Columbia Forest divests its Cabinotech division

Columbia Forest Products announced the sale of their Cabinotch® Division to Cabaxis, Inc, an affiliate of Phillip Crabtree, the originator and creator of the award-winning cabinet box system.

Details of the sale were not revealed.

Greg Pray, Columbia’s President and CEO, said that “the persistence of unfairly-traded imports – both cabinetry and hardwood plywood products – has impacted a wide spectrum of wood industry markets.  We felt that the Cabinotch® operation was an excellent candidate for a different ownership model given our new strategic plan, and it will be in great hands with Crabtree’s team.”

Crabtree and his team are eager to relaunch Cabinotch® to the woodworking industry.  “We have invested in robotic technology in our facilities and are excited to introduce new construction methods and cost saving materials in 2020.  Outsourcing is the most effective way to build and maintain a healthy woodworking business and Cabinotch® is making that process easier and more cost effective than ever,” said Crabtree.

Pray added that “Columbia Forest Products is entering 2020 with its eye on executing a new, focused strategic plan that will continue to deliver value and innovation to its customers through its employee-owners.  Our experience with the Cabinotch® model has revealed how much pressure the North American cabinet producer is under to save time and money, while delivering an excellent finished product to the final consumer.

“We will continue to support the cabinet-making market – and are confident that the Cabinotch® system will continue to be a terrific option for many of them.”