LP Building Products: Manufacturing Materials for a Global Market

LP Building Products (LP) boasts strong leadership and is built upon established relationships, allowing the company to maintain a leading position in engineered wood building products. Nashville-based LP was founded in 1973, and has continued to build a world-class business by constantly reinvesting and reinventing since 2004.

LP operates 24 production facilities, with 21 in North America and three in South America. The company’s product lines include: LP SmartSide siding and trim, LP SolidStart engineered wood products, LP TechSheild radiant barrier, LP FlameBlock fire-rated OSB sheathing, LP TopNotch subflooring and LP OSB sheathing.

Curt Stevens, CEO of LP, took the company’s helm in May 2012. However, Stevens joined LP in 1997 when he was recruited as CFO to build a world-class finance, accounting, investor relations and business development organization. Since then, LP has transformed from a diversified forest products producer with presence in only North America to a company with a focus on engineered wood products and a global footprint.

“Today we are leading producers of engineered wood products (EWP), oriented strand board (OSB) and siding with a manufacturing presence on two continents,” Stevens notes. “What hasn’t changed over the years that I’ve been with LP is our firm commitment to safety and quality, a team-oriented environment and open communications.”

Changing Markets

LP produces a wide range of engineered would building materials for wholesale through distributors, lumber yards and retailers. Contractors and do-it-yourselfers around the world utilize the company’s innovative products in many industries and varied applications, as well. LP’s superior engineered wood products can be found in floors, walls and roofs of residences and commercial properties in the U.S., Canada and even parts of South America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. The company also creates specialty products for interiors and furniture, as well as software that ease design, estimating and engineering for residential projects.

LP products are engineered for performance and designed to streamline construction for builders. The company has spent a tremendous amount of time and effort to put in place actions that will allow LP to respond to customer needs when the inevitable housing recovery begins.

Embracing the Economic Turnaround

“As part of this, we have developed an in-house training program, Building Leaders, for our first line supervisors throughout the company,” says Stevens. “We are constantly working on new products and have a robust new research and development process to ensure that the new products meet both our customers’ needs and our own quality expectations.”

LP’s breadth and quality in product lines, as well as employee expertise continues to set the business apart from competitors. Aside from top-of-the-line products and service records, Stevens notes that LP is the safest company in the industry.

“At LP, there is nothing more important than the safety of our employees followed by the quality of the products and services we provide to our customers,” Stevens says. “All of these will allow us to further grow and prosper in a recovering housing market.”

Each one of LP’s 4,000 employees embraces a personal responsibility for safety and integrity. Manufacturing is performed in-house, offering the team quality control and a product line to be proud of.

Naturally, the executive team acknowledges relationship building as a prime component to success. LP has maintained membership with the North American Wholesale Lumber Association (NAWLA) since 1996, an affiliation that has helped the team build relationships in the business with clients and other producers. The association offers value through networking, and many of the team’s customers are also NAWLA members.

LP Building Products offers a line of building supplies crafted with expertise and attention to the important things, and will continue to grow with the rebounding economy in all markets.