Core principles drive Eggers' success for last 125 years

Innovative, quality wood products favored by nationwide customer base

For the Herald Times Reporter

TWO RIVERS — Much has changed in Wisconsin and the United States in the past 125 years but in the small town of Two Rivers one thing has not changed: Eggers Industries is still creating quality wood products.

It is an anomaly in today's world of corporations and big business buy-outs. Eggers has been privately held since its inception in 1884 and the primary focus is on the long term including sustainability, reinvestment and providing for the customer's needs through a set of core principles.

Enduring values have led to innovative products, industry changing discoveries and a company remaining true to its reputation for quality products.

Its core values are not simply words on a page in the book "The Eggers Way," but guide crucial decisions.
A key principle is balancing responsibilities taking into account customers, employees, shareholders and the community.

In economic downturns, Eggers seeks to keep employees on the payroll by seeking cost savings through renegotiations with vendors, more efficient processes and other measures that do not affect employment.

In today's economic challenges, Eggers again is showing dedication to its employees. "It doesn't make sense to jettison employees for short term financial gain when it's those employees who make us successful in the long run," said President Jay Streu.

Slow times offer opportunities for employee training and development.

This policy benefits employees in its Two Rivers and Neenah plants, and those communities, but also the company's customers.

Increasing employee knowledge provides Eggers' customers with the best value in the industry, company officials said.

They said a considerable portion of profits and savings are reinvested in improved technology and tools used to meet customer needs. When the economy recovers, Eggers employees will be better trained, more efficient, and ready to ship customer orders quickly at a reasonable price.

Continuous improvement

Eggers employees continuously look for ways to improve value to the customer through research and development.

At the turn of the 20th century, the adhesive used in veneered product manufacture was an animal-derived glue that, while inexpensive, was easily affected by moisture and would often decompose or cause fungal growth.

Eggers Industries led development of replacement glue made from casein, a milk protein. The Eggers-developed casein glues had a significant impact on plywood manufacture.

Today, Eggers employees are as dedicated as ever to improving processes and products. Every employee is encouraged to continuously evaluate their processes and behaviors in order to increase efficiency while lowering costs. Innovation is the expectation rather than the exception.

Among new product developments are eiDoor, an ultra durable vinyl-clad door that withstands even the most abusive environments, a beadless lite flush door, and an acoustical veneered wood frame.

Sharing successes, rewards

The company celebrates and rewards employee initiatives and accomplishments through its Employee Involvement Program.

Eggers employees share in the company's profits, in a program begun by George Lester in 1955. In 1980 the program was expanded to include gain sharing.

Employees are encouraged to submit and incorporate strategies that increasing productivity and decreasing cost. Gains would be calculated into actual savings and split between the company and employees.

Employees were rewarded for their ideas and the company was able to reinvest savings in order to facilitate ever-increasing productivity.

Since its inception, Eggers' employees have received more than $11 million dollars in gain sharing and Eggers' customers have reaped the many benefits of increased efficiency, technology, and quality.

Honesty in all actions

The Eggers Way states, "Honesty and integrity are more important than making a profit or satisfying a customer."

Rather than earning a customer's work on a project in the short term by promising what they cannot deliver, Eggers hopes to earn customers' trust through honesty.

It is through the honest communication of their capabilities that Eggers proves to their customers that they are more interested in earning their trust than earning their money. While this is not always popular and can lead to the loss of a project, Eggers Industries sees this loss as small in comparison to lost trust as a result of
failing to deliver.

Prudent decisions

Eggers Industries seeks to avoid decisions that could lead to a large reduction in employment, a change in ownership, or have a negative affect on its shareholders.

Amid the credit crisis of the 1980's, Eggers was conservative in seeking to grow and expand. It was assisted by a small cities community block grant and was able to acquire a new facility with low cost financing through the government. It was only through a stable means of growth, one that significantly limited the risk to the company, that Eggers was willing to move forward.

"The ability to stay true to the company values makes us special," said Mary Lester Streu, vice president of operations.

"Some people view us as conservative — we view ourselves as focused. We stay close to a key principle: under commit and over perform," she said. "We do not try to do everything. We stay true to our custom manufacturing business."

Eggers officials believe its future will be built on the same vision that has brought it success over the last 125 years.

Additional Facts: About Eggers

With three divisions in Northeast Wisconsin, Eggers Industries manufactures architectural flush doors, true stile and rail doors, doorframes, veneered plywood panels, and custom components for premier commercial projects including veneer wrapped metal and wood components.

Special applications include bullet-resistant, fire-rated, lead-lined, and acoustical doors, eiDoors, as well as FSC certified products that contribute points to the Leadership in Environmental and Energy Design program.

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