The Daniel family has been in business for generations. Markets have risen and fallen. Companies -- and even complete industries, really -- have come and gone. All the while, the Daniels have flourished, building on success.

The Daniels, based in LaGrange, Georgia, got their start in 1918. In addition to establishing a sawmill, the Daniels founded a construction company. Between world wars and the Great Depression, the Daniels did more than hold their own, even being called upon to build the Little White House in Warm Springs, Georgia for President Franklin D. Roosevelt. By the 1970s, the Daniels had transitioned into the building supply field. The division soon garnered the attention of Lowe's, which opted to purchase it.

A couple of building supply customers remained. One just happened to need a few pallets. Handfuls soon gave way to truckloads. In 1978, the pallet division of Daniel Lumber Company was born. Today, with a manufacturing facility in LaGrange and a recycling plant in Atlanta that reconditions and resells used pallets, Daniel Lumber Company employs 50. Daniel attributes much of his company's success to an outstanding crew, which includes Plant Manager Jerry Hammett, Sawmill Production Manager Tony Hammett, Pallet Production Manager Alan Rafalski and Recycling Plant Manager Jerry Brautigan. "These men do an excellent job of managing our facilities."

The company's unparalleled versatility in working with clients also plays a major part. "We try to work with our customers and design the most cost-effective pallet for their use." And despite Daniel Lumber Company's impressive production capabilities, the organization can fill those more modest orders, too. "We are able to handle large volume accounts, as well as smaller, specialty accounts," Daniel says.
To produce an array of standard and custom pallets, Daniel Lumber Company uses a combination of cants and boards, as well as a scragg mill to cut low-grade lumber. Pre-cut parts are also utilized in the manufacturing process.

A Prentice 210C Knuckleboom first unloads the raw materials. Two Taylor lifts, dating from the late 1950s and mid-1970s, respectively, are relied on for handling. Boards are cut on a West Plains multiple trim saw, while cants are run through a West Plains 125 Series six-head bandsaw.

The 24" to 18' capacity multiple trim saw, which features frequency controlled variable feed speed and 22" carbide tipped saw blades, manages up to 60 cuts per minute. The heavy-duty 125 Series, with its air station band tensioning and interchangeable pre-surfaced adjustable guides, is designed to cut at a rate of 20 to 120 feet per minute. The bands, which are sharpened on-site, last about 16 hours each, Hammett says.

Pallets are assembled using a GBN Tandem Trailblazer. The unit has been an excellent investment, thus far. "Our GBN Tandem Trailblazer has been a very dependable, cost-effective nail machine compared to others we have tried," Daniel says. The GBN averages 1500 and 2400 pallets per shift. "It's a great machine," adds Hammett.

Although the Trailblazer requires little in the way of maintenance, GBN is ready for any potential problem. "They have superb maintenance people. And their service department is second to none," Hammett says. He is particularly pleased with the time and attention GBN's Paul Bailey has devoted to Daniel Lumber Company's operation. "I can't say enough good things about him. He's doing a wonderful job."

In addition to a Pendu Double Arbor saw system that's occasionally used for profiling boards or as an edger and a Bronco set aside for building only the smallest of pallets, Daniel Lumber Company has four TCM 5000 lifts. According to Hammett, Columbus Lifts in Columbus, Georgia has provided the best in service and support since the little rugged workhorses were purchased. "They've been super." Two are used in the sawmill, while the other two transport finished pallets to a fleet of tractor-trailers. Daniel Lumber owns four trucks and eight trailers, and contracts the services of another owner-operator, who hauls solely for Daniel Lumber Company.

The enterprise may be moving well over 3000 new pallets per shift, counting the 1000 to 1500 pallets finished by hand with Duofast nail guns, but expect more to come from Daniel Lumber Company. After all, it has withstood a devastating fire, the ups and downs of supply and demand and the very whims of Mother Nature. The Daniel Lumber Company will likely continue to be a testament to the strength of the American entrepreneurial spirit.