Our new Oatfield 3DL design is easy on the eye and evokes an airy calmness. Oatfield’s design versatility makes it well suited for country or urban environments.
Our Oatfield product can be flat-laminated, post-formed, membrane-pressed, miter-folded and profile wrapped for use in commercial and residential furniture, store fixtures, kitchen cabinets, closet systems and much more.
We just received a report from one of our customers alerting us that they had received a fraudulent invoice bearing Synergy Thermal Foils’ name, address and logo.
While we have only received one such report, we want to make sure that you are aware of this situation. Please let us know immediately if you have received similar correspondence to the one shown below. We are working with various authorities to investigate this matter.
This is the email that our customer received. It included an invoice attachment. We have x’d out the customer’s information and highlighted some of the contact information to be aware of.
We are grateful that our customer brought this to our immediate attention and are hopeful that this fraud attempt is a one-off and not more widespread.
While we are in the process of determining if the data breach was on our end or our customer’s, we think it is important that we all take note that hacking happens.
In this case, while the cover letter is poorly worded and includes several grammatical errors, it shows the great extent hackers will go to pull off their scam. Here’s a few things we have learned so far.
1. The perpetrators purchased the domain synergythermofoil.com and created an email almost identical to STF. Note that our web address and the email are synergythermofoils.com, plural.
2. The email includes a phone number with a California area code. Everyone who does business with us knows that we are based in South Florida.
3. The perpetrators set up an account with Chase Bank and instructed our customer to send payment there. We have not changed our bank account. We have the same banking information today as in 2010.
Thank you again for your business and trust. Please contact us directly if you suspect you have received a fraudulent STF invoice OR any request to change bank accounts for payments to us.
Please call us with any questions about payment status or to confirm any changes.
Houzz.com recently released its 2022 forecast of top home design trends.
The trends of greatest interest to cabinet makers and kitchen remodelers include:
A casual collected look: While the 2021 U.S. Houzz Kitchen Trends Study confirmed that all-white kitchens remain dominant, layered looks are gaining in popularity. A more casual, less-polished approach with softer paint colors, raw wood tones, and a mix of cabinet fronts and styles is predicted to rise.
Long and linear backsplash tile: White subway tile is a classic look for a kitchen backsplash, but many homeowners are searching for a modern twist on the material. White ceramic 4-by-12-inch tile lends a timeless feel while its elongated form gives it a fresh, updated appearance.
Hardworking storage: While the general function of cabinetry hasn’t changed much over the years, the inside of cabinets has dramatically shifted. Pullouts bring pantry items from the back of cabinets to the front, special shelves lift heavy appliances from a lower cabinet to countertop height, and drawer dividers organize plates and bowls.
Multiple window banks: Thanks to the rise of hardworking pantry walls, storage-optimized island bases, and lower cabinets that allow homeowners to skip upper cabinets, Houzz pros anticipate homeowners to go with expansive runs of windows in 2022.
In each of the last three issues of On The Surface we have featured one of the designs in our new Oak collection. This month, we conclude our salute to the mighty oak, America’s national tree, with Charleston.
All four of the new oak introductions can be flat-laminated, post-formed, membrane-pressed, miter-folded and profile wrapped for use in commercial and residential furniture, store fixtures, kitchen cabinets, closet systems and much more.
Rumor has it that Elon Musk took up residence in a 375-square-foot pre-fabricated home after he bolted from California to Texas.
Not only has the tiny home’s maker, Boxabl eluded to Musk being a customer, the billionaire of Tesla and SpaceX fame, tweeted that he was indeed living (as least temporarily) in one of the home’s on SpaceX’s campus in Boca Chica, Texas.
Looks like Musk is once again ahead of the curve. Las Vegas-based Boxabl reportedly has a wait list numbering tens of thousands of customers for its prefab homes that sell for $49,500. The houses ship flat pack and assemble in less than a day.
Check out this video to see a Boxabl home set up and take a tour of its interior.
Strong growth in home improvement and maintenance expenditures is expected to continue over the coming year, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released by the Remodeling Future Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.
The LIRA projects year-over-year gains in annual improvement and repair spending will reach 9 percent in the fourth quarter and maintain that pace into 2022.
“Residential remodeling continues to benefit from a strong housing market with elevated home construction and sales activity and immense house price appreciation in markets across the country,” said Carlos Martín, project director of the Remodeling Futures Program at the Center. “The rapid expansion of owners’ equity is likely to fuel demand for more and larger remodeling projects into next year.”
“With these tailwinds, annual improvement and repair expenditures by homeowners could reach $400 billion by the third quarter of 2022,” said Abbe Will, Associate Project Director of the Remodeling Futures Program. “Yet there are several headwinds that could still taper the expected growth in remodeling spending including the rising costs of labor and building materials, as well as increasing interest rates.”
In 2004, the mighty oak was selected as America’s tree in a nationwide vote organized by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Oak bested redwood 101,000 to 81,000. Dogwood, maple and pine rounded out the top five trees receiving the most votes cast by citizens of all ages.
Oak is the most widespread of hardwoods with more than 60 species growing in the United States. Oak is prized for its strength, beauty and furniture-grade lumber. Due to its endearing and enduring qualities, it’s little wonder that oak is also the official tree of six states: Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Iowa, Maryland and New Jersey.
Each of these textured RTFs can be flat-laminated, post-formed, membrane-pressed, miter-folded and profile wrapped for use in commercial and residential furniture, store fixtures, kitchen cabinets, closet systems and much more.
Illinois is observing OAKtober, a month-long celebration of white oak, the official state tree.
In addition to the Land of Lincoln, variations of oak are the state trees of five other states including:
Connecticut, Charter oak;
Georgia, lively oak;
Iowa, bur oak;
Maryland, white oak; and
New Jersey, northern red oak.
Synergy Thermal Foils crashes the party with Carolina Oak, a new textured RTF destined to become a favorite for furniture and cabinets. Carolina Oak is one of four oak designs that we are introducing, the others being Highlands Oak, Charleston, and Williamsburg. Each of these new oak designs has a TFL match with Funder America.
All of our new products can be flat-laminated, post-formed, membrane-pressed, miter-folded, and profile wrapped for use in commercial and residential furniture, store fixtures, kitchen cabinets, closet systems, and much more.
Egger Wood Products, one of our Matching Program partners, offers a “virtual tour” of its $500 million manufacturing plant in Lexington, NC, that began operating last fall.
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The tour features 13 segments, each focusing on a different area of the 1-million-square-foot facility spanning from the woodyard through the design center. In between our highlights of the plant’s automated systems for manufacturing particleboard and thermally-fused laminate.
A recent survey by the Composite Panel Association revealed that more than three-quarters of its members worry that federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates will result in the loss of employees, further worsening a dearth of production workers.
The CPA survey was triggered by President Joe Biden’s executive order calling for the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to develop an emergency workplace standard. Companies with more than 100 employees would require all employees to either be fully vaccinated or be subject to weekly COVID-19 testing.
While the timing and specifics of an OSHA emergency standard are not yet known, survey respondents are concerned mill production might be negatively impacted. Some participants said the potential of employees quitting as the result of vaccine orders could result in production disruptions.
The OSHA emergency standard is part of the Biden Administration’s six-pronged, national strategy to encourage more Americans to get vaccinated to combat COVID-19.
Three woodworking organizations partnered to produce a six-minute video that is airing on public television stations nationwide to create awareness of career opportunities in the wood products industry.
The video, produced by “In Depth with Laurence Fishburne,” an award-winning educational television series highlighting the evolution of education, medicine, science, technology, and industry through inspiring stories. It was funded by the Association of Woodworking & Furnishings Suppliers (AWFS), Architectural Woodwork Institute (AWI), and Woodwork Career Alliance of North America (WCA). In addition, a one-minute commercial version of the video (below) was produced. It will air on Fox Business Network and other cable networks.
The program showcases the operations of Hollywood Woodwork, a high-end commercial architectural woodworking firm in Hollywood, FL. It introduces the audience to potential careers in a modern woodworking facility using advanced machinery in a safe and clean environment.
Those interviewed in the video discuss skills needed for wood industry careers, education and training opportunities, and various career pathways available.
New orders for residential furniture are continuing to roll, rising 7% in June compared to June 2020, according to accounting firm Smith Leonard. In its August 2021 Furniture Insights, Smith Leonard noted that June’s increase is especially special when considering that June 2020 registered a 30% increase over June 2019.
New furniture orders have now recorded 13 months of year-over-year growth.
“Year to date, new orders were up 51% over the first half of 2020 and up for 94% of the participants,” said Ken Smith, managing partner of Smith Leonard. “For comparison, new orders in the first 6 months of 2021 were up 37% over the first 6 months of 2019. We continue to think that the comparisons to 2020 for the rest of this year will be tough to beat.”
Smith noted that furniture shipments are being hampered by supply shortages. “Freight issues are a major problem, with container shortages continuing, causing significant price increases, if you can even get them,” Smith said. “Some are blaming some of the large retailers for tying up containers. Labor issues continue. We have read articles about how many are just not looking for jobs. Reasons include not only government stimulus and increases in unemployment checks, but also some have taken the opportunity to start their own small businesses. Some have decided to just retire, and some point to cost of daycare, making it better to just stay home. Others have pointed to the fear of contracting COVID-19.”
Backlogs continued to increase as orders in dollars exceed the dollar value of shipments. Backlogs were 153% higher in June than in June 2020, according to Smith Leonard.
“Expectations are for the overall economy to continue to expand, although at a slower rate, but still expectations are for over 4% into 2022,” Smith said. “We would think that the furniture business should continue its expansion as well, with shipments continuing to grow as backlogs are brought down. This would indicate that volume does not appear to be the issue. Profitability may be the problem as costs are going up faster than price increases can be put in place. It is hard to anticipate three months out, when products will be made, based on price lists being put out today.”
In each of the last three issues of On The Surface we have featured one of the designs in our new Oak collection. This month, we conclude our salute to the mighty oak, America’s national tree, with 
Strong growth in home improvement and maintenance expenditures is expected to continue over the coming year, according to the Leading Indicator of Remodeling Activity (LIRA) released by the Remodeling Future Program at the Joint Center for Housing Studies of Harvard University.
In 2004, the mighty oak was selected as America’s tree in a nationwide vote organized by the National Arbor Day Foundation. Oak bested redwood 101,000 to 81,000. Dogwood, maple and pine rounded out the top five trees receiving the most votes cast by citizens of all ages.
A recent survey by the Composite Panel Association revealed that more than three-quarters of its members worry that federal COVID-19 vaccine mandates will result in the loss of employees, further worsening a dearth of production workers.
Smith noted that furniture shipments are being hampered by supply shortages. “Freight issues are a major problem, with container shortages continuing, causing significant price increases, if you can even get them,” Smith said. “Some are blaming some of the large retailers for tying up containers. Labor issues continue. We have read articles about how many are just not looking for jobs. Reasons include not only government stimulus and increases in unemployment checks, but also some have taken the opportunity to start their own small businesses. Some have decided to just retire, and some point to cost of daycare, making it better to just stay home. Others have pointed to the fear of contracting COVID-19.”