Dowel mill start-up in Greenwood, Maine, adopts 'made in America' policy for 2012, pledges to use only Maine birch from sawmills within 20 mile radius, boycott Chinese imports

Wendy Lisney

LOS ANGELES , January 9, 2012 (Industry Intelligence) – A dowel mill start-up in Greenwood, Maine, is adopting a 100% made in America policy for 2012, using only Maine birch from sawmills within 20 miles of the plant to manufacture the dowels, according to a report by the Sun Journal.

Saunders Bros. began production last year, and by late May had hired 24 workers. Owner Louise Jonaitis said the company had made about US$1 million from orders in 2011 and landed a major contract from IKEA.

Jonaitis, who also owns Moosehead Furniture, said Saunders Bros. had met its financial goals for 2011, but another of its targets was to become primarily a domestic manufacturer.

Jonatis said she had eliminated imports from China. "You won't find a stick of anything from China in the mill," she said. "Every product now that we make originates in Maine."

Jonatis said that, although there is a lot more profit in importing containers from other countries, Saunders Bros. would stick to its domestic goal for at least a year. Importing from China would not help U.S. businesses in the long-run, she said, adding: "We're trying to create wealth, not just temporary profit, and the only way to create wealth in America is by being American-made.”

The primary source of this article is the Sun Journal, Lewiston, Maine, on Dec. 31, 2011.

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