The year in review.

It's that time of year again, when we reflect on the past and make plans for the future. What follows is a look back at some of the top stories from the past year.

* At a time in which plants are closing their doors and moving business offshore, it's refreshing to see companies actually investing in the United States. February's issue included an exclusive report on Belgium-based Unilin, which invested millions of dollars in its 600,000-square-foot Quick-Step flooring facility; plans call to expand the facility size to 1.1 million square feet by 2008. The company embarked on this project to better serve its growing U.S. customer base. Current estimates show the United States accounts for 15 percent of the world's consumption of laminate flooring.

* Groundbreakings and plant expansions also became the theme of the March issue, which highlighted plans for: KraftMaid's $106 million, 840,000-square-foot facility in West Jordan, UT; a 350,000-square-foot Merillat plant in Los Lunas, NM; Yorktowne's $19 million, 225,000-square-foot facility in Danville, VA; and the open ing of Medattion's 60,000-square-foot facility in New Ulm, MN.

* Following on the heels of the expansion news was the State of the Industry report on the booming cabinet industry. Despite concerns over raw material costs and availability, as well as training and retaining skilled workers, the cabinet industry continues to build off the strength of the remodeling and new housing markets. In fact, recently released information from the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturers Assn.'s monthly Trend of Business Survey shows sates for October 2006 increased 0.8% over 2005 figures for the same time period.

* The cabinet industry isn't the only secondary market segment to show growth this year. State of the Industry Reports in the August and October issues highlighted the successful efforts of the window and door industry, and the office furniture industry, to increase sates white dealing with gtobatization, government reform and the green movement.

The office furniture industry in particular has had to struggle against rising imports and environmental market impacts resulting from the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED criteria. Also impacting the office furniture industry is competition from prison industries. A recent bill, sponsored by Rep. Peter Hoekstra (R-MI), to amend Title 18 and require FPI to compete for government contracts, already has passed in the house, but has been stalled since September in the Senate Judiciary Committee.

* In the private sector, manufacturers across the board have cited customer service, along with improved technology, as helping to grow business. For example, January's cover story on California-based Montbteau & Associates highlighted the company's ability to consistently achieve double-digit sates growth by providing complete customer services, from the planning stage through job completion. According to President Ron Montbteau, the company's early involvement in a project helps ensure that the design is practical, value-engineered, cost effective and compliant with any government regulations.

Customer service and commitment to the community also is what led to Keystone Wood Specialties President Sam Stoltzfus being named the 2006 Jerry Metz Achievement Award winner in our October issue. Under his leadership, Keystone also has won numerous safety awards and has grown its business significantly.

Also noteworthy were the efforts of Wisconsin Built (May), The Millwork Co. (see page 45 of this issue) and Impressions Marketing Group (November). "Our success has been built upon a number of things--our people, our equipment and the systems we have in place," said Boe Young, Impressions Marketing's vice president of sates and marketing.

It's a winning combination shared by art.

I'd like to take this opportunity to wish everybody a happy, healthy and successful new year. Here's to a great 2007.