Empire Lumber

What Empire Lumber does

Empire Lumber Co., operating under the trade name Kamiah Mills, is a privately held, vertically integrated lumber manufacturer founded in 1956 and headquartered in Kamiah, Idaho. The company operates fully integrated mill operations across the Clearwater Valley and Camas Prairie regions, encompassing the full production cycle from resource management through sawmill manufacturing, drying, planing, packaging, and shipping. Its product portfolio is built exclusively around Inland softwood species and includes random length boards, construction grade boards, dimension lumber, and custom-manufactured paneling, siding, and moulding products, marketed under the "IDAHO's Finest" and "Stewards of the Forest" brand positioning.

The company runs a direct, quote-based sales model targeting construction firms, builders, contractors, and lumber yards, with customers initiating orders by phone (208-935-2524) or email and receiving product via in-house truck and rail delivery from its Idaho facilities. Empire Lumber employs between 51 and 100 people and operates within a regional Idaho market with no disclosed geographic expansion plans or institutional investment. The company has no publicly disclosed financial data, no parent or subsidiary structure, no active digital sales channels beyond an informational website, and no patents, certifications, partnerships, or alliances on record. Its core differentiators are its vertically integrated manufacturing chain, exclusive focus on Inland softwood species, custom manufacturing capabilities for paneling, siding, and moulding, and 65-plus years of continuous regional operation.

Name

Empire Lumber

Legal name

Empire Lumber Co.

Website

https://empirelumber.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Empire Lumber Co. (dba Kamiah Mills) is a privately held, vertically integrated lumber manufacturer founded in 1956 in Idaho. It produces Inland softwood lumber—boards, paneling, siding, moulding—for construction firms, builders, and contractors across Idaho via direct quote-based sales.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Lumber Manufacturing

NAICS

Sawmills (321113), Cut Stock, Resawing Lumber, and Planing (321912)

SIC

Sawmills & Planting Mills, General (2421), Lumber & Wood Products (No Furniture) (2400)

akta.pro primary industry

Softwood Lumber Sawmills (IMAMABAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Planing Mills & Lumber Surfacing (IMAMABAE)

Keywords

• Lumber manufacturing
• Softwood lumber products
• Dimension lumber supply
• Custom wood panelling
• Sawmill operations

Headquarters

HQ city

Spokane

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Lumber Product Sales: Direct sales of manufactured lumber products including random length boards, construction grade boards, dimension lumber, and custom paneling, siding and moulding products. Revenue is generated through one-time product transactions with truck and rail delivery included.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

Empire Lumber manufactures and sells Inland softwood lumber products at its Idaho mills (operating as Kamiah Mills), including random length boards, construction grade boards, dimension lumber, custom paneling, siding, and moulding products. The company runs a vertically integrated operation covering resource management, sawmill manufacturing, drying, planing, packaging, and shipping, with truck and rail delivery direct to construction and building customers.

Product overview

Empire Lumber is a traditional lumber manufacturing company offering a unified portfolio of wood products. The company operates as a single-source manufacturer producing random length boards, construction grade boards, dimension lumber, custom paneling, siding, and moulding products—all exclusively manufactured at their Idaho mills (operating as Kamiah Mills). Their products are sourced from Inland softwood species, with operations spanning the full production cycle from resource management and sawmill manufacturing through drying, planing, packaging, and shipping. The company positions itself as 'IDAHO's Finest' lumber provider since 1956.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Random Length Boards Random length lumber boards manufactured at Empire Lumber's Idaho mills, supplying construction and building needs for builders, contractors, and lumber yards.
• Construction Grade Boards Construction grade lumber boards manufactured for building and structural applications in residential and commercial construction projects.
• Dimension Lumber Standardized dimension lumber products manufactured at the Kamiah, Idaho facility for construction and structural uses.
• Custom Manufactured Paneling Custom-manufactured paneling products produced exclusively at Empire Lumber's Idaho facilities for finishing and interior building applications.
• Siding Lumber siding products manufactured by Empire Lumber for residential and commercial building exterior applications.
• Moulding Products Custom moulding products manufactured by Empire Lumber for finishing and architectural applications in building projects.
• Inland Softwood Species Lumber Variety of Inland softwood species lumber products exclusively manufactured at Empire Lumber's Idaho mills, supporting specialty wood product requirements.

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves3 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Broad incumbents

• Interfor: Canada-based lumber producer with sawmill operations across the U.S. Pacific Northwest and Southeast. Comparable to Empire through softwood lumber manufacturing serving construction and industrial customers, though at materially larger scale.
• Sierra Pacific Industries: Major vertically integrated forest products company in the western U.S. with sawmill, millwork, and window/door manufacturing. Comparable to Empire in softwood lumber and millwork manufacturing, but at significantly larger scale and broader product range.
• PotlatchDeltic: Nationally diversified timberland REIT and lumber manufacturer with significant operations in the U.S. Inland Northwest. Comparable to Empire as a softwood lumber producer, but at vastly larger scale with integrated timberland ownership and a broader product portfolio.
• Weyerhaeuser: One of the largest U.S. timberland owners and softwood lumber producers with significant Pacific Northwest operations. Comparable to Empire through softwood lumber manufacturing and construction end-market exposure, but at vastly larger scale.
• Boise Cascade: Idaho-headquartered engineered wood products and building materials distributor with plywood, LVL, and lumber operations. Comparable to Empire through overlapping softwood wood-product manufacturing and distribution into construction supply channels.

Direct peers

• Western Forest Products: Canadian sawmill operator producing softwood lumber for North American construction markets from coastal British Columbia operations. Comparable to Empire through softwood lumber manufacturing and construction end-market exposure, though with different species mix and primarily Canadian operations.
• Idaho Forest Group: Idaho-based softwood lumber manufacturer operating multiple sawmills in northern Idaho. Directly comparable to Empire Lumber as a regional Inland softwood sawmill serving construction and lumber yard customers from Pacific Northwest timber resources.
• Stimson Lumber: Pacific Northwest sawmill operator with operations in Oregon, Idaho, and Montana producing softwood lumber for construction markets. Directly comparable to Empire in softwood species, geography, and customer base of lumber yards and builders.
• Teal-Jones Group: Pacific Northwest softwood lumber and specialty wood products producer with sawmill operations and value-added manufacturing. Comparable to Empire through softwood sawmilling and millwork production, though primarily operating in Canada and the U.S. coastal markets.

Regional players

• Cascade Forest Products: Pacific Northwest lumber manufacturer producing softwood boards, dimension lumber, and industrial cut stock from mills in Oregon and Washington. Comparable to Empire as a regional softwood sawmill serving construction and industrial markets.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empire-lumber-co

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Empire Lumber