84 Lumber has opened its newest dedicated truss plant in Richmond, Va. The facility will fill the increasing demand for engineered and manufactured wood products throughout the mid-Atlantic, according to the company.
The Richmond plant will primarily manufacture wall panels and roof and floor trusses. The dealer also said the plant is fully automated and is outfitted with the latest design software, computerized saws, a trackless gantry system, and laser projection equipment. 84 Lumber expects to hire 25 associates in the spring with plans to grow the facility to 60 employees within the next year.
“The state-of-the art equipment we invested in is impressive and will help us build a high-quality, efficient product in a safe environment,” Andrew Mihalik, general manager of the Richmond plant, said in a news release. “In addition to investing in the best equipment, we also separate ourselves from our competition by investing in our people. 84 Lumber’s extensive training program allows people, like myself, to grow from an entry-level position to being responsible for an entire facility.”
84 Lumber said manufacturing centers enable the dealer to support its customers and stores and give associates more opportunities for growth. As the company plans to increase its presence in the west, 84 Lumber expects to create component facilities within a number of planned new 84 Lumber stores.
“We are excited to open our newest component plant in Richmond because it fills a need for engineered and manufactured wood products in the area,” 84 Lumber area manager Steve Benko said in a news release. “The facility will help us grow and strengthen our partnerships with new and existing customers.”
The Richmond facility opening continues a pattern of expansion in 2020 and planned expansion into 2021. 84 Lumber opened a truss plant in Mansfield, Ohio, in August 2020, a door and engineered wood products center in Greenville, S.C., in June 2020, a door shop in Dallas in December 2020, and an Andersen Windows & Doors showroom in Rockville, Md. in January. The dealer plans to open an already constructed store in Dayton, Ohio. 84 Lumber also plans to expand into Stockton, Calif., Boise, Idaho, and Detroit, Mich., and open additional truss plants in central Florida and Charlotte, N.C.
Eighty Four, Pa.-based 84 Lumber was the fourth largest company on the 2020 ProSales 100. The dealer operates nearly 250 stores, component manufacturing plants, custom door shops, custom millwork shops, and engineered wood product centers in more than 30 states.
