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info@gwp-inc.com |
5840 Hwy. 60 East, PO Box 270240, Hartford, WI 53027-0240 -- Fax: 262-673-6459
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Reuse
Repair
Recycle
THE BEGINNING
Before recycling became a major concern in our society, wooden pallets were to be found in almost every industry. They were considered disposable trash to be buried in landfills or burned as firewood. There was little or no value seen in used pallets.
Danny and Ken Goeman viewed this situation differently. In 1973 they began retrieving unwanted, used wooden pallets from various sources and in their spare time they began to sort, repair and resell those pallets, in their basements, driveways and garages. Deliveries were made using family owned pickup trucks and trailers. Soon, additional space became a necessity and they rented garages in which to repair the pallets.
The endeavor continued to grow. In 1976 space on the lot, which currently serves as corporate headquarters at 5840 Hwy. 60 East, Hartford, Wisconsin, was rented and pallets were stored there.
The year 1979 saw the official incorporation of Goeman's Wood Products (GWP). During this period, local high school students began their work experiences at Goeman's wood Products on a part time basis.
As the business developed, a building was rented at the Hwy. 60, Hartford site. The Saw Shop, Pallet Repair and the New Pallet and Crate operations, which began in 1981, were all located in that same building. In order to ensure on-time delivery to our customers, GWP trucking came online in 1982.
A GROWING COMPANY
The building and 70 acres at the Hwy. 60, Hartford site were purchased in 1985 and in 1986, GWP leased a building and 20 acres in Iron Ridge, Wisconsin. The Iron Ridge facility installed a Viking Duomatic
automated pallet manufacturing machine in 1990 and by May
1993 our one millionth pallet rolled off the line. In November 1997,
we purchased and installed a new Viking Turbo 505 automated pallet manufacturing machine
which still produces up to 1800 new pallets per day employing
three or four persons.
In the Spring of 2003 all of GWP's manufacturing was moved
to our spacious, modern facility in Hartford, WI. On
April 1st 2005 our office suite and employee break room were completed and another
4,000 sq. feet of support space was added to the 30,000+ sq.
feet of production space.
OUR FUTURE GOALS
Our Hartford facility now concentrates on specialty wood packaging, custom pallets, crating and the purchase, repair and resale of used pallets. Currently we employ 85 persons in the manufacture of pallets and crating, transportation and allied functions such as purchasing, maintenance, office personnel and sales.
Goeman's Wood Products
is a member of the NWPCA
(National wooden Pallet
and Container Association).