Frank Miller Lumber Company Revenue and Competitors

Union City's Frank Miller Lumber Company has made the top 50 list of U.S. hardwood mills, a list published annually by the magazine Timber Processing. The listing is based on annual mill production. Making the list was a special goal for Robert A. Miller, president and chief operating officer. "I have been after this designation for quite some time," Miller said. "We're number 37 in total production out of 4,000 mills in the United States. Making this list means you're a player." He explained, "We have been struggling to meet the demands of white oak customer base for some time now, and with the new breakdown line at the Union City facility, we've been able to increase our production by 45 percent." So, installing the new line allowed the company to provide more product to its customers and led to the recognition of its importance by one of the timber industry's main magazines. "Each year I had hopes and aspirations that FML made the list only to fall short in the end," Miller said. "Then when I opened the July-August '06 issue of Timber Processing, and found FML not at the bottom of the list, but at 37th, I was thrilled." That 37th ranking was with only six months' worth of production from the new line. Miller is hoping the company reaches the mid-to-high 20s in the rankings for next year. Many of the major timber producers are in Washington State, where the lumber produced is not quartersawn and not of the quality that FML is known for producing. Miller explained, "Quartersawing is a very labor intensive process. Ask any of our employees, and they will tell you how difficult the process is. Many other mills don't even take on the idea of cutting quartersawn lumber." While FML is 37th in total production, it is first in the world in quartersawn production. "No one is even touching us in quartersawn," Miller said. "We establish that market with our quality, service and quick response." The quartersawn hardwood is a high-cost product that finds its way into flooring and furniture. Lance Armstrong, Reba McEntire and Bill Gates all have FML product in their homes. "It's a beautiful product produced in a special way, and it sells for a premium," Miller said. Miller said the new breakdown line at the Union City plant had been estimated to increase production by 38 percent. Instead, it has already hit 45 percent, and more might be coming. "We haven't even tapped in to the capacity of this new saw," Miller said. The increase in productivity is due, not only to the installation of the new line, Miller said, but also to the company's 205 employees who work through extreme heat in summer and cold in winter, day in day out, to get the production increased. All of the training for the new line was done in-house. "It's their blood, sweat and tears," Miller said. He concluded, "FML has been blessed in many ways. We have been blessed with our fantastic employees who are considered extensions of the Miller and Mathias families. We have been blessed with the fantastic market conditions. Last, but not least, we have been blessed with Union City and Randolph County allowing us the opportunity to make a difference here at home."