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About Us

Handcrafted in Wisconsin since 1992

Witmer Wood Products was built with intention and a focus on craftsmanship, consistency, and long-term relationships.

Witmer Wood Products was founded in Berlin, Wisconsin in 1992 by Kenneth Witmer and Duane Hoover. Both men were deeply rooted in their local community and active leaders within the Mennonite church. Their approach to business reflected their values: do honest work, stand behind what you build, and treat people fairly.
 
They started in a small shop with a clear focus on building high-quality dovetail drawers while serving customers with integrity.  Early growth came from word of mouth. Cabinetmakers and furniture builders returned because the product was consistent, the fit was right, and the orders arrived when promised.

Where It Started

Before Witmer Wood Products, Ken Witmer had already built a reputation as a disciplined furniture maker. He founded Witmer Furniture in Abbotsford, Wisconsin, producing handcrafted hardwood furniture rooted in traditional joinery and clean design. His work emphasized durability, precision, and timeless construction.
 
That same philosophy extended beyond the U.S. as Ken later helped establish a hardwood furniture company in Shrewsbury, England that focused on craftsmanship and mission-driven employment. The operation emphasized training skilled woodworkers while producing high-quality, solid wood furniture.
 
Across both businesses and both continents, the through line was consistent. Ken wanted to build products that lasted, to build systems that were repeatable, and to build people along the way. This mindset has carried directly into the Witmer Wood Products of today.

The Craftsman Behind the Name

Built Through Discipline

Witmer Wood Products didn’t chase rapid expansion. It grew deliberately. Each phase was driven by demand and supported by capability.
  • 1992 Original facility: 5,000 sq ft
  • 2001 Expansion: +10,000 sq ft to increase production capacity
  • 2016 Expansion: +10,000 sq ft to bring finishing in-house
 
Bringing finishing in-house was the turning point. This change allowed WWP to:
  • Control quality from raw lumber to finished product
  • Improve consistency across orders
  • Reduce rework and delays
  • Deliver a more complete, ready-to-install solution
 
Instead of relying on outside processes, the system became more robust, with accountability at every step and a team of expert woodworkers who made every item by hand, through more than 24 steps, across multiple days. No shortcuts, just precision dovetail joinery that machines cannot replicate. The result was a product that performs the same way, every time. Witmer Wood Products became known for consistent sizing and fit, reliable lead times, and clear and responsive communication. Customers didn’t have to guess. They knew what they were getting and could build their own operations around these expectations. This reliability turned first orders into long-term partnerships.
In 2024, after more than 30 years of building the business, Ken Witmer and Duane Hoover sold Witmer Wood Products to Andrew Dement. Andrew is a Wisconsin native and operator with a background in strategic account management, manufacturing, and growth-focused operations.
 

Andrew brought a simple approach to the business: preserve the foundation, strengthen the systems, and expand the capability. The goal wasn’t to change what worked; he wanted to build on it. The team stayed. The standards stayed. “Handcrafted in Berlin, WI” wasn’t a tagline he inherited. It was a standard he chose to keep.

A complete digital transformation connected a business that had operated entirely offline to the infrastructure it needed to grow. Witmer’s first website went live, and its first structured digital presence followed. For the first time in the company’s history, five industry associations — KCMA, AWI, WCMA, CMA, and NKBA — added Witmer as a member.
 
Continuing Ken and Duane’s legacy of focusing on people, Andrew also developed a youth apprenticeship program in partnership with the Cooperative Educational Service Agency (CESA) and local school districts. Now, high school students are learning to build things by hand while working full-time in summer and part-time during the school year while earning class credit. If Witmer is going to keep making things without robots, it needs to foster the next generation of woodworkers.

A New Chapter

In 2025, Witmer Wood Products acquired the adjacent property and a 25,000 square foot facility, which significantly increased operational capacity and positioned the company for its next phase of growth. As of May 2026, the additional space allows WWP to:
  • Scale production of hardwood dovetail drawers
  • Expand into cabinet doors and additional wood components
  • Support larger, more complex customer programs
  • Offer storage and staging solutions for repeat and high-volume clients
 
This was not a shift away from the core business but a commitment to serving customers at a higher level without compromising quality.

Expanding the Platform

What Drives Us Today

Today, our mission is rooted in three priorities:

Craftsmanship

We build products the right way. Materials, joinery, finishing, and fit all matter. Every detail is intentional.

Customer Satisfaction

We make it easy to work with us. Clear communication, accurate orders, and a product that meets expectations—every time.

Reliability

We do what we say we’re going to do. Consistent lead times. Consistent quality. No surprises.

These are not marketing statements; they are operational standards. Witmer Wood Products continues to grow but not for growth’s sake. The goal is to build a company that customers can depend on. From a small shop in Berlin to a scaled manufacturing operation, the philosophy remains unchanged: do the work right, deliver consistently, and build for the long term.

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