Community Involvement

Local lumber business opening truss plant Nov. 1

Family-run Groveland business building on 53-year track record

Orlando Business Journal - September 22, 2006
by Carlos Galarza
Staff Writer

GROVELAND -- At a time when the home-building market is slumping nationwide and building permits continue to fall, locally owned West Orange Lumber Co. continues to write its 53-year-old success story.

The company will add a new chapter when it opens a 40,000-square-foot truss plant Nov. 1.

Doug Hill, the new plant's general manager, says the addition to West Orange Lumber will sit on 9 acres and employ about 25 to 30 workers.

Within a pitching wedge shot away from West Orange Lumber's other divisions -- West Orange Door, West Orange Window and West Orange Install -- the new truss plant allows the company to offer contractors and home builders the convenience of one-stop shopping.

Greg Mihalic, director of tourism and business relations in Lake County, says West Orange Lumber has been a solid community partner.

Mihalic says the company purchased 19 acres at the Christopher C. Ford Commerce Park for its expansion. "They are continuing to supply good jobs to the county," he says. "That's very important to us."

Resilient competitor

The multimillion-dollar expansion is no small achievement given that housing starts are off 13 percent since July 2005, according to a recent Freddie Mac report.

To its credit, West Orange Lumber also has more than held its own in a competitive market dominated by big-box powerhouses Home Depot and Lowe's Home Improvement.

Ross Bitterling, sales manager for West Orange Lumber, says the company's diverse products and services have helped it to continue to grow in a competitive and slowing market.

"In a market that's perceived as turbulent right now, we're thriving," says Bitterling. "We've been able to do well."

Bitterling projects that the new state-of-the-art truss plant will have the capacity to do $10 million to $12 million in annual sales.

He says the computer-driven plant has the capability to have designs made by computer and sent directly to the saws.

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	West Orange Lumber • 330 South Tubb Street • Oakland, FL (407) 656-2113