Hancock Lumber has broken ground on a 44,000-square foot manufacturing facility in Oxford that will expand its production of prefabricated building components.
The company has been building wall panels since 1999 and roof trusses since it acquired Mainely Trusses in 2018.
Current wall panel production happens at the company’s Windham facility.
CEO Kevin Hancock told Mainebiz the factory in Oxford not only increases capacity but will allow for manufacture of additional components, including wall panels up to 20-feet long.
The site will build panels equipped with Zip System weatherproof sheathing, custom framing and complete stair systems.
“Plus,” Hancock said, the new plant will offer “the ability to expand and add services in the future.”
Prefabricated building components have become the standard in Maine for most commercial and multi-family construction, largely replacing “stick-built” and dramatically compressing building schedules.
“With housing needs and labor challenges, builders need time saving solutions and integrated building components to speed up construction timelines,” Hancock said.
“The new facility will provide a unified, consistent, end-to-end execution across components. We’ll be able to offer builders one design package that synchronizes trusses, panels and loose materials needed to frame buildings — particularly targeting commercial and multi-family construction projects.”
The goal is to be make components by Q1 2027.
Hancock Lumber expects to hire workers in production, design and sales.
Falmouth-based Penobscot General Contractors will manage the build and KW Architects, based in Wells, is handling design.
Hancock’s facility in Fairfield will continue to manufacture roof trusses.
The 178-year-old company owns 7,500 acres of timberland, operates 12 lumberyards in Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, three sawmills in Maine — in Casco, Bethel and Pittsfield — and nine kitchen design centers here and in New Hampshire.
Additionally Hancock has a Marvin window showroom and retail store in Yarmouth and a Tiny Homes manufacturing facility in Dyer Brook, Aroostook County.
