Rich's for the Home

Take This Hot Factory Tour – You Won’t Regret It

By Laura Christianson
Guest columnist

I love to tour manufacturing plants. I’ve toured the Tillamook Cheese Factory (multiple times), the Aplets & Cotlets factory, CNN, and the Elegant Gourmet candy factory, among others. So when Rich’s for the Home announced that Travis Industries – the home of Lopi, Avalon, and FPX hearth products – was offering their first-ever tours to the general public, I signed up.

After finding my way to the Mukilteo, WA Travis House of Fire plant (which is 11 acres huge, but hidden behind a housing development), I meandered into the showroom and instantly received a warm handshake from a man who introduced himself as Kurt Rumens.

I surreptitiously checked out his name tag. “Company President.”

Are you kidding me? The president of Travis Industries was there, in person?

Yep. And he wasn’t just making an executive appearance. He personally conducted the tour.

Before the tour started, Kurt introduced me one of his “babies,” a gas stove that apparently does everything but wash your dishes. Kurt was like a kid in a candy store, fiddling with the remote, showing me how to make the flame flicker high and low; how to regulate the temperature on the stove; and how to turn off the flame but leave on the decorative backlighting (which doubles as a night light). I want one!

After donning electronic headsets so we could hear Kurt over the factory noise, we embarked on our 1 ½ hour walking tour (if you’re wheelchair bound, never fear; the plant is wheelchair-friendly). Kurt showed us nearly every area of the plant. He told us about how he founded Lopi stoves 30 years ago (details in my next post), and he showed us exactly how stoves and fireplaces are made, starting with the mammoth $250,000 lasers that precisely cut the raw materials.

The neat thing about this tour is that we got to see stoves being built (unlike many tours, where employees are nonexistent and all the machines are shut down). We learned about metal munchers, computer punch presses, welding stations, air scrubbing, and much, much more.

We got up-close-and-personal with 11 assembly lines, and eyeballed many of the 40 ways to finish the same fireplace.

We were the first members of the public to ooh and aah over a brand new model just off the assembly line that day: the “Eden,” a 3-sided glass stove with a gothic arch design. (Rich’s Lynnwood store has it on display, so buzz by and see it; it’s beautiful.)

At the end of our tour, we were treated to a delicious box lunch. And yes, Kurt sat down and ate lunch with us!

In case you haven’t already figured it out, I highly recommend the Travis House of Fire Tour. It’s free. It’s fun. It’s interesting. They don’t try to sell you anything. And they feed you. What could be better?

You have more opportunities to tour the plant:

• Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
• Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

The tour is from 9-11:30 a.m.

Pre-registration is required and you must show the registration e-mail and ID at the door. When you register online, put "Rich's blog" in the space that asks, "How Did You Hear About the House of Fire Factory Tour?"

Related post:

The fascinating story of how Kurt Rumens founded what is now Travis Industries.

Travis House of Fire Factory Tour Gets Rave Reviews from Rich's Customers

Lloyd and Anthea Milton of Mukilteo were in the market for a gas freestanding stove. After browsing at Rich’s Lynnwood showroom, they narrowed their choices to two models, but they couldn’t decide which they liked best.So they registered for the free tour of Travis Industries (manufacturer of Avalon, Lopi, and Fireplace Xtrordinair brands).

When Lloyd and Anthea walked through the door of Travis Industries, they were immediately impressed with the “friendly, family feeling.”

“The gentleman who led the tour (Travis Industries president, Kurt Rumens) has so much passion for the product,” says Lloyd. “He has an enlightened view about how to run a factory.”

Lloyd would know; he’s been in manufacturing all his life, first at Rolls-Royce and now at Boeing. “I’m trying to coerce some of managers at Boeing to tour the Travis factory,” says Lloyd. “It’s a wonderful example of a lean factory layout.”

In fact, Travis Industries’ Mukilteo plant is located on the site of a former Boeing factory. Lloyd likes the way the factory is laid out neatly and efficiently. “Everything is under one roof, so they can really streamline operations, and everyone can understand each other’s job.”

The work environment is very clean, adds Lloyd. “There were no noxious smells and no rubbish anywhere. You can tell people take pride in working there.”

He noticed how management takes great care to create an ergonomically-friendly work environment (they structure their equipment to lessen wear and tear on one’s body). Lloyd also noted that workers aren’t just funneled onto an assembly line, but that management accesses each person’s strengths and puts them in jobs that utilize those strengths.

“[Kurt] is looking for the best in his people, not just someone to do a job. Anyone is welcome to come forward with a new idea – not just the design department or certain engineers.”

Halfway through the tour, Lloyd and Anthea pinpointed which stove they wanted, and asked Kurt, “When can we have it?”

“We went straight from the tour to Rich’s and ordered the Avalon Tree of Life model with an enamel finish and fan,” says Lloyd.

They’d been wavering over whether to buy a stove with a fan. After learning about the latest technology during the tour and listening to the whisper-quiet stove fans, they opted to go with a fan. They chose an enamel finish over cast iron because “it’s easier to keep clean.”

Lloyd and Anthea say they came away from the Travis House of Fire tour asking each other, “When can we afford another stove?”

Their new Avalon will be installed this week, and they’re already brainstorming adding a second stove to another room in their home.

“This tour put the icing on the cake,” says Lloyd. “It helped us decide exactly which features we wanted on our stove. I’d recommend the tour to anybody who wants to buy a stove – or just see the factory.”

“To see the quality on the build… these are the people we want to work with,” says Lloyd. From now on, “We won’t go anywhere else.”

Take advantage of more opportunities to tour Travis Industries:

• Wednesday, July 21st, 2010
• Wednesday, August 4th, 2010
• Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

The tour is from 9-11:30 a.m.

Pre-registration is required and you must show the registration e-mail and ID at the door. When you register online, put "Rich's blog" in the space that asks, "How Did You Hear About the House of Fire Factory Tour?"

More tour highlights:

• Take This Hot Factory Tour – You Won’t Regret It
• A Man Who Loves Fire: Kurt Rumens, Founder of Lopi Stoves

Memorial Day Sale at Rich's - Save up to Half Off Grills, Fireplaces, Patio Furniture, Hot Tubs

We'd like to invite you to visit Rich's this week because we're hosting our largest sale of the year.

Now through Memorial Day (Monday, May 31, 2010), you can save up to half off the Northwest's largest selection of name brand outdoor grills; patio furniture; fireplaces, stoves, and inserts (including Lopi) and hot tubs from Clearwater Spas. Our sale-priced spas include new, demos, repos, and factory seconds.

We have five beautiful showrooms in Bellevue, Southcenter, Lynnwood, Tacoma, and Silverdale.

View our other Memorial Day specials on YouTube:

1. Clearwater Spas sale
2. Fireplaces, stoves, and inserts
3. BBQ grills

Up to Half off Stoves, Fireplaces, Inserts March 5-8

A Greener Way to Heat Your Home

 I’m always on the lookout for the latest developments in energy-efficient products. In my last post, I told you about Clearwater Spas’ green hot tubs. 

The gas fireplace industry is also going green. Travis Industries (manufacturer of Avalon, Lopi, and FPX brands), has developed a GreenSmart™ System that uses the latest technology to help you heat your home cleaner and greener.

Lighted Dashboard

GreenSmart fireplaces, stoves, and inserts come equipped with a “dashboard” – located under the front of the fireplace – that you operate manually. When you open the concealment door, the control panel automatically lights up – handy for viewing the dashboard in a dimly lit room.

Choice of Pilots

A switch on the dashboard lets you choose whether to run your fireplace in either standing pilot mode – where the pilot flame continually stays on (good for extremely cold weather) – of an energy-conserving GreenSmart mode, in which the pilot flame ignites via an intermittent pilot. When your fireplace isn’t being operated, your pilot isn’t on.

The GreenSmart system includes a battery back-up so it’ll ignite properly, even during power outages.

Comfort Control™

I like this feature. GreenSmart stoves come with two separate burners that can be operated together for maximum heat output and flame appearance, or with only the front burner. You click a rocker switch to turn off the rear burner, giving you a “low burn” (up to 72 percent less than a high burn) that cranks out less heat but has a gentle, flickering flame.

Variable Flame Control

You can adjust the flame and heat from high to low.

Accent Lights

Standard in all GreenSmart stoves, fireplaces, and inserts, accent lights add a warm glow to both the logs and ceramic fireback. You can turn on the accent light when your fire is off so your fireplace functions as a nightlight. You can also turn it on when the fireplace is lit, adding to the bright effect created by the flame.

Remote Control

The optional remote is a must-have, in my opinion. It allows you to run the fireplace in “Smart Thermostat Mode,” which means it automatically adjusts the flame height based on the temperature setting. The flame will modulate up or down as opposed to shutting off/on, which conserves fuel and maximizes heating ability.

Of course, you can also use the remote to turn the accent light on or off, to manually adjust the flame height, to turn the fan on and off and adjust its speed, and to turn the split-flow burner on and off. It’s almost as addicting as flipping channels on your TV!

Stop by one of Rich’s five Puget Sound showrooms, and we’ll be happy to let you play with the remote.

Check out this helpful video to see GreenSmart technology up close and personal:

GreenSmart Package & Remote Operation from Travis Industries on Vimeo.

Related articles:

• GreenSmart Lopi Stove from Rich's
• Stoves to Reduce your Carbon Footprint

Preview Morsø Stoves in Your Own Virtual Living Room

In yesterday’s post, we introduced you to Morsø, the world’s oldest manufacturer of cast-iron stoves.

On their Web site, Morsø created an interactive virtual living room so you can see how different stove styles, forms, and sizes will look in your living space.

Go to: http://www.morsoeusa.com/The-stove-in-your-home-555.aspx

Then follow these easy steps:

1.  Upload your image

Take a digital picture of the area where you plan to install the new stove. For best results, set your camera on landscape mode. If you don’t have a digital image handy, Morsø has a choice of six inspirational room images.

2.  Choose your favorite Morsø stove

Find your favorite stove and play with the size and location. Just click on a stove and drag it into your room image. To adjust size, click the scale box above the room and slide the bar to make larger or smaller.

3.  Save image or print

You can save the image on your computer or print it out. If you want to change backgrounds, just click on the background box to be brought back to the six room choices provided.

4.  Bring image to Rich's

Our expert sales staff will help you select the right size Morsø stove for your living space. We have five Puget Sound stores in Lynnwood, Bellevue, Tacoma, Southcenter, and Silverdale, WA.

Morsø European-Style Wood Stoves: Where Green is a Way of Life

I’ve been wondering what the slash through the “o” in Morsø means. The world’s oldest manufacturer of cast-iron stoves is headquartered on the Danish island of Mors. The “o” with the slash through it means “island”; thus, Morsø means “from the island of Mors.”

Morsø has an intriguing history. Established in 1853, they began manufacturing all sorts of cast-iron products – everything from barn windows to memorial crosses to farm machinery, cooking pots and heating appliances.

ROYAL HEAT

Early in the 20th century, Morsø began supplying heating systems to churches, schools, state railways and various ministries. The popular imperial-style stoves found their way into the royal apartments at Amalienborg and several other royal residences, and the company was bestowed the prestigious title of Purveyor to His Majesty the King by King Christian X. In 1969, the title was changed to Purveyor to the Royal Danish Court.

In the mid 1900s, Morsø decided to concentrate on heating appliances, mainly wood-burning stoves; that remains their focus today. Morsø sells 23 models of wood-burning stoves and 3 flush-mount fireplace inserts in 25 countries; its largest market is – you guessed it – Denmark. The company also does a booming business in the U.K., South Africa, Australia, Japan, France, Germany, The Netherlands, and the U.S.

FROM CLASSIC TO CONTEMPORARY

Morsø stoves range in size from traditional European style stoves that heat 800 sq. ft. to ultra-contemporary stoves that heat 2,400 sq. ft.

The stove pictured above (Morsø 2B classic), was designed in the early 1930s by sculptor Constantin Sørensen, and features Morsø’s well-known squirrel and oak leaves decoration. Today, 80 years later, the 2B Classic is still in great demand, writes Morsø US President Craig Shankster, on the Morsø blog.

CAST-IRON COMFORT

All Morsø stoves are cast-iron. The benefits of cast-iron stoves include:

1. They don’t warp or deform. Cast iron has a thermal tension, which makes the material especially well suited to changing temperatures.
2. Cast iron is highly resistant to burn-through.
3. The thickness of the cast iron Morsø uses is nearly twice as thick as a stove made of plate steel, which means their stoves retain heat longer.
4. Cast iron distributes heat better than steel, ensuring a comfortable heat.

ENERGY-EFFICIENT HEATING

Green is a way of life in Scandinavia. Morsø wood-burning products meet a minimum 73 percent overall efficiency. That means that any Morsø product you purchase from Rich’s qualifies for the $1,500 biomass stove tax credit. Morsø uses 98 percent recycled cast iron and 100 percent recyclable packaging.

EUROPEAN STYLING

Craig Shankster, who owned a stove shop in England for 12 years and headed up U.K. distribution for Vermont Castings before becoming Morsø US president, is committed to introducing “European ways of doing business” to the U.S. market. That means “selling a lifestyle rather than a product,” he says.

In an article for Hearth & Home (January 2009), Shankster said, “We do not want to be just another contemporary stove. We want to bring European, more modern style to the marketplace that appeals to both existing home owners and young, future homeowners.”

WORLD-FAMOUS DESIGN

The new 7600 Wood Stove Series (pictured above) designed by renowned Danish artist and designer Monica Ritterband, is a superb example of Morsø’s commitment to quality and European design. With its circular shape, round feminine contours, and huge viewing window, these designer stoves feel elegant and soft, yet they’re constructed with durable recycled cast iron for strength and they incorporate the greenest possible practices from manufacturing to delivery.

Monica Ritterband also designed stunning cast-iron accent accessories to complement the 7600 series (pictured at top of article), including a tea kettle, trivet, firewood holder, and fire tools.

Stop by one of Rich’s five Puget Sound showrooms for an up-close-and-personal look at all our Morsø products.

In tomorrow’s post, you’ll “play” in an interactive virtual living room, so you can see how a Morsø stove will look in your own home. 

The Advantages of Zone Heating over Central Heating

I visited a friend last week and commented on how warm and toasty her house felt.

“We just got a new pellet stove,” she explained. We were able to turn off our gas furnace because the pellet stove and our propane stove heat our entire house for about $2-4 per day.”

It’s true; converting from a central heating system (in which you heat your entire home to the same temperature) to zone heating (in which you heat a portion of your home), saves most people an average of 20-30 percent in energy costs. 

Heating your entire home all day, every day isn’t the best economic choice, especially here in the Puget Sound area, where temperatures are mild and you generally don’t have to worry about the possibility of freezing pipes.

And keeping bedrooms you use only at night warm all day is like throwing money into your furnace and burning it up.

Zone heating makes a lot of sense, because you can heat your main living space – such as your family room, living room, and eating area – with a medium- or large-size wood or pellet stove. The Astoria pellet stove pictured above (from Avalon) heats up to 2,250 square feet and provides 68 hours of continuous heat without refueling.

You can install a small stove in your sleeping area and light it in the early evening to achieve an overnight burn.

Pictured at left is the Newport pellet stove (also from Avalon), a compact stove designed to heat up to 1,600 square feet. Stoves like the Newport are ideal for condos, mobile homes, bedrooms, alcoves, and basement family rooms.

Zone heating systems such as gas stoves, fireplaces, and fireplace inserts are built out of ceramic and lightweight steel components that heat up quickly and maintain specific temperatures in minutes.

Some stoves even include cooktops and warming areas, so if your home does lose power, you can cook and stay warm!

At Rich’s we have a full line of pellet stoves, wood-burning stoves, gas stoves, fireplaces and fireplace inserts... you can get one for every room in your home. Come on in to one of our five Puget Sound showrooms and warm up.

Here are two informational videos on zone heating from our friends at Travis Industries (manufacturer of Avalon, Lopi, and FPX brands):

Zone Heating from Travis Industries on Vimeo.

This video explains the benefits of zone heating:

Chapter 8 from Travis Industries on Vimeo.

The Most Romantic Fireplace Ever: Illuminations

I want one.

When I got my first glimpse of an Illuminations Electric Fireplace, the flickering candles drew me like a moth to flame.

Who cares that these babies don’t put out any heat? They’re beautiful. They’re romantic. They’re every candle lover’s dream.

I can imagine one hanging on the wall right above my bed. Or next to the soaking tub in my master bath (if I had a master bath with a soaking tub in it!). Or in an outdoor room. The possibilities are endless.

Illuminations Fireplaces (by Fireplace Xtrordinair) come in two configurations: see-through or one-sided. You can choose from three types of candles: wax, calcite stone, or a white plastic sleeve.

Each candle is equipped with a 4 watt, 70-hour bulb, and the “flame” wiggles to give the appearance of a flickering flame. It’s quite entertaining, actually. I kept peering at the flames to try to figure out what made them wiggle.

If a candle bulb burns out, no worries. Simply pull the front off the fireplace and replace the bulb. The fireplace runs off wall electricity, just like a lamp.

After choosing a decorative mantle to house your Illuminations fireplace, you can mount it on a wall by fitting it between studs, or you can set it up as a freestanding fireplace. Just plug it into any electric outlet and you’re good to go!

Of course, you can purchase your own Illuminations Electric Fireplace (or two, or three) at Rich’s for the Home.

Here’s a video so you can see Illuminations Electric Fireplaces in action:

Illuminations Electric Fireplace by Fireplace Xtrordinair from Travis Industries on Vimeo.

The Hottest Hearth Products for 2010

Wood and Pellet Stoves

“There’s nothing like the radiant heat a wood or pellet stove produces,” says Wayne Dooley, Director of Training at Travis Industries. “People like the scent.”

Wood and pellet stoves are “hot” sellers because of the $1,500 tax credit (which extends through 2010) on energy-efficient stoves, fireplaces, and fireplace inserts. In order to qualify for the tax credit, says Wayne, the *biomass stoves must be over 75% efficient.

More than 38 models Travis Industries manufactures meet the 75% efficiency criteria, says Wayne. And ALL of the brands Rich’s carries qualify for the biomass tax credit.

*Biomass fuels are organic materials (such as wood pellets) that can be used as fuel for heating.

Electric Fireplaces

Electric fireplaces are also extremely popular, particularly among condo owners and renters, who are restricted from installing wood or gas stoves.

“People who live in condos and apartments like the ambiance of a fireplace, and they usually need to heat only about 450 square feet of a family room where they gather,” says Wayne. “With an electric fireplace, all you do is plug it in.”

The great thing about electric fireplaces is that any of the decorative “faces” that come on gas fireplaces can also be used on an electric fireplace. So if you spot a fancy face that you must have, ask your Rich’s sales associate how you can get your electric fireplace faceplate customized.

An electric fireplace with a mantle generally sells for around $1,000. If you substitute a fancy face, you could add as much as $1,000 to your cost, Wayne estimates.

Tempest Torch

The Tempest Torch will draw you in like a moth to flame. This decorative outdoor gas lamp has a mesmerizing flame that spirals and dances within its tempered glass walls. It would be a perfect addition for a poolside area, outdoor room or store front.

It can be mounted on a wall, deck post, in-ground post, or pillar. There’s also a portable patio model.

The Tempest Torch, which is manufactured by Travis Industries and sold at Rich's, won Best Outdoor Room Furnishing and Best of Show for all outdoor products at the Hearth, Patio and BBQ Expo.

Here’s a video of the Tempest Torch in action:

Tempest Torch Informational DVD - Widescreen Format from Travis Industries on Vimeo.

Take a Virtual -- and Real-Life -- Tour of Travis House of Fire Factory

You still have time to register for The Wednesday, December 16 tour of Travis House of Fire in Mukilteo, WA. Travis Industries manufactures Lopi, Avalon, and FPX hearth products, under one roof in their 476,000 sq. ft. state-of-the art facility.

In the video below, you’ll take a virtual tour of the factory and learn how highly-skilled workers (with help from some sophisticated equipment) convert 30 million pounds of raw steel into stoves. You’ll see how a Lopi Endeavor is made, from start to finish.

During your in-person tour, you’ll get up-close-and-personal with all the equipment demonstrated on the video. The tour—which is free of charge—takes place on the factory floor, and you get to walk right up to the equipment you’ll see on this video – you’re even invited to touch some of it.

During your tour, you’ll eyeball the following:

Laser – Cuts precise holes inside stainless steel secondary combustion tubes.

Turret Press – Sophisticated, computerized equipment that minimizes waste by pressing multiple parts for stoves into one flat piece of steel.

Press – The single largest piece of machinery in the plant, this impressive 600-ton press used to be a Chrysler bumper-making machine.

Bender – Bends the stove door opening and sides to create a strong firebox.

Welding – Robots do a precise weld; at each of five stations, additional pieces of the stove are welded together.

Finishing – Every stove is hand-scraped – even the unseen areas – to clean it up and remove any rough edges. Material is blasted onto the stoves to give them an ultra-fine finish and good paint adhesion.

Paint Room – Each stove is hand-painted.

Fitting – Stoves are fit with firebrick, the final trim work and handles, and are inspected for weld-splatter and paint to ensure that the entire stove is smooth and clean, inside and out.

Paint 2 – Accessories and panels are added, and brass doors are polished. Every solid brass door goes through four stages:

1. It is polished with a belt sander
2. A grease wheel rounds the edges and smoothes the door
3. Color buff takes out the scratches
4. Final color buff polishes the brass to a beautiful shine

Warehouse – The mammoth shipping facility has the capacity to hold an inventory of up to 16,000 stoves at one time, plus 2,200 different accessories and components that will be shipped to five warehouses around the country.

Engineering – In this final stop on your virtual tour, you’ll view computerized full and cutaway models of the stove, so you can see how the parts fit together before they are manufactured into prototype parts.

Lopi Wood Stoves - How They're Made from Travis Industries on Vimeo.

More tour highlights & info on how to register for your free tour of Travis House of Fire:

• Take This Hot Factory Tour – You Won’t Regret It
• A Man Who Loves Fire: Kurt Rumens, Founder of Lopi Stoves
• Travis House of Fire Factory Tour Gets Rave Reviews from Rich's Customers

Seven ways to stay warm this winter

Are you feeling the chilly air the past few days? I went out for my run this morning and almost turned around and came back inside. I did wrap it up early. It is COLD outside. Although we are still having some heavenly sun, it is time to start thinking about more indoor activities for everyone.

While you are at it, do you know how to keep your family warm as well as save energy?

We have some tips to help you stay warm this season and beyond, until the sun gets warm again.

1. Don't discount warmer clothes for everyone. My daughter has been wearing tee shirts and expecting to stay warm in our home. Goosebumps aren't convincing her otherwise yet. So budget for a few warm sweaters for each member of the family and when someone is chilly, encourage them to put it on. Warm socks or slippers help too.
2. Consider a Snuggie or some extra blankets accessible to the area where people like to gather and sit.
3. Purchase appropriate outdoor wear for everyone. Don't wait until it snows. Everyone should have boots, gloves, warm coats and gloves on hand. And don't forget a few umbrellas and/or rain hats.
4. Purchase extra fuel for your heating sources. There's nothing like running out of fuel on a 20 degree day. Stock up and you will feel better about making sure everyone stays warm this winter.
5. Don't forget the pets! If they are indoor pets, they need to stay inside with you. And sometimes it even gets too cold outside for outdoor pets. So keep an eye on that thermometer and keep in mind that even outdoor pets should not be outside long term in 30 degree weather.
6. Make sure that your home is being heated the most efficiently. Travis Industries has a heating worksheet that was extremely helpful for my family when we were looking at options. Even if you think you have chosen the best option for your home, I would encourage you to fill it out. It was very enlightening information for us to learn and list out the cost of each option for heating our home.
7. Next time that it is cold, or the wind is blowing, take a walk around the inside of your home. Put your hand near registers, windows and feel around doors. Do you feel cold air coming in? If so, warm air is also getting out. Even a storm door can help to seal in a great deal of warmth in your home.

Before you know it, Spring will be here and it will once again be time to take out that outdoor furniture and get your yard ready for entertaining and fun! In the meantime, cuddle up and enjoy some warmth.

A Man Who Loves Fire: Kurt Rumens, Founder of Lopi Stoves

By Laura Christianson
Guest columnist

It all started when a rock ‘n roll drummer named Kurt Rumens began selling wood stoves so he could pay for gas to drive his band to gigs.

Kurt began examining the stoves he was distributing and thought, “These stoves need heavier steel. They need to burn more efficiently. And they need to be prettier.”

When he shared his ideas with the manufacturer, they weren’t interested. “Stick to selling, not product development,” they told him.

So Kurt and his friend Dick Miller decided to start their own company. Thirty years ago, on August 29, 1979, they founded Lopi Stoves in the garage of Kurt’s Bellevue home. “I made up the name Lopi,” says Kurt. “It sounded Indianish.”

Starting Small

Production started on a small scale. “We invested $400 in steel to build our first stoves,” says Kurt. Their staff of six built eight stoves per week.

After building a couple hundred stoves, they sold them and used the profits to purchase two welding machines.

As the company grew, Kurt kept one goal at the forefront of his mind: “We keep trying to make our stoves better.” Ask Kurt what his favorite stove is, and he’ll reply, “The next one.”

Changing Names

In 1988, Travis Garske, who owned a company that produced castings, legs, and doors for hearth products, bought Lopi from Kurt. Travis purchased the Avalon brand of stoves at the same time, and re-named the company Travis Industries. Travis told Kurt he’d keep him on as president until he could find someone else to take over the job. Twenty years later, Kurt remains as president and general manager of Travis Industries.

Travis Industries’ Mukilteo, Washington plant is “the most sophisticated steel fabrication site in America,” says Kurt. They currently build 7,500 wood, gas, electric, and pellet stoves per month for more than 1,200 authorized retailers throughout the US, Canada, Australia, and China (Rich’s for the Home is Travis Industries’ largest U.S. dealer). 

In 2008, Travis Industries sold $100 million in Lopi, Avalon, and Fireplace Xtrordinair stoves to wholesalers.

Every year, they buy:

• 30 million pounds of steel
• 5 million pounds of cast iron
• 50 pounds of gold

The high-tech, 11-acre building houses:

• 11 assembly lines
• 50 welding stations
• 300 active fiber-optic computer stations
• 1 million amps of power
• 20,000 square feet devoted to research
• 18,000 square feet devoted to sales, marketing, accounting, and executive offices
• A training center that certifies 1,000 students per year
• 13,000-14,000 finished stoves and fireplaces in inventory

Their fabrication department makes the parts for their stoves, churning out 30,000 parts per day. “When we come up with a new idea for a design, we can make the part within 30 minutes,” says Kurt.

They maintain their tools in an on-site machine shop, and use a sophisticated system to scrub and recycle the air from their welding stations and paint booths.

Hand-Crafted Products

Despite the high-tech equipment, all of their products are hand-finished. Many of the artisans have worked in the plant for 20 or more years. “Everybody who started the business with me is still here,” says Kurt.

Kurt still has the same passion for fire that he did 30 years ago, and he’s proud to be “unfashionable.”

“We make stuff in America,” he says. “We take raw materials and turn it into finished fire products. We just love fire!”

• Take a free tour of Travis Industries and experience the entire stove-making process. When you register, tell ‘em Rich’s sent you!

• Be sure to read Part 1 of this series, where I review my Travis Industries factory tour.

House of Fire Tour

Travis Industries, the largest privately-owned manufacturer of hearth products in America, has opened an amazing opportunity for people to see in person how stoves and fireplaces are manufactured and view all the particulars that goes on behind the scenes.

They are opening their 11-acre manufacturing plant in Mukilteo, WA for scheduled tours this winter.

According to the Website:

"Observe as robotic welders, turret punches, state-of-the-art lasers and our factory artisans turn raw materials into hearth products. Witness the 'birth' of newly-assembled products as they come off the end of the line, ready to create warmth and comfort for your family."

The tours, which are free are scheduled for the following days. They start at 9:00 a.m. and last until 11:30 a.m. and include lunch.

• Wednesday, November 18th, 2009
• Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009
• Wednesday, December 9th, 2009
• Wednesday, December 16th, 2009

Due to insurance stipulations, pre-registration is required and you must show the registration e-mail and ID at the door.

Travis Industries stresses that no sales presentations will be made during the tour and no sales transactions can occur.

They are available, however, to answer questions and provide you with recommended retail locations where you can purchase the products, if desired. And of course, here in the Northwest, Rich's for the Home will be happy to assist you with any purchases.

Here are some other particulars you will find helpful:

"Closed toe shoes are required (NO sandals).  No pictures, videos, cameras or cellular phones are allowed. No backpacks, purses, fanny packs or other containers may be brought on the tour except by special request (e.g. medical reasons, etc.). There are no holding facilities onsite for personal belongings; those items must be left in your car."

Please note that children are welcomed. However, they must be supervised.

I'll be taking the tour November 18 and will blog about my experience. Hope to see you there!

Purchase a Fireplace or Stove at Rich’s and Get $325 in Freebies

As the thermometer continues to plummet here in the Pacific Northwest, you may feel an uncontrollable urge to curl up in front of a crackling fire with a good book.

If you’re in need of a new or replacement fireplace or stove, Rich’s is offering a terrific, limited-time deal on qualifying models from Avalon, Lopi, and FireplaceXtrordinair (FPX).

When you purchase a qualifying wood, pellet or gas stove, insert or fireplace, you’ll get your choice of a FREE blower, remote, or fireback – up to a $325 value!

Rich’s Early Winter Sale begins Friday, November 13 and ends Sunday, November 22, 2009. You can print out a discount coupon from the following links:

• Avalon
• Lopi
• FireplaceXtrordinair (FPX)

When you visit one of our five showrooms in Bellevue, Lynnwood, Southcenter, Tacoma, or Silverdale, be sure to ask about the $1,500 stove tax credit – the tax credit is good on all stove and fireplace brands Rich’s carries, including Lopi, Hearthstone, Avalon, Morso, and Harman.

Also ask about the new GreenSmart technology available in Lopi gas models. GreenSmart efficiently heats the home while saving on energy usage and lowering heating bills.

Here are some additional articles from my blog about the $1,500 stove tax credit:

• $1,500 Tax Credit on Purchase of All Rich's Wood Stoves, Pellet Stoves, and Fireplaces
• Q & A on the Stove Tax Credit
• Stove Tax Credit - Profile of a Family Who Purchased a New Stove

Again, Rich's Early Winter Sale goes from November 13-22, 2009.