Computerized scanning and optimization mark just the beginning of the state-of-the-art improvements at DiPrizio Pine Sales.
DIPRIZIO PINE SALES – Customer Driven Solutions Today Through Pride In The Past And Technology Of The Future
By Terry Miller
Middleton, N.H.—DiPrizio Pine Sales, located here, manufactures Eastern White Pine boards, patterns, siding, decking and timbers. The DiPrizio sawmill is a sizable operation, with an annual production of 18 to 22 million board feet, and average annual sales of 25 million board feet.
The company dates back more than four generations, to 1938, when Charles DiPrizio and his sons endeavored to clean up a forestry nightmare in the wake of New England's most catastrophic hurricane on record. With woodlands throughout New Hampshire in complete devastation, this hardworking family from Italy seized an opportunity to build a business that served the needs of the people in their region. With a distinguished pride in quality and craftsmanship, Charles and his sons first began producing Eastern White Pine Boards from portable sawmills. Several stationary Lane mills were soon added, and then, in 1968, operations were expanded to include modern automatic circular mills.
Sales Manager Scott Brown and Jamie Moulton, finished end supervisor, inspect Eastern White Pine Boards.
The family business continued to grow throughout the next 55 years. In 1993, the DiPrizio family sold their operations to the LaValley Family—a third generation building materials company, founded by Harold LaValley. Being a lumberman at heart, with a fascination for manufacturing, Harold LaValley believed there was a better way to keep costs low for builders than contemporary industry practices allowed, all while delivering top-quality goods and services at lower prices for consumers. That passion to reduce risks and create profits for builders was put into practice when, in 1962, LaValley began manufacturing roof trusses, wall panels, door units, kitchen countertops, and operating a custom planing mill in Newport, N.H. Throughout the years, the LaValley operation has grown to include operations in Claremont, West Lebanon, North Walpole, Dover, Meredith, Hampton, and Middleton, N.H, and Rutland and Ludlow, VT.
Known locally as LaValley-Middleton Building Supply, the company continues to offer innovative solutions to the many challenges affecting their customers' profits. In addition to all of its prefabrication offerings, it also boasts a modular, or "systems-built", housing division. And, most recently, the company has completed a 15-year improvement project at its DiPrizio Pine manufacturing division that has propelled DiPrizio Pine Sales to the forefront in forestry industry technology and customer service systems.
DiPrizio Pine Sales’ Production Supervisor, David Mansfield.
“Because of our organization’s vertical integration, we are unique in knowing the end-user’s needs," said owner and company President Larry Huot. "We pride ourselves on our experience and commitment to listening and coming up with solutions for our valued customers. Manufacturing at DiPrizio Pine Sales has evolved to embrace process innovation and newest technologies. Our efficiency, products, and services have expanded, and so have opportunities for our customers to reach new markets, with greater profitability."
“Combining 'precision machining' and exacting systems of material and communication flow is the newest generation of sawmilling today,” says Scott Piper, President of Northeast Mill Services, a sawmill design company and machinery supplier. Piper states: "The improvements to the DiPrizio Pine mill will make it one of the Northeast’s premier Eastern White Pine mills, able to precision saw and compete with others who have sustained thus far."
Computerized scanning and optimization, through a "Simply Computing" voice-activated log scale system, mark just the beginning of the state-of-the-art improvements at DiPrizio Pine Sales. Log suppliers are benefiting from developments in communication and documentation, and customers will soon reap the value-added rewards of efficiency, unique product versatility and reliability, and speed through the mill's streamlined manufacturing processes. DiPrizio's new Sanborn 7-foot double-cut band saw with a Cleereman carriage and electric drive, and an HMC circular saw carriage with Jacobson electric drive, have contributed to sawing accuracy and consistency. Upgrades to the Tronco Optimizing Edger and the USNR Optimizing Set-works have enhanced ultimate precision. In addition, material handling conveyors by PHL Industries log infeed decks, and improved blower systems have reduced physical handling and contributed to measurable improvement in fiber utilization, ergonomics, and quality assurance.
DiPrizio Pine Sales remains firmly dedicated to three core values: customer success, supplier success, and employee engagement. According to DiPrizio’s CFO and General Manager, Marcella Perry, training and development is a priority. “Our employees are empowered to act on behalf of the company to solve problems quickly and in a manner that is fair to our customers.” This is a photo of the employees that operate the company’s sawmill.
"We are committed to continuous improvement," said Huot. "We are driven to find better market solutions for our customers, better working conditions for our employees, and better production and service processes. We really try to hone in on the details of everyday operations because we know, especially in these current economic challenges, that it is the details that make all the difference. It is the details that set companies apart."
DiPrizio Pine Sales remains firmly dedicated to three core values: customer success, supplier success, and employee engagement. According to DiPrizio's CFO and General Manager, Marcella Perry, training and development is a priority. "Our employees are empowered to act on behalf of the company to solve problems quickly and in a manner that is fair to our customers. Our customers rely on us for our product knowledge and personal service."
Because of DiPrizio Pine's long tradition of excellence, the firm continues to gain brand recognition nationwide. "DiPrizio is a brand-name recognized nationally for premier quality and best value," said Perry. "DiPrizio Pine Sales and Manufacturing is a preferred Eastern White Pine supplier, and we are proud of our long-term relationships with so many of the industry’s best-known and respected companies." Uncommon range of products, flexibility in packaging and delivery, breadth of inventory, consistent quality, and order-fill rate reliability, make DiPrizio Pine Sales an industry one-stop-shop. DiPrizio presents its customers with multiple shipping options: direct truckloads, mixed loads, partial unit and job lot units (nationally), plus “will-call" or “express units” (local and regional). DiPrizio commits to delivering with accuracy what the customer expects when they expect it.
Dan Nickerson, one of DiPrizio Pine Sales’ foresters.
“At DiPrizio, logistics is more than just putting materials on a truck and delivering it to your door," Huot noted. "We take the logistics function to a new level." Says Huot, "Our priority is to present our customers with tools to best meet the many challenging market demands they face, efficiently and profitably. When our customers succeed, we succeed."
In today's complex and rapidly changing world, DiPrizio Pine Sales is committed to being an abiding supply chain partner. "Our customers are more than just business partners to us," said Scott Brown, Vice President of Sales and Marketing. "They're family. Each person matters. We know how important it is to listen, to understand each other’s needs, and to do all we can to meet and hopefully exceed our customers' expectations. That is our mission."
DiPrizio Pine Sales is very grateful to its suppliers, employees, and customers for the patient support and commitment extended to them throughout their most recent leap to the newest generation of sawmilling. Adds Huot, "We especially thank our customers for the continued confidence entrusted in DiPrizio Pine Sales every time an order is placed with us.”
DiPrizio Pine Sales is very grateful to its suppliers, employees, and customers for the patient support and commitment extended to them throughout their most recent leap to the newest generation of sawmilling. The firm’s planer crew is shown here.
DiPrizio Pine Sales is a member of NELMA, a charter member of the North American Wholesale Lumber Association Trader’s Market, the New Hampshire Timberland Owners Association and the Northeast Retail Lumber Association. Visit DiPrizio online at www.DiPriziopine.com and www.lavalleys.com, or call 800-647- 8989 and ask for Scott Brown, Vice President Sales and Marketing.
DiPrizio’s new Sanborn 7-foot double-cut band saw with a Cleereman carriage and electric drive are shown here.
A new HMC circular saw carriage with Jacobson electric drive, have contributed to sawing accuracy and consistency.
