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Dean Duchi and Darren Duchi, Siskiyou Forest Products, Anderson, CA.
Siskiyou Forest Products Continues To Innovate Its Facilities

By Wayne Miller 

Anderson, California—For more than 40 years Siskiyou Forest Products has been a family-owned business committed to providing customers with quality lumber products and service. Redwood, Cedar and Alder product specialists, the company continues to make innovations and additions to their facilities. Available stock includes a reserve line of primed siding and trim boards, as well as glued panel stock, pattern stock and Clear lumber.

General Manager Darren Duchi explained, “We’ve added three additional moulders recently. Today we have a total of five moulders. One is high speed for prepping lumber, the other four are finish moulders, primarily for running either prep, or going to run finish patterns. We will be running S4S, S1S2E or a siding pattern.”

Duchi indicated one of the primary reasons for Siskiyou’s success is conservative, logical growth. Duchi explained, “We’ve grown slowly and carefully. We didn’t borrow a lot of money to do it either. The decisions that we make allow us to become more efficient and therefore more profitable.”

Inbound green shop lumber ready for processing.
He continued, “Over time we located equipment that we liked, and instead of buying brand new machinery, we purchased Weinig 22AL type machines. This equipment allows us to get a very high quality product. Since all the machines are the same, symmetry makes repairs easier because everything is interchangeable. We have saved a lot of money buying used equipment.”

In addition to the moulders Siskiyou Forest Products also installed a new finger jointer. “Basically we took the finger jointer that we had previously and moved it to our new Cottonwood, CA, plant. We had it upgraded and redeveloped, then moved it to Cottonwood, just a few minutes from our main plant.”

The new facility at Cottonwood is a former Thunderbird moulding plant, which produced a lot of the same items as Siskiyou. “We purchased the plant specifically for its cut line. We now have the ability to produce more inbound products for our main facility without having to construct additional buildings and receive new permits,” Duchi explained.

Located about seven miles from Siskiyou’s main facility, the Cottonwood plant operates on approximately 17 acres and currently employs about 12 people. As for future plans for the new operation he noted, “Our plans will change as time goes on and as the market demands it. The new building is massive and we have plenty of room to grow in it.”

Siskiyou Forest Products recently added three additional moulders. Material is run through the moulder and resaw.
With covered storage on site at Cottonwood, Duchi said plans are to install moulders and a paint line. “Installing these will allow us to do several of our processes without transferring it from one facility to another. The long-term plan is to finish the product and ship it directly from one facility. Currently we are using it as a feeder operation for our main facility.”

He continued, “The two facilities are very similar if not exactly the same with slightly different equipment. We are getting the same production here and most of it is Redwood. This Cottonwood operation has basically doubled our production of inbound product. So ultimately we’ve been able to catch up orders with shorter lead times. The amount of production that we are able to do now is a tremendous help.”

Currently in their 40th year of operation, Siskiyou Forest Products markets directly to wholesale distributors. “One hundred percent of what we sell goes into wholesale distribution,” Duchi said. “We’ve always preferred it that way. With our second facility coming online we are welcoming new inquiries from new distributors.”

Most of Siskiyou’s current customers have buying programs. “Once we sell the product to the customer, we work with them to get a feel for their buying habits and ultimately to support their needs,” Duchi said.

The company is able to supply a customer base with products ranging from 1x4 to 2x12, and any siding pattern (pattern 433 shown) they need.
When asked what sets Siskiyou apart from other suppliers Duchi offered, “We are a manufacturer of high-end finger joint siding and trim. We offer Redwood and primed Cedar, and the benefit of having both of those species produced in one factory is in the cost. When the Cedar market is challenging, we’re able to run Redwood and vice versa. So we are able to pull from both pockets. We are able to supply a customer base with products ranging from 1x4 to 2x12, and any siding pattern they need. Our customers can count on our performance consistently. Siskiyou is interested in their business for the long-term.”

Located close to I-5, which spans the entire West Coast, Siskiyou Forest Products primarily ships to their customers by flatbed trucks domestically. “We also ship overseas into Europe, New Zealand and to other offshore buyers,” Duchi said.

As for how the products are finished he said, “Ninety-five percent of our products are primed with two coats, one oil and one water. We are proud of the product that leaves our gate. We want it to be of the highest quality and give the best performance. But, we also want it to have a fine appearance as well.”

Available stock includes a reserve line of primed siding and trim boards, as well as glued panel stock, pattern stock and Clear lumber.
Established by Fred Duchi in 1974, key people at the family-oriented company include Darren Duchi, his father Bill Duchi, and cousins, Monte Acquistapace, Aaron Duchi, Dean Duchi, and Larry Scott.

For more information visit www.siskiyouforestproducts.com.












Siskiyou’s finished products are paper wrapped protecting them from the elements and prepared to ship.

 
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