Imperial Woodworking commands its own destiny: this Illinois-based firm specializes in the design, manufacturing and installation of architectural woodwork and other specialty fixtures

Wood & Wood Products, Sept, 2003 by Karen M. Koenig

Imperial Woodworking President Frank Huschitt III is seeing red these days--ruby red--in honor of the company's 40th anniversary celebration this October.

It was in 1963 that his father, the then-26-year-old Frank Huschitt Sr., came to America armed with a master's degree in cabinetmaking from his native West Germany.

"I felt there was a need in the (U.S.) architectural woodworking industry at that time to provide a total package service (manufacture, finish and install). I chose the name 'Imperial' to identify, my company with the highest quality and first-class service," Huschitt Sr. explains.

Like his company, the industry itself has evolved in the past four decades, Huschitt Sr. adds. "The evolution of the architectural woodworking industry over the past 40 years has been in step with my original company's goals. Now, a total package woodwork contract is more commonplace. Our industry, similar to the automotive industry, has also stepped up tremendously in providing very high-quality products to the end users."

Growing Venture

From its original four employees, Imperial Woodworking has grown to more than 350 people, with 2002 sales exceeding $40 million, plus subsidiary sales of $30 million.

The Palatine, IL-bascd company has four subsidiaries, each specializing in its own niche. They are: Colorado-based Imperial Woodworking Enterprises which services the architectural woodwork, store fixtures and hospitality industries; Iowa-based Calmar Mfg. Co., a century-old manufacturer of "Tru-Bilt" laminated casework for schools, hospitals and other institutions; German-based Lotter Objekt which manufactures products for European market architectural woodwork and store fixtures; and Hong Kong-based Imperial Woodworking Asia Pacific Ltd., which provides custom architectural woodwork to the Asian and Pacific Rim markets.

"We opened the Asia Pacific office in the early '90s when the architects here were facing a strong recession. That entity is strictly a marketing and sales office to service clients on projects overseas," Huschitt Jr. explains. "Our regular U.S. customers that opened offices abroad desired the highest quality woodwork and dependable service that they have been accustomed to from Imperial Woodworking."

Full-Service Operation

Its reputation as a full-service, turnkey operation is what distinguishes Imperial Woodworking from many of its competitors.

In addition to manufacturing veneered and solid wood cabinetry and woodwork, Imperial Woodworking also supplies a variety of other items including fabric-wrapped panels, leather-wrapped items, and metal and stone pieces. With all its products--those manufactured in-house as well as out-sourced--"We guarantee the fit and finish so everything is coordinated to match the architect's intent," Huschitt Jr. says.

For a recent Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois installation, Imperial Woodworking was responsible for the architectural woodwork on 21 floors, including the stainless steel clad lobby desk.

"We not only manufactured a beautiful desk that met the architect's design, we also brought it in on budget for the owner and contractor," Huschitt Jr. says. "Our engineering department, after working through all the difficult geometry, and manufacturing obstacles, provided a fully-coordinated drawing for all adjacent trades.

"It's this attention to detail that separates the men from the boys," he adds.

Attention to detail was critical on the Kimmel Center concert hall in Philadelphia, in which every inch of the wall and ceiling was covered with curved wood panels, "1,465 in the ceiling alone. The entire project was drawn in 3D, then exploded and flattened into dimensioned parts for machining on our CNC routers," Huschitt Jr. says.

"In the curved balcony rail, which serpentines the hall, 206 pieces (1,750 lineal feet) had 1/64-inch tolerances for each piece. That is unheard of in the woodworking industry."

Timing was also critical. Imperial Woodworking was awarded the project in August 2000. By the fall, shop drawings and engineering were completed and approved. Imperial Woodworking released the first element for production in January 2001, and had the entire project completed in 11 months--in time for the grand opening concert on Dec. 12, 2001.

"There's definitely pressure in this business to be on time," Huschitt Jr. says. "For that reason, we try to get involved very early on in projects and provide drawings and templates, not only for our own use, but for use by the other trades involved. This also helps us pre-determine all the variables before we get on-site."

All woodwork and panels are pre-assembled in the shop. "We try to build the woodwork is in large of a section as will physically fit into the building so there's fewer individual pieces to handle during installation," he adds.

All pieces are foam and blanket wrapped and delivered to the job sites in semi-trailers. The company sends its own carpenters to the sites for installation.

"We take every, precaution to ensure the finished project looks as good in the field as it did in the shop," Huschitt Jr. continues. "The free veneers used in the projects are often virtually impossible to replace."