American Woodmark celebrates new expansion at Hamlet facility

HAMLET — One local manufacturer has completely changed its operations, becoming one of the largest suppliers of bathroom cabinets on the East Coast.

American Woodmark, located in the Richmond County Industrial Park along U.S. 74 south of Hamlet, held a small ribbon cutting ceremony late Monday morning to celebrate the opening — albeit a few months later — of its distribution expansion.

“It’s hard to believe a little over a year ago we had a groundbreaking,” CEO Scott Culbreth said to the crowd gathered inside the 275,000 square-foot warehouse. That ceremony in February 2023 included a visit from Gov. Roy Cooper and Gene McLaurin, chairman of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina.

“And …293 days later, we’re actually shipping product out of this distribution center,” Culbreth continued, “a really great accomplishment for everybody involved with that project.”

The first shipment from the distribution center went out on Dec. 11, 2023, according to Plant Manager Anthony Nessell.

“We changed our operation over the past six months…we used to be a component manufacturer to support other facilities, but now we assemble fishined-good products for bath only,” Nessell said. “East of the Mississippi (River), we make everything for American Woodmark for Lowe’s and Home Depot.”

The expansion, Nessell said, allows the Hamlet plant to focus on bath products and another facility in Lincolnton to concentrate on kitchen products.

“There was a time where bath took a back seat to kitchens as our primary business,” Nessell said.

Culbreth said the component production was taken from the Hamlet location and transferred to a facility in Monterey, Mexico.

Prior to the expansion, American Woodmark had around 230 employees, Nessell said. That number is currently at 280, and fully staffed.

“That can change over the next year or months, depending on the demand,” Nessell added. “There’s a lot of factors that will go into that.”

Culbreth said the company’s intention is to grow demand for its products “which will grow jobs as well.”

Nessell also said that there were some temporary workers the company would like to convert to permanent employees.

In addition to company leaders, Culbreth was joined by six employees who have been at the plant since it opened as RSI Home Products in 2016: Cathy Bullard, Teresa Covington, Roy Gill, Steve Ring, Eugene Smith and Tammy Wilson.

Gill had the honor of snipping the ribbon with the ceremonial giant scissors.

“In just a few short years, this company has become one of our largest facilities and largest employers,” said Richmond County Economic Developer Martie Butler.

“AMW consistently partners with our school systems, community functions and hosting public events at their facility,” Butler added. “We are encouraged by their growth and look forward to the bright future ahead of American Woodmark and Richmond County.”

A cook team from AMW recently won first place in the chicken wing contest during Rockingham’s SpringFest.

The company has made monetary donations to local organizations including the historic Hamlet Depot, the Autism Society of Richmond County and Richmond County Schools; and frequently cleans up along Freeman Mill Road through the Adopt-A-Highway program.

Disclosure: RO Co-publisher Charlie Melvin is employed by American Woodmark.

NOTE: This story has been updated to add a disclosure statement. 4:53 p.m. 5-2-24.