Coming from the building contractor side of the planet, Don Lupa knows the importance of working with a quality-- and service--focused architectural woodwork company.

Lupa, who is now president of architectural woodwork company Cain Millwork, Rochelle, Ill., owned his own building contractor company for 16 years. He says he has worked with the very good and the not so good architectural woodworkers.

"It's critical that the architect, the contractor and the architectural millwork company are totally on the same page," says Lupa. "Timing, quality and service on the part of the millwork supplier have to be there; otherwise, the job can be jeopardized -- or at the very least delayed."

During his earlier career, Lupa also partnered with Cain Millwork on a number of occasions and liked what he saw.

"In terms of professionalism, quality and service, Cain was outstanding," says Lupa. "That's one of the major reasons why I joined the company. I knew what I was getting in to. Our mission here is to make the jobs of the architect, the general contractor and the subcontractors as easy as possible. I've seen it from the other side and I know how important it is."

Minimal outsourcing

Cain Millwork, which was established in 1976, produces architectural woodwork products for a wide range of industry subsectors, including institutional, hospitality, retail, corporate, entertainment and, to a lesser degree, high--end residential. Approximately 95 percent of what the company produces is directed toward the commercial millwork sector.

The company subsout all installation; however, according to Lupa, out--sourcing of components and other items is something he is minimizing.

"We're trying to bring as much as possible in--house," he says. "This gives us more control in quality and delivery. The keys to our success are service, and that includes on--time delivery. We're close to producing 100 percent in--house, although we do sub out our veneer work."

Cain Millwork's Production and Business Developer, Roger Cain, oversees the manufacturing side of the business. He started the company in 1976, then sold it, only to come back to the fold sometime later. Over the past few years, Cain has overseen the implementation of a variety of computer--controlled machines and systems.

"In order to compete, we have to automate our processes," says Cain. "And that includes adding the right software to go along with the equipment."

A couple years ago, Cain Millwork added a Northwood NW--265W/5'X12' Split Table CNC router to its roster of production machines. Also added were a Butfering C--LINE 54"widebelt sander, a Brandt KDN 660 edgebander with a Ligmatech Ecomat ZHR 01 return conveyor, and a Weinig Unimat 1000 moulder with accompanying Raimann KM 310 ripsaw.

On the software side, Cain currently utilizes Planit Solutions' AlphaCam software package which complements its AutoCad 2005 design package.

"We're probably not much different from a lot of other successful architectural millwork companies," Lupa says. "What we do differently than most, we feel, is make sure we're out front technologically and make sure we have the right people doing the job."

Nearly all designs are provided by the architects or the contractors. The company's design/engineering department then converts the drawings to AutoCad which feeds the data to AlphaCam. Cain has recently begun to integrate a new software product, Microvellum, into its production scheme.

"We found it to be a very powerful software," says Lupa. "We're still learning how to use it; however, we'll continue to use AlphaCam, which is also very powerful."

Other future plans call for a bar code scanner system which will speed production and help track jobs.

Lupa and Cain were interviewed by Wood Digest about some of the business and production strategy.

Wood Digest: What sets Cain Millwork apart from the competition?

Lupa: We have a full--time field operations department which helps us provide exceptional service. Also our ability to engineer product, which is designed to be installed with minimal effort sets us apart.

WD: What is the typical timeline for a job, from design to installation?

Lupa: Typically it is six months.

WD: How many people work on AlphaCam/Microvellum? Why are you switching to Microvellum? Will you still use AlphaCam in some capacity? How are the G codes created for the CNC router?

Cain: Two associates work on AlphaCam and five work with Microvellum. We're adding Microvellum because it will help eliminate drawing twice, and help us become more productive. AlphaCam will be used for complex architectural millwork for now. Microvellum produces the G code right from the drawings, which will then be sent to the CNC router.

WD: Typically, how are designs supplied to you by the architects of contractors? Drawings? Digital images with specs? How do you then convert them to working drawings and specs?

Lupa: About two thirds of our drawings show up on paper and the rest are on CD, which are then in turn printed out on our Oce' printer.

WD: How will your bar code system work when it is fully implemented? Will all CNC machines be linked to one central site?

Cain: Eventually we would like to bar code all of our product, which will help us track the flow of work through the shop. All of the CNC machines will eventually be controlled by Microvellum.

WD: What was the capital equipment cost--justification process for the Northwood CNC router? Why did you purchase the Northwood rather than another brand?

Cain: We chose an American manufacturer for enhanced parts availability and Stiles Machinery for service and support.