Cutting Edge Countertops Acquires L.E. Smith Company
PERRYSBURG, Ohio– Cutting Edge Countertops Inc., announced the acquisition today of L.E. Smith Company, a leading laminate fabricator since 1950.
The move expands Cutting Edge Countertops’ reach in the commercial market, adding laminate and solid surface to its current portfolio of fabrication and installation of hard surfaces offered through five showrooms and three service centers across Ohio, Michigan and Indiana,
Adding Bryan, Ohio-based L.E. Smith opens the door to opportunities in multi-family commercial work, where laminate and solid surface is often used in retirement communities, senior living and assisted living facilities, townhouses, apartments, villas and more.
Demand for multi-family housing increased to 31% of all U.S. housing, according to the National Association of Home Builders. Multi-family homes provide a more-affordable housing option that often includes communities complete with fitness centers, community pools, and other often sought-after amenities.
“L.E. Smith appealed to Cutting Edge Countertops as part of our strategic growth plan, similar company values and deep roots in the commercial space, said Brian Burns, Cutting Edge Countertops’ co-owner/founding partner. “We are excited to have finalized the acquisition and welcome the L.E. Smith employees to the Cutting Edge Countertops’ family.”
“Cutting Edge Countertops is a perfect fit for L.E. Smith,“ said Mari Ivan, L.E. Smith CEO. “Our current offerings of laminate and solid surface will be enhanced with hard-surface materials including granite and quartz to further serve our combined customers and their growing needs.”
The acquisition adds 65 L.E. Smith employees to Cutting Edge Countertops’ workforce. L.E. Smith will continue to operate under its current name, as a subsidiary of Cutting Edge Countertops.
Company founder Lawrence Edward Smith began in 1950 by selling metal moldings for countertop edges; he added post-forming machines for fabricating laminate kitchen countertops in 1960. The company became one of the first wholesale distributors of DuPont’s Corian® solid surface in 1972, and added stone products to the company mix in 2017.
Cutting Edge Countertops has experienced steady growth since opening its doors in 2006. The company expanded its service area through strategic acquisition in 2016 to include Indiana locations in Noblesville and Indianapolis, along with Wixom, Mich. An additional acquisition in 2022 in Delaware, Ohio, expanded the service area into the Columbus and Dayton markets.
