Our Process

Exceptional hardwood moulding requires exceptional handling. From the moment the rough green lumber arrives at our three kiln facilities in Mississippi, South Carolina, and Wisconsin, every aspect of its handling process promotes well-dried lumber. During the initial stages of the drying process, the lumber is methodically stacked using kiln sticks. The use of kiln sticks ensures sufficient air passes through the lumber and reduces the lumber drying cycle. Once dry, the lumber is then dipped in a solution that repels insects and prevents staining. The lumber is then stacked in a "T" canopy shed for 60-90 days while ensuring the moisture content of the wood is brought down to 20 percent. Fueled by a wood waste boiler, the Menzner kilns hold lumber for 7 to 14 days or until the final moisture content is 7 percent or less.

Once the lumber reaches a moisture content of 7 percent or less, it is sent to be planed. Planing is the process of shaving down the wood until it is smooth. Prior to planing each piece of lumber, the boards are inspected for cupping. Cupping is a natural warp across the width of the board that happens when one side of the lumber shrinks more than the other. Any cupped board is then passed onto a busting saw for correction, and the final piece of lumber is planed to a designated thickness, based on specifications. The planed lumber is then inspected for color, size, and specified thickness. Finally, the lumber that passes our high-quality standards and overall inspection process then makes its way to the inline moisture meter that reads the moisture content of the wood. Any lumber that fails inspection is placed back into the kiln. All lumber that contains a moisture content of 7 percent or less is then packed, tagged, and stored in a warehouse for shipping to our manufacturing facilities in Wisconsin and Kentucky.

With the kiln-dried process complete, the lumber is shipped to Wisconsin or Kentucky. Once it arrives, the lumber is sent to the Rough Mill where a computerized scanner rips the boards based on desired widths. Ripping lumber is the process of cutting the lumber lengthwise with the grain of the wood. An optimization saw scans for imperfections, removes defects, and cuts the rip blank to length based on preset specifications. Rip blanks are sorted and stored according to width and length. Long, clear rips (6' to 16') arrive at the moulding plant and are machined into profile mouldings. Mid-length rips (3' to 6') are used for stair treads, risers, balusters, and handrails. Short lengths (8" to 3') are finger-jointed for various products.

Menzner Hardwoods' large database of various wood species, along with its wide variety of profiles, represents over a century of customized hardwood manufacturing. Unlike other hardwood manufacturers, Menzner Hardwoods is vertically integrated and as a result, controls every aspect of the manufacturing process -- quality control, in-house drying, manufacturing, warehousing, and distribution. Menzner Hardwoods' flexibility and speed-to-market capabilities provide our customers with outstanding service and consistent, on-time delivery.

To ensure the highest quality product, along with a diverse portfolio of mouldings, Menzner Hardwoods staffs well-trained quality control personnel, skilled operators, and a tooling crew that has an eye for precise detail. Menzner Hardwoods utilizes the latest technology to provide a wide variety of tooling, with literally hundreds of design options. Through a sample drawing, or with an actual sample profile in-hand, our toolers can duplicate with precision. When complete, all profiles are scanned into memory and filed for future reference. This guarantees our ability to match all profiles for future use. Veneer skins are applied to particleboard, MDF, or wood core substrates depending upon the customer specifications. Room temperature, humidity, moisture content of the core and veneer, temperature and viscosity of the glue, application rate, and pressure are monitored closely according to precise standards.

Flat lamination of veneer and glued-moulded products, such as handrails, treads, and risers, are completed in RF Gluers and on the wrapper lines. Veneer wrapped products include doorjambs, extension jambs, and skirt boards. Flat laminated veneers are available for doorjambs and skirt boards. At completion, a final inspection occurs before products are tallied, bundled, labeled, and transferred to our transportation carrier, MLC Transportation, LLC. In-house shipping affords us the flexibility of weekly production schedules, and efficient, open communication between storage areas, production centers, and the shipping department.