L. E. Smith Company expands services in region, The

Toledo Business Journal, Jan 01, 2002

The L. E. Smith Company, a 51 year old family-owned business headquartered in Bryan, Ohio, has recently expanded with a 20,000 square foot addition bringing it's total manufacturing facility to 92,000 square feet. The main reason for the project was to facilitate an increase in the fabrication of laminate custom countertops for their customers ranging from The Andersons and The Home Depot to privately owned specialty kitchen and bath outlets. Steve Smith, president of the L. E. Smith Company, stated: "Because we are a wholesale distributor only, we sell through customers that supply kitchen and bath products to the end consumer. However, commercial work is normally bid to subcontractors, developers and project owners."

The 20,000 square foot building addition houses an upgraded forming line for fully formed countertop production and allows for the production of over 400 slabs or blanks in one 8 hour shift.

Smith explained the need for the project: "In addition to our traditional business, we have recently expanded geographically into Detroit, Michigan and Columbus, Ohio and began focusing oil multifamily housing projects which bring substantial volume. Many local area apartment projects and condominiums have our countertops in them. We also work closely with institutions like and hospitals. The new markets required additional manufacturing areas to handle the increased volume."

Aside from a general rise in demand for custom laminate countertops, another factor making the expansion necessary is a change in services offered by the L. E. Smith Company. "Right now our customers call us or send us a drawing of a countertop. We quote pricing to them, get their okay to proceed and then build and deliver the finished countertop to them. That's been our involvement to date."

L. E. Smith is now setting up its operation to assist home centers more fully. When a consumer purchases a countertop, L. E. Smith associates - instead of the home center's employees - will measure, deliver, and install the top. Smith explained the benefits: "What it does for our customers is it allows them to minimize involvement in thos e areas that have high potential for error and keeps them focused on what they do best - selling to and helping the consumer. Now, once they receive an order, their associate can move to the next customer, which is their forte, while at the same time having the confidence that we are taking care of the backend logistics and support."

To facilitate this L. E. Smith uses their main facility in Bryan to manufacture the laminate countertops. This includes producing the slabs on the line and customizing to the end consumer's specifications. They then have satellite offices to provide the services including measure/template, home delivery, installation, and follow-up warranty work. With locations in Toledo, Columbus, Cleveland and Elkhart, Indiana-L. E. Smith services mid-Michigan and the northern halves of Ohio and Indiana.

By stocking over 220 colors of laminates and manufacturing 8 laminate countertop styles, L. E. Smith offers a range, of options for their customers who in turn help the end consumer. L. E. Smith is also a wholesale distributor for other building materials including DuPont Corian and DuPont Zodiaq. The custom laminate countertop segment of the business, however, will be the only portion of the business affected by the current expansion.

L. E. Smith Company created 10 new jobs in the local Bryan market in connection with, this project, and will add more as business increases. The total number of L. E. Smith Company associates at all locations is approximately 150. Thiel Construction of Blakeslee, OH was the general contractor for the building addition. L. E. Smith's investment in the building was roughly $500,000 and approximately $300,000 for the new forming equipment.

L. E. Smith Company was established in 1950 by Lawrence Edward (L. E.) Smith. At that time, the company was a wholesale distributor for building materials. "In 1960, we started manufacturing custom laminate countertops, and we've been doing it ever since. We've been a distributor of DuPont Surfaces. products since the early 1970s," Smith explained. Today, the L. E. Smith Company employs a number of family members including Steve and his brother, Joe. Third generation family members involved in the business, include Laura Smith-Nolte, Kevin Smith and Joanna Ussery, Chris Smith, and Jason Smith.