Seven years after a devastating fire, American Millwork & Cabinetry is growing steadily, with a new line, a major physical expansion and a bigger workforce.
A maker of architectural millwork for custom, institutional, medical and retail store applications, American launched AmeriCase, a new product line of cabinetry for institutional use, in late 2010.
With support from the Pennsylvania Industrial Development Authority and the state's Small Business First program through Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corp., American founder George Reitz has completed a $433,000 expansion to support the new line, which already accounts for 35% of the company's gross revenues.
American added 22,000 square feet to its manufacturing facility, bringing it to a total 52,000 square feet, and installed new equipment and mechanical systems. And it added 10 new workers, bringing its total workforce to 46. The company also occupies an adjoining 3,000-square-foot office in Emmaus and opened a satellite sales office in Annapolis, MD last year.
Reitz founded his company in 2002 in 8,000 square feet of rented space in Quakertown. By early 2006, he was under contract to buy a building when the Quakertown plant burned to the ground. With support from the woodworking and local community, Reitz, a devotee of lean manufacturing, swapped expertise for access to equipment at a plastic laminates firm, leased other space and regrouped.
By the end of 2006, American Millwork had purchased its five-acre industrial property in Emmaus and had 18 employees working in 30,000 square feet.
Reitz says he is conservative about predicting job growth, but if AmeriCase continues on its growth trajectory, American could add another two to four positions this year or even more.
Source: George Reitz, American Millwork & Cabinetry
Writer: Elise Vider
