As for measures Siskiyou Forrest Products, of Anderson, Calif., takes to ensure the quality of their products, Darren Duchi, general manager, said the company’s process is consistent for accuracy and quality from the start.
Anderson, Calif.—Siskiyou Forest Products, located here, has consistently made changes and improvements to their facilities.The Redwood, Cedar and alder product specialist began in 1974 with a wholesale remanufacturing yard in Rocklin.
Throughout the years the company has continued to expand and develop manufacturing and remanufacturing services providing customers with a wide range of products from common industrial grade lumber to finger-jointed and edge-glued material.
“Recently we’ve added several machine centers including a new moulder, cut-line, several high tech thin kerf saws as well as resaws,” General Manager Darren Duchi explained. “We’ve also done a lot of work in the sticking and drying areas, and we’re buying a larger amount of bulk products from Canada in Western Red Cedar.”
Marketing primarily to wholesale distributors, Siskiyou moves close to a million board feet per month through its operations.
Duchi indicated Siskiyou is now purchasing green Redwood and Cedar.“In the past we primarily purchased dry products,” he said. “Most of our purchases are green now because we’ve been using our own dry kilns and we’re relying on our own drying practices with our quality control.”
Siskiyou currently operates 10 dry kilns, which hold 250,000 board feet each.“Our kilns are very large and that’s an advantage for us,” Duchi continued. “Everything is in-house now from our drying to manufacturing and painting. That provides a level of control that we’ve been looking for.”
Situated on 30 acres, Siskiyou has recently added new buildings and still has room for future growth.
Duchi explained how Siskiyou Forest Products processes their lumber and products. “Basically we take the product and dry it, then we feed it into the planer where it gets surfaced on all four sides so the scanner inside can see and read all the defects. At that point we also check it for moisture content. There is a lineal moisture meter that will kick out anything above 12 percent,” he explained.
“Inevitably there will be some wet boards in a mix of lumber and one board can foul the process so we make sure we control the wet ones so they don’t get into the plant,” Duchi continued. “Then we grade the material before it gets to the cut-line. The cut-line is automated and the scanner is computer driven. It reads the defects and eliminates the waste while feeding the finger jointer.We make the finger joint blank and at that point its journey from shop board to clear finger joint blank is complete.It is here where that finger joint blank can be prepped to edge glue or go to 1x4, 2x4, etc.At the end of the day our focus is higher quality, consistent trim and siding.”
Throughout the years the company has continued to expand and develop manufacturing and remanufacturing services providing customers with a wide range of products from common industrial grade lumber to finger-jointed and edge-glued material.
With 50 employees Duchi said Siskiyou Forest Products has changed dramatically in terms of automation. “Most of the products that we’re manufacturing today, we didn’t do just four years ago,” he explained.
Marketing primarily to wholesale distributors, Duchi said Siskiyou moves close to a million board feet per month through its operations.When asked to what he attributes Siskiyou’s success, he said, “Being in the right place at the right time and being realistic is key. I think you always need to listen to the pessimistic side because that side is going to keep you grounded by thinking ‘it couldn’t happen to us’, and then before you know it—you’re there.”
According to Duchi, Siskiyou never intended to be a ‘giant’, but they’ve become sizable by way of careful and consistent growth. “That’s the name of the game for us,” he said. “We come to work every day and we work hard to create a good product. We pay attention to new markets and we strive to accommodate our customers.”
Siskiyou recently added several machine centers including a new moulder, cut-line, several high tech thin kerf saws as well as resaws.
As for measures Siskiyou takes to ensure the quality of their products, Duchi said the company’s process is consistent for accuracy and quality from the start. “When you’re handling the product multiple times it is a labor intensive process, but that’s what it takes to provide the quality that we offer,” he explained.
Key people at the family oriented company include Darren Duchi, his father Bill Duchi, an uncle Fred Duchi, and cousins, Monte Acquistapace, Aaron Duchi and Larry Scott.
Siskiyou Forest Products is a member of the Western Red Cedar Lumber Association and the North American Wholesale Lumber Association. For more information visit www.siskiyouforestproducts.com.
The company currently operates 10 dry kilns, which hold 250,000 board feet each.
All equipment is in-house from drying to manufacturing and painting.
The Redwood, Cedar and alder product specialist began in 1974 with a wholesale remanufacturing yard in Rocklin.
Siskiyou Forest Products operates in two separate locations: a 35-acre manufacturing plant in Anderson, Calif., and a satellite sales office in Weed, Calif.
