SmartLam looks to expand

SmartLam is building on past success to accommodate a bright future.

The Columbia Falls cross-laminated timber manufacturer, founded just two years ago, has already surpassed expectations and is looking to expand.

“We have a lot on our plate for where we want to go in the future,” said Michelle Herman, SmartLam business administration officer. “And it’s overflowing with possibilities.”

Herman spoke at the Columbia Falls Economic Development meeting on Tuesday morning to update the community on SmartLam’s progress.

SmartLam is currently located in a 40,000-square-foot building it shares with Western Building Center.

However, it plans to build a new 140,000-square-foot warehouse near F.H. Stoltze Land & Lumber Co. to house a larger matting line and architectural center.

“Right now, we’re working on getting certified by the APA [American Planning Association]) so we can begin to sell commercially,” Herman said.

SmartLam is hoping to expand into the commercial construction industry. Because everything is prefabricated, the actual construction would theoretically move quickly since pieces just need to be screwed into place.

The company has also applied for a building permit to add a 20-by-20 foot addition to its current plant for additional storage. The addition will be constructed using SmartLam panels.

“Its going to be great to showcase what we can do,” Herman said. “To be able to point to a success and show it off.”

The company opened in 2012 as the only manufacturer of cross-laminated timber products in the United States. SmartLam currently employs 30 people, twice as many as last year at this time.

According to Herman, the company has been honored by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration through its Safety and Health Achievement Recognition Program — in two years, the company has achieved a level of stability and safety that would take a normal company 20 years to reach.

The company was recognized as the 2014 Best Place to Work in Columbia Falls and received the 2013 Entrepreneurial Spirit Award from the Flathead Business Journal.

Cross-laminated timber is envisioned as a way to replace concrete and steel in low- and mid-rise buildings.

Currently, SmartLam creates mats for heavy equipment to rest on.

The company glues strips of wood together in a crossing pattern, which adds a level of strength that was previously unattainable in timber.

The company is able to create panels up to 40 feet long and 11 feet wide, so the demand for lumber is high. SmartLam relies heavily on local companies such as Stoltze to supply it with raw materials.

“We have a lot of opportunities available to us,” Herman said. “And we’re just getting started.”

Reporter Brianna Loper may be reached at 758-4441 or by email at bloper@dailyinterlake.com.