L. E. Smith Company expands in Bryan

Toledo Business Journal, Oct 01, 2003

The L. E. Smith Company, a family-owned business headquartered in Bryan, Ohio, has begun an expansion project. The company will add 4,000 square feet of administrative and customer service area to the current 92,000 square foot Bryan facility, the existing office space will be renovated, and an automated end cap machine will be installed. The project, which represents an investment of approximately $800,000, is to be completed by the end of this year. The company estimates it will add about 30 jobs over the next five years as a result of the project.

"Our building expansion is primarily driven by our need to best facilitate our volume growth in an efficient and service oriented manner," explained Laura Smith-Nolte, president of L. E. Smith Company. "We've revamped the functions of our inside sales and support teams to best meet our customers' needs, and the addition is the final step in upgrading our logistics to manage our growth."

A few key players were involved in making this expansion happen. "The success of this project has largely been due to the support we've received from WEDCO (Williams County Economic Development Corporation) and the City of Bryan," Smith-Nolte stated. "From inception, both worked diligently on the approval process and assisted us in taking advantage of available incentives, making this project financially feasible. Likewise, I feel strongly about the importance of continuing our 53-year relationship with this county through future investments."

Background

As previously reported in Toledo Business Journal, the company completed a 20,000 square foot building addition in January 2002 to house an upgraded forming line. The main reason for that project was to facilitate an increase in the fabrication of laminate custom countertops for their customers, ranging from big-box companies to privately owned specialty kitchen and bath outlets to commercial building projects.

At that time, the company expanded its geographic coverage to include Detroit, Michigan and Columbus, Ohio and also began targeting multi-family housing projects. The new markets required additional manufacturing. areas to handle the increased volume.

L. E. Smith also began a new service in 2002 to assist its bigbox customers. When a consumer purchases a countertop, L. E. Smith associates - instead of the big-box store's employees now measure, deliver, and install the top.

Satellite offices were established to provide such services as: measure/template, home delivery, installation, and follow-up warranty work. With locations in Perrysburg, Columbus, and Stow (Cleveland area), Ohio, and Elkhart, Indiana - L. E. Smith services mid-Michigan and the northern halves of Ohio and Indiana. The company is now evaluating other metropolitan areas in the midwest.

The Project

Since the last expansion, business has increased steadily, which has caused L. E. Smith's management team to decide to reorganize the Bryan facility to become more efficient. The office and customer service areas will be renovated and will utilize the 4,000 square foot addition. By doing this, the company will also free up more space for storage of finished product and shipping. Two new loading docks are also being installed.

Thiel Construction of Blakeslee, Ohio, was the general contractor (GC) for the building addition. Thiel was also the GC for the company's last building expansion.

The automated end cap machine is being installed to facilitate both time and labor savings. "The end capping machine is a great example of streamlining labor intensive hand processes through technology utilization," Smith-Nolte stated. "We're saving significant per unit time which allows us to focus on what we do best, intricate custom specification work." The Company

L. E. Smith stocks over 220 colors of laminates and manufactures 8 laminate countertop styles. The company is also a wholesale distributor for other building materials including DuPont Coriang, DuPont Zodiaq(R), and Pionite Laminates(R).

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 if ever since. We've been a distributor of DuPont Surfaces products since the early 1970s," Steve Smith, chairman of L. E. Smith, explained.

Today, L. E. Smith employs a number of family members including Steve Smith and his brother, Joe Smith. Third generation family members involved in the business include Laura Smith-Nolte, Kevin Smith, Brian Smith, Chris Smith, Jason Smith, and Joanna Ussery. L. E. Smith currently has approximately 140 employees. The manufacturing facility operates two shifts.