Lacquer Craft Furniture reported that it has launched strategic initiatives at its Dongguan and Jiashan manufacturing operations. The improvements will substantially increase production of wooden products for both the residential and hospitality industries, increase efficiency, and reduce emissions to bring both facilities into compliance with China’s new environmental regulations.

“As one of the largest furniture manufacturers in the world, we are investing more than $30 million over the next three years in our factories in China to meet the growing demand from our own brands as well as from industry growth,” says Mohamad Amini, president of Lacquer Craft and executive director of Samson Holding Ltd. “The additional capacity will not only enable us to improve delivery times to our customers but also will return us to a full inventory position to support our consolidated direct container programs.” 

The vertically integrated company manufactures wooden furniture across all product categories and upholstery for its sister brands Universal Furniture, Smartstuff™ by Universal Furniture, Paula Deen Home, Legacy Classic Furniture, Legacy Classic Kids, Wendy Bellissimo, Craftmaster Furniture, Lacquer Craft Hospitality, Willis & Gambier (UK), Universal Furniture China and Athome. In addition, the company is an OEM provider for residential and contract furnishings globally.

“We are proud of the stability of our line management and the associates that have been with us for 20 years, but now it’s time to re-invest in our facilities in order to not just maintain but to accelerate our competitive edge,” he says. “Our size, our low raw materials costs, our talent, our logistics and the implementation of new state-of-the-art automation is a demonstration of our leadership and our ongoing commitment to Chinese manufacturing and this industry.”

The initiatives will provide an additional 500 containers of production capacity per month from the two plants, which together total more than six million square feet. Two production lines will be added to the Jiashan factory, while a production line at the Dongguan facility will be reinstated, significantly increasing production of wooden products for both the residential and hospitality industries. Both plants are being extensively automated and updated to improve efficiency and consistency, while lowering production costs. The new lines also will increase finishing capabilities that include polyurethane coatings and new environmentally friendly, water-based finishing processes. 

In addition, all production lines are being modified to reduce emissions in order to become more environmentally friendly and to comply with China’s new emissions guidelines.

“Lacquer Craft underwent a year-long efficiency study by the top manufacturing consultants in the world prior to adopting the new initiatives,” Amini says. “We have meticulously studied every step in the manufacturing process to determine how we can transform our plants into the most consistent and most productive in the industry. It is a huge undertaking, but one that will enable us to become even more responsive business partners with truly cutting edge, lean manufacturing operations. 

“We are competitively priced, financially strong and poised for growth,” he says. “Just as Lacquer Craft pioneered the consolidated direct container program from China in the late 1990’s and now has the largest fully automated warehouse facility in the world with a capacity for 4,000 containers, we are going to set new standards. With these new capital investments in our plants, we’ll be able to provide better customer service by shipping furniture with shorter lead times, the same high quality standards, logistics flexibility and marketing solutions that Lacquer Craft is known for.”

Lacquer Craft Furniture is a vertically integrated manufacturing resource committed to providing manufacturing excellence with exceptional style, function, and durability at an affordable cost. A division of Samson Holding Ltd. (531:Hong Kong, China), the company produces furniture for a diversified brand portfolio that includes Universal Furniture, Smartstuff™ by Universal Furniture, Paula Deen Home, Legacy Classic Furniture, Legacy Classic Kids, Wendy Bellissimo, Craftmaster Furniture, Lacquer Craft Hospitality, Willis & Gambier (UK), Universal Furniture China and Athome. In addition, the company manufactures OEM products for other select companies globally. Products cross all furniture categories including a mix of materials and upholstery, using the most advanced manufacturing operations, global warehousing and logistics systems available. Founded in 1995 in Dongguan, China, the company also has plants in Jiashan and Bangladesh, and today is one of the top furniture producers in the world with 10,000 dedicated employees.