For over 30 years, Rulon International has been the leading manufacturer of wood ceiling and acoustical wood wall panels. Renowned globally for its aesthetic appeal and superior quality, Rulon crafts its signature pieces at its World Golf Village complex in St. Johns County.   

Originally based in Pennsylvania, Wayne Robison, president and CEO of Rulon, relocated operations to Brunswick, Georgia, before settling in St. Augustine in 2006. Since then, in addition to shipping thousands of projects all around the world, the company has completed many projects on the First Coast, including the new PGA TOUR Global Home in Ponte Vedra Beach, the Bolles School in Jacksonville and Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville Beach.  

A Tailored Approach

Rulon is renowned for its custom work, creating beautifully designed spaces that uniquely address the specific design challenges of each project. A case study of their PGA TOUR Global Home project found that Rulon rose to acoustical and environmental challenges unique to northeast Florida. The 187,000-square-foot facility faces unpredictable weather, high humidity, and frequent winds – making it imperative to attenuate these factors for the long term. The solution came in the form of their Endure™ Linear product, a low-maintenance wood alternative that combines durability and acoustical sound blanketing. These characteristics prove helpful given the vastness of the facilities atrium. Rulon spent six months poring over designs and performing rigorous testing to manufacture custom extrusions.    

During construction, additional challenges presented themselves. Unique pieces were needed to make the Endure™ Linear product flush with windows and columns. The designers pioneered a new process to produce these pieces in such a way that everything would have a smooth elegance, matching the original design.  

Sustainability at its Core

While maintaining a laser focus on quality, the company also crafts with health and efficiency in mind, highlighting environmental consciousness as a core value. Visitors to Rulon’s manufacturing facility will be surprised by the absence of sawdust, thanks to a robust filtration system that keeps the shop impeccably clean. The company also works with the Forest Stewardship Council, the leader in sustainable forestry, to harvest trees responsibly. Rulon’s work is marked by products that meet ILFI, LEED, and WELL standards. This is achieved in part by using recyclable materials where possible, an absence of urea-formaldehyde, and the use of water-based finishes – effectively eliminating volatile organic compounds (VOCs).  

Looking Ahead 

Since relocating to St. Johns County, Rulon has seen steady growth. Andrew Seidel, director of Global Accounts, and Alejandro Fernandez-Veraud, director of Manufacturing, shared insights on metrics spanning the last five years. “In this facility five years ago, we manufactured 1.3 million square feet in one year. Last year, we were close to 1.7 million,” explains Alejandro. Achieving growth in the 25% range during a period when the pandemic hurt the hospitality industry is noteworthy. Hotels – with their lobbies, restaurants, and conference rooms – comprise a significant share of Rulon’s business. “We continued to grow even during COVID when hotels were down to single-digit percent occupancies,” recalls Andrew. This success testifies to the credibility Rulon has built with its clients.