NEWS BRIEFS First Selco Robot Saw, Haworth Closure, Cabinet Project Price Hikes, New SBA Paycheck Protection Rules

Cabinet Door Maker Paragon Concepts Adds First Selco Robotic Saw
Longmont, CO – Paragon Cabinet Door caps a year of aggressive growth with a spate of additions in the past 60 days: its third Homag edgebander (a Tape Rocket ); a Biesse CNC; a Doucet Rotary Clamp; and the first Biesse Selco WN6 ROS CNC Panel Sizing Center in North America. With simultaneous rip and cross cuts and a twin pusher allowing differing lengths to be cut, the robotic saw is said to increase cut productivity 40%. “As a business, we feel that now is one of the most strategically opportunistic times for expansion,” says Paragon Cabinet Door owner Isaiah Rozek. 

Smaller Woodshops Favored in Paycheck Protection Plan Rules Tweak
Washington, DC – The Biden Administration adjusted the latest Federal payroll-subsidy Paycheck Protection Plan (PPP) rules to give smaller businesses (fewer than 20 employees), sole proprietorships, independent contractors, and the self-employed an exclusive 14-day PPP forgivable loan application period. It began Feb. 24. The targeted group is similar in size to many woodshops and cabinet makers. The SBA will communicate details this week. SBA says small businesses employ nearly half of the workforce; create two out of three net new jobs; and reinvest 68% of revenues to build and sustain communities. Borrowers can learn how to apply for the PPP at www.sba.gov/ppp

Haworth Closes its High Point Plant
High Point, NC – Commercial furniture manufacturer Haworth Inc. closed its High Point, NC furniture factory in January as part of a capacity realignment, reports MBiz. Office furniture makers are contending with the work-at-home shift driven by the COVID-19 pandemic. Privately held Haworth, with 2019 global sales of $2.3B (according to Forbes), had been operating the 131,000 sq. ft. seating manufacturing facility since 1991. 

Supply Chain Disruptions, Materials Cost Hikes Hit Remodeling
Denver – HomeAdvisor, a contractor locating service owned by Angie’s List (NASDAQ: ANGI), relaunched its annual True Cost Report, which looks into the complexities behind the cost of home projects. Home improvements, greatly in demand, saw big increases from 2019 to 2020. Largely due to increases in materials costs and some supply interruptions, cabinetry projects had the biggest rise in pricing, increasing 56%. Closets projects increased 33%. “COVID-19 likely caused scarcity and factory shutdowns, as well as supply chain disruptions and greater consumer demand for home services,” says Mischa Fischer, chief economist for HomeAdvisor. Learn more>>

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