Pallets, crating and industrial lumber have been critical to the manufacturing sector for more than a century. Fox Valley Wood Product’s longevity is attributed to its commitment to innovation. At FVWP, innovation isn’t just a buzzword — it’s a fundamental part of its ethos. FVWP has set itself apart through an unwavering focus on hiring great people, investing in new technology and continually improving processes. Here’s how they do it.
Grit: FVWP was founded in 1963 without any machines, forklifts or pneumatic nailers. Its founders built the business with a pouch full of nails, strong hands and fingers the size of bratwursts. FVWP maintained this generational grit through requiring all new leaders to learn from the ground up. David Elliot, a long-time supplier to FVWP shares his unique perspective of the organization. “I have personally had the pleasure of supplying Fox Valley Wood Products for over 30 years. Throughout this time, as a plywood salesman, I have had the pleasure of traveling throughout the eastern half of the U.S. I’ve been in a few hundred pallet facilities throughout. I can say assuredly, that the focus from all of the Van Zeeland’s and their employees has been a customer-first approach. They train and retain their employees better than any pallet and crate manufacturer that I have ever known. They are focused on doing things right, the first and every time. To know them and how the company started, how the company operates, and the expectations they have, it makes you want to make sure that we don’t disappoint them from our end.”
Speed: Customers will immediately experience something different when working with FVWP. Customer calls don’t go to voicemail. Emails are responded within minutes and orders are fulfilled within 24 hours or less. FVWP commonly receives same day requests for pallets, crates and industrial shipping platforms. Pat Keil, senior automation engineer at Tech 4, expressed his appreciation for FVWP’s rapid response time. “In our industry we require custom skidding to ship large industrial electrical assemblies. Fox Valley Wood Products has helped streamline this task for us tremendously. Their ability to react to quote requests is second to none. We generally receive quotes within minutes of sending over detailed drawings. Their deliveries are equally as impressive. We receive most custom skids within a day or less of ordering at a very reasonable price. Without a doubt, our relationship with Fox Valley Wood Products has and will continue to help our business react, deliver and grow.”
Accountability: FVWP’s promise is to provide an excellent experience from inception to completion. In the event a mistake occurs, team members are eager to make it right. Josh Rolfing, VP of manufacturing at Linquist Machine agrees. “The team at Fox Valley Wood Products has done an exceptional job of taking the time to understand our needs and leveraging their experience to drive value. Better yet, when issues arise, and they do in every organization, the team provides a same day response that includes a solution (not excuses) to which they are committed — every time. Well, done FVWP!”
Pricing: FVWP bases its pricing on industry indexes and offers customers market visibility. When the market drops, they proactively adjust prices. This is especially relevant with today’s tariff volatility. Tim Daanen, president and owner of B&D warehouse, turnedto FVWP during the midst of pandemic supply chain shortages. “I have been working with Jeff and the Fox Valley Wood Products team since 2018. I am forever grateful to them during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 when they continued to provide us high quality pallets at a reasonable cost in spite of the rapidly changing market conditions, especially when other pallet providers took advantage of the situation. Since then, when we or our customers look for savings, Jeff and the team have provided creative solutions in terms of different pallet sizes and configurations to best serve our needs.”
Investment: FVWP’s growth is generated organically through investing in cutting-edge technology and facilities. Growth is leveraged by taking the long view via investing in technology to become more productive. As capacity increases, they can serve more customers. Continually investing in new equipment from manufacturers such as Go Fast Manufacturing and Viking Engineering are prime examples. Dan Berken, president of Go Fast Mfg., commented, “It’s great working with Fox Valley Wood Products. They’re always looking to improve processes, open to new ideas and tech, and willing to invest in making operations smoother for employees. Their focus on innovation streamlines operations and makes collaborating with them a rewarding experience.” A recent FVWP investment is a lumber dip tank to apply mold inhibiting solution to keep lumber attributes stable and free of mold. This has proven to be particularly beneficial for their food grade pallet customers.
People: Having the right people is the catalyst to innovation. The pallet industry is commonly pegged as an industry with low skill, entry level people, FVWP takes exception to this. “Our company places extra emphasis on hiring high character, motivated people from diverse demographics and skill sets,” says Jeff Van Zeeland, president of Fox Valley Wood Products. This hiring approach results in exceptional productivity and allows FVWP to offer significantly higher compensation than its closest competitors. “We invest in the growth and development of our team to foster a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.” A recent example is FVWP’s decision to incorporate EOS (Entrepreneur Operating System) into the business. “Our launch began by defining our core values and incorporating them into all personal-related decisions,” says Van Zeeland. The company’s core values are integrity, positivity, teamwork and pacesetting, accountability and extraordinary service. “These values are not based on who we want to be, rather, they are who we are. The purpose of defining these values is to ensure the culture our founders established 60 years ago continues onto future generations.”
Process: FVWP is continuously evaluating and enhancing processes to increase efficiency, reduce waste and enhance overall quality. By implementing best practices and lean methodologies, it is able to deliver quality products that exceed customer expectations while operating in a cost-effective and sustainable manner. FVWP is a strategic partner with Menomonie Tribal Enterprises. Jason Swartz currently serves as the lumber sales manager for MTE. “In my career as a lumber salesman I get the privilege of touring many different types of wood manufacturing companies throughout the United States. Simply stated, I would not want to compete in their manufacturing space. Clean, organized, streamlined and efficient are the words I use when describing their operation to others. Not one area in their operation has been overlooked and they manage this while offering same day manufacturing and delivery in many cases. We at Menominee Tribal Enterprises look forward to continuing our relationship with Fox Valley for many years to come.”
Innovation is not just a goal at Fox Valley Wood Products — it’s a way of life. These testimonials perfectly illustrate how FVWP is different. Pallets and crating solutions are more valuable to manufacturing than many think. Consider joining FVWP on their journey of innovation, and experience the difference for yourself.
Company: Fox Valley Wood Products
Innovation: Pallets, lumber, custom crates
