealers also saw displays showcasing the latest in Plato Woodwork's new fnishes, door styles and cabinet designs. Established in 1893, Plato Woodwork Inc. is a ffthgeneration, family-owned manufacturer of custom cabinetry with more than 200 dealers nationwide. Circle No. 10 on Product Card 16 | Kitchen & Bath Design News September 2013 United Cabinet Holdings Acquires Tru-Wood Cabinet Co. Greensboro, NC — United Cabinet Holdings LLC, a portfolio company of Building Industry Partners, LLC, has acquired Tru-Wood Cabinet Co. in partnership with Tru-Wood President David Rush and cabinet industry veterans Michael Arnaud, Butch Reimer and Dan Conner. Tru-Wood, which manufactures stock and semi-custom kitchen, bath and other home cabinetry, was founded in 1990 and has manufacturing facilities in Ashland and Lineville, AL. The company sells its products through independent kitchen dealers primarily throughout the eastern U.S. , and currently has more than 130 employees, 370,000 square feet of combined manufacturing space and a distribution facility in Longwood, FL. The transaction will provide growth capital for the business and liquidity for CEO Buddy Sharpe, who retired post-transaction after 23 years with the business, the company reports. Rush will continue in operational management with Tru-Wood and remains a shareholder, while Butch Reimer, formerly of Norcraft Companies, will take over as president. UCH ofcials said they are excited to be building upon Tru-Wood's existing manufacturing and service platform to further develop the business' product ofering and quality, service levels, marketing strategy, systems/processes and dealer programs. Arnaud, executive v.p., sales and marketing for United Cabinet Holdings, added, "The investment in Tru-Wood is an important step in UCH's long-term strategy of being able to ofer a breadth of cabinetry price points to our rep and dealer relationships throughout the U.S." Circle No. 11 on Product Card