Jon Slack, owner Union Pallet & Container Co. Inc., in Coldwater, Mich. has turned a potential competitor into a valued supplier. Instead of compete with a local Amish sawmills, he has partnered with them and even bought ownership in them.

            Jon supplied equipment for the mills, and they cut for him and supply him with the limited amount of new lumber required by Union Pallet.

            "The Amish can do it cheaper than we can," Jon said. The company keeps a small inventory of random length 3 ½-inch, 5/8-inch and 5/4 lumber to be cut into new deckboards and stringers for special or ‘hot’ orders. In addition to new lumber supplied by the Amish mills, the company also buys dimensional pine from mills in Georgia or Canada.