About

Providing the finest quality pressure treated lumber and serving lumberyards and retailers in the lumber industry.

Call 715-723-4100

sales@crossarm.com

our mission

who we are

100 years of innovation, Starting in 1922.

When Joseph Bischel founded Northern Crossarm Company in 1922, it’s doubtful he ever expected his company to grow from a one-man manufacturing firm into one of the leading wood treating companies in the Great Lake States area.

Today, Joseph Bischel’s company is owned and operated by his grandson Pat Bischel. The principles founded by Joseph Bischel in the mid 1920s of honest, hard work, integrity, and willingness to seerve are the cornerstone of the company’s foundation. Together with the contributions of its dedicated employees, Northern Crossarm Company exemplifies what it means to be a leader in the industry.

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Our Core Culture – Who We Are

Culture Fundamentals

Northern Crossarm Company is a commodity based business that looks to add value to its products. The 14 fundamentals, when practiced consistently, make us the undisputed leader of quality and innovative pressure treated wood products.

Assume that everything we do can be done better. Regularly reevaluate every aspect of what we are doing and find ways to improve. Dont’ be satisfied with the status quo. “Because we’ve always done it this way” is not a reason. Keep getting better.

Be process-oriented. Look to create a process for every aspect of our work, and then turn those processes into habits. No one knows how our company works better than we do. We are uniquely qualified to become more efficient. Practice it always.

Innovation begins with an idea. Communicate our creativity and enthusiasm for developing new processes and quality products without fear of being criticized. Speak freely and confidently.

Don’t accept anything at “face value” if it doesn’t make sense. We are constantly questioning how and why we do things. Be curious and question what we don’t understand. There is no better question than “Why?” Never stop asking it.

Nothing we do matters if it does not serve our customers or if they don’t find value in our products and services. Steadfastly do what’s right for the customer in all situations, every day.

Take pride in everything we touch and everything we do. Always ask ourselves, “Is this my best work?” Everything we touch has our signature. Do not settle for mediocrity. Ever.

In every element of our work, be mindful of safety. Care about the people you work with. They care about us. Watch out for one another and be clear and kind when coaching each other about safety.

Our time at work should be interesting and enjoyable. We pay attention to the things that make the people we work with unique. We get to know them, interact with a tone of friendliness, and are open to new relationships. We don’t take ourselves too seriously. Laugh every day.

Our personal appearance, the appearance of our facility and the appearance of our products create a first impression and set a tone for future relationships. Be mindful and take pride in all aspects of appearance.

Solve problems before they happen by anticipating future needs and addressing them in advance. Preventing issues is always more effective than fixing them. Respond to every situation by looking ahead for how we can do it, rather than explaining why it can’t be done.

Be willing to do whatever it takes to accomplish the job, plus a little bit more. Take the next step to solve problems. Even if it takes doing something that is not in our comfort zone. Complete a task because it needs to be done, not because we are told to do it. It’s the extra mile that separates the average person from the superstar. Be the superstar.

There’s no better way to earn people’s trust than to be true to your word. This is the case for both our customers and each other. Always exceed other’s expectations of yourself and you will create loyalty. Be on time, do your full share of the work, stay true to your word, and take personal responsibility for making things happen.

Building effective workplace relationships are the cornerstone to our success. A successful relationship is built on trust, respect, honesty and understanding. It requires an ongoing investment from all parties. Share information. Experiences and expectations shared in a positive way contribute to a productive and enjoyable workplace experience and build strong relationships that are essential to a successful company.

Recognize and express thanks every day that we are each blessed with employment, coworkers, customers and family. Pray for the safety and success of each. Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord and not for men. – Colossians 3:23

our Executive Leadership Team

Leadership

Pat Bischel

President

Joy Bergeron

Vice President

Peder Anderson

CEO

Isaac Miller

Sales Director

Cory Feirn

Logistics Director

Brett Hansen

Marketing Director

Kevin Weltzin

Plant Manager

Kevin Hunt

Treating Manager

Since 1922

Our History

We are a commodity-based business that looks to add value to its products. Our culture is built upon hard work, integrity and innovation.

100 years of innovation, starting in 1922.

Joseph Bischel incorporates Northern Crossarm Company. The focus of the company was to supply wood crossarms, glass insulators, transmission wire and other products built for the telecommunications industry.

1978

In 1978, Northern Crossarm diversified into the wood preservation business by purchasing equipment to pressure treat wood.

1982

Now growing, Northern Crossarm moves to and develops a 22-acre site in Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin. The company site includes rail access.

1984

Northern Crossarm starts custom drying hardwoods used in the cabinet and furniture markets. We purchase our first kiln for drying wood.

1990

Northern Crossarm replaces the kiln originally used to dry hardwood with a direct-fired gas kiln suitable for drying pressure-treated wood.

1994

Northern Crossarm becomes only the second wood treating facility in the industry to produce ACQ treated wood. A second treating plant is installed to accommodate the product of a new wood preservative (ACQ). Now, the company can produce pressure-treated wood without arsenic or chrome.

1998

Northern Crossarm becomes the first wood treating facility in the United States to move all production into a non-arsenic, non-chromium preservative (ACQ).

2003

Northern Crossarm adds a third wood treating cylinder. The new treatment facility will produce MCA-treated wood. MCA is a new preservative using a micronized copper preservative that’s less corrosive than ACQ.

2005

Northern Crossarm begins production of a borate pressure-treated wood called Envirosafe. Envirosafe has a binder in the formulation that locks the boarates in the wood and makes it appropriate for exterior applications. Its primary application is used for sound walls in Minnesota.

2005

Focused on improving production capabilities, Northern Crossarm adds a moulder to produce center-matched 2x8s for Minnesota sound walls.

2007

Northern Crossarm enters an agreement to produce and supply BluWood, a coating to protect framing lumber from mold throughout the Midwest and Rocky Mountain States.

2013

Northern Crossarm begins distribution KDAT (Kiln Dried After Treatment) wood in the Colorado market.

2019

A third kiln is built to bring Northern Crossarm’s drying capacity to 15,000,000 BF annually. A new molder is purchased to create more opportunities for developing additional decking products. Northern Crossarm doubles brown production capabilities by adding new coating equipment.

2020

Install of a new dust collector for our state-of-the-art moulding room.

2022

One of our three, high-capacity kilns completely “reskinned” for maximum efficiency and capability.

2023

Blacktop resurfacing and patching our entire 22-acre facility for ease of staging, delivery and loading.

2023

Investment in a state-of-the-art, Holtec precision saw to add precise, custom cut abilities.

2023

Clearing five acres of land in our lumberyard as we build our supply of pressure treated wood.

90-Day Stocking Dealer Program

Try our top-selling KDAT for 90 days, risk free – if it doesn’t sell, we’ll pay to ship it back!

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