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                                  EXHIBIT 12

         CONCERNED SHAREHOLDERS FOR BETTER MANAGEMENT OF AMERIWOOD

Press release
for immediate release

Contact:  Paul C. Drueke, Secretary            Gordon R. Lewis
          Telephone: (616) 224-1553            Warner Norcross & Judd LLP
          Fax: (616) 942-2412                  Telephone: (616) 752-2752
                                               Fax: (616) 752-2500

CONCERNED SHAREHOLDERS FOR BETTER MANAGEMENT OF AMERIWOOD DEMAND
RESIGNATION OR REMOVAL OF BOARD CHAIRMAN

     Grand Rapids, Michigan, September 26, 1997.  A committee of
shareholders of Ameriwood Industries International Corporation
("Ameriwood") (symbol AWII) today announced the formation of "Concerned
Shareholders for Better Management of Ameriwood."  The committee was formed
for the purpose of communicating with Ameriwood's management concerning the
enhancement of shareholder value.

     The committee is composed of long-term shareholders of Ameriwood who
collectively own 8.2% of the company's common stock.  Committee members
include Mr. Gary Kaiser, Mr. David S. Lundeen, Mr. Philip D. Miller,
Mr. Jacob C. Mol, NorDruk Investment Company Limited Partnership, Mr. John F.
Northway, Sr. and Mr. Peter D. Wierenga.

     In a letter to Ameriwood's Board of Directors, the committee called
for the resignation or removal of Neil Longfellow Diver, Chairman of the
Board of Ameriwood, and expressed concern over Mr. Diver's leadership
qualifications. After detailing Ameriwood's performance under Mr. Diver's
direction over the last several years, the committee concluded: "We believe
the company's current stock price reflects the lack of confidence in
Ameriwood in the investment community, as well as its poor operating
results."

     The committee urged Ameriwood's Board of Directors to take actions
intended to enhance shareholder value, including, among others, appointing to
the Board of Directors persons with personal experience as a chief executive
officer of a company engaged in manufacturing and marketing products;
appointing to the Board a director who would represent nonmanagement employee
participants in the ESOP, which holds 18.7% of the company's stock; linking
management and board of directors' compensation to performance; and, if an
acceptable level of financial performance cannot be achieved in the short
term, merging or selling the company before continued operating losses
further threaten employee security and shareholder value.

Enclosures:
     Schedule 13D
     Letter to board
