Release Details

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Forest Products® (Nasdaq: UFPI - news) today announced that it has added manufacturing capacity of engineered roof trusses and floor trusses to its existing facilities in Lodi, Ohio and Gordon, Pennsylvania. This expansion is a continuation of the company's strategy to become the largest and only nationwide provider of engineered wood components in the United States. Of its 75 North American facilities, the company now has 29 facilities manufacturing components for the site-built construction market.

At both of these locations, 23,000 square foot production facilities were added to the existing company sites, expanding the company's product offering and market opportunities. ``With this expansion, we have extended our reach and ability to increase sales by providing our customers the products and services they have come to rely on in these geographical regions,'' said William G. Currie, UFPI's chief executive officer. ``Internal expansion of existing facilities is equally important as acquisitions of new facilities in our drive toward our 'Performance 2002' goals. Opening in January 2000, each of these new operations will be capable of $6 million to $8 million in value- added product sales,'' concluded Currie.

Universal Forest Products® markets, manufactures, and engineers, products for DIY retail home centers, structural lumber products for the manufactured housing industry, complex wood components for the site-built construction market, and specialty wood packaging for various industries. For information about Universal Forest Products® on the Internet, please contact the company's investor relations web site at www.ufpi.com, or call 888-Buy-UFPI.

Included in this report are certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs of the Company's management as well as on assumptions made by and information currently available to the Company at the time such statements were made. Actual results could differ materially from those included in such forward-looking statements. Investors are cautioned that all forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainty. These risk factors and additional information are included in the company's reports on Form 10K and 10Q on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.