by Web Editor | Jul 29, 2015 | News
Eight woodworking machinery and supply manufacturers received Visionary Awards this morning at the 2015 AWFS Fair. The Visionary Award recognizes creativity and innovation, as well as leadership in green/environmental product development.
The eight winning products were selected from a group of 25 products, by 22 companies. “We had a great selection of products this year, more so than we’ve had in the past,” said Angelo Gangone, executive vice president, AWFS Fair.
The winners are:
Product Innovation in Components: Schenk Ltd for the Kitsilano- Smoked Larch textured real wood panel.
Product Innovation & Productivity in Sanding: SurfPrep Sanding by Dixon Enterprises for the SurfPrep 3” x 4” Sanding System Kit.
Product Innovation in Software: RSA Solutions for the Wood CAD/CAM 3D/2D AutoCAD and SQL software.
Innovation & Productivity in Hardware: Striplox for its Striplox Rapid Assembly Connectors fastening solution for cabinetry.
Product Innovation in Cutting Tools: Vortex Tools Co., Inc. for its Tool Selection APP which simplifies tool selection based on cutting needs.
Product Innovation in Power Tools: SawStop, LLC for the SawStop Jobsite Saw which detects contact with skin on the blade and stops the blade in less than five milliseconds.
Product Innovation in Machinery Under $50,000: Next Wave Automation for the Piranha FX CNC routing system that can also 3D Print and Laser Engrave.
Product Innovation in Machinery Over $50,000: Holz-Her US for the Evolution Vertical Machining Center which features a vacuum-based clamping system (patent pending), and fully automatic suction cup positioning with hole recognition, allowing workpieces to be machined on all four sides without re-clamping.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/woodworking-industry-news/awfs-names-8-visionary-award-winners-woodworking-fair?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news
by Web Editor | Jul 27, 2015 | News
Uniboard is proud to announce an investment of over $7 million at its 91-employee Mont-Laurier MDF plant. Uniboard says the investment will increase the productivity of the plant through what it says is the use of a revolutionary new wood fiber mat-preheating technology.
This process innovation is a first for North America and will allow Uniboard to better service our customer base in Canada and the United States. The Mont-Laurier MDF/HDF plant produces Excel+, Excel, and NU Green/PMDI-NAF and HDF panel products. Uniboard’s overall network of particleboard, MDF and thermally fused laminate facilities are at locations in Sayabec, Val-d’Or, Laval and Mont-Laurier, Quebec.
Overall Uniboard has an installed capacity of over 640 million square feet of raw particleboard, high-density and medium-density fiberboard, of which over 50% is converted into value-added thermally fused laminate and laminate flooring products. Uniboard’s mills in Val-d’Or, Sayabec, Mont-Laurier and Laval employ over 800 people. Its products are sold to retailers, distributors and finished goods manufacturers, which cater to the kitchen cabinet, furniture, office, home renovation and construction industries, as well as to the floor covering industry.
Since its original start-up as Panfibre in 1987, Mont-Laurier’s capacity has been expanded in multiple steps. In 2012, Uniboard was acquired by the owners of Kaycan Ltd., a leading manufacturer of building products in North America, with its head office located in Montreal, Quebec. Kaycan Ltd. and its group of companies offers a full range of products for both the exterior and interior of the home, including vinyl, aluminum and engineered wood siding products, PVC windows & patio doors, particleboard, MDF, thermally fused laminate and laminate flooring.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/wood/panel-supply/uniboard-invests-7-million-innovative-mdf-production?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news
by Web Editor | Jul 22, 2015 | News
ARAUCO is pleased to announce the debut of PRISM, a new brand name for the company’s thermally fused laminate (TFL) products produced in North America. The PRISM brand will represent ARAUCO’s collection of 76 designs, as well as any future exclusive design releases.
ARAUCO’s commitment to future growth of the TFL product line is evident in the company’s investment in additional TFL capacity, acquisition of a paper treating facility and the development of the TFL brand Prism. In an effort to reach designers and architects, ARAUCO completed in-depth market research and sought out to create a brand that will resonate with the audience’s desire for fresh ideas and color variety.
“After a deep understanding of the design community, we saw an opportunity to create a TFL brand that will stand out from the current product offering with a personality that speaks directly to the design community,” explains Sebastian Cremaschi, Director of Marketing. “On every promotional aspect of Prism you will find a fun, simple and clear message that will not be unnoticed, adding value to our customers, specifiers and consumers.”
ARAUCO will debut the look of the new brand, along with two new design series’, Mherge and Reclamation Maple, at the AWFS trade show in Las Vegas this week.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/wood/panel-supply/arauco-panel-announces-new-tfl-brand?ss=news,news,woodworking_industry_news,news,almanac_market_data,news
by Web Editor | Jul 20, 2015 | News
Uniboard is proud to announce an investment of over $29 million at its Sayabec plant. Two major investments being announced today at Sayabec are an innovative wood fiber mat-preheating unit to expand capacity in particleboard line 2, as well as a new short-cycle thermally fused laminate press adding capacity for high-end surface structures and finishes.
Both investments will allow Uniboard to increase productivity and improve its product offering and service to our customer base in Canada and the United States. The announced investments will be implemented in early 2016. The particleboard investment will continue to position the Uniboard Sayabec facility as one of North America’s preferred particleboard producers while the thermally fused laminate investment further confirms Uniboard’s leadership and innovation position in the North American laminate arena. Both investments will strengthen Uniboard’s overall network of particleboard, MDF and thermally fused laminate facilities that are located in Sayabec, Val-d’Or, Mont-Laurier and Laval, Quebec. Uniboard employs a skilled workforce of 380 at its Sayabec site and over 800 people within the entire corporation.
Since its original start-up as Panval in 1982, Uniboard’s Sayabec plant has seen a series of investment and expansion steps leading to today’s highly integrated mega site with 2 particleboard lines and 4 high speed short-cycle thermally fused laminate (TFL) presses. In 2012, Uniboard further solidified its position in the industry when it was acquired by the owners of Kaycan Ltd., a leading manufacturer of building products in North America, with its head office located in Montreal, Quebec. The Kaycan group of companies offers a full range of products for both the exterior and interior of the home, including vinyl, aluminium and engineered wood siding products, PVC windows and patio doors, particleboard, MDF, thermally fused laminate and laminate flooring.
From PR Newswire: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/uniboard-to-invest-into-particleboard-capacity-expansion-and-a-new-thermally-fused-laminate-tfl-line-at-its-sayabec-plant-515009931.html
by Web Editor | Jul 17, 2015 | News
A Northern Engineered Wood Products (NEWPRO) particleboard facility is filing a permit amendment to become a wood pellet manufacturing plant. Particleboard production has been halted at the Smithers, BC, plant since January 2014.
Although not typically required when reducing emissions, a full consultation report will be submitted to the Ministry of Environment Aug. 3, said Rebecca Martin of SLR Consulting, who is overseeing work on the plant. News reports of the application say it shows the switch will result in 94 percent decrease in total particulate matter, from 432 to 26 tons per year. Modeling was done to predict the emissions levels.
Martin said NEWPRO’s use of the best available control technology will make the facility a new provincial standard for wood pellet plants. Among the upgrades to be made are state-of-the-art dryers.
When it reopens, the plant will bring an estimated 30 full time jobs, and 10 contractual jobs to the area, Martin added.
From Woodworking Network: https://www.woodworkingnetwork.com/news/canadian-news/particleboard-plant-revamps-pellet-production
by Web Editor | Jul 10, 2015 | News
Oregon and southwest Washington make up one of 12 new regions accepted into the Investing in Manufacturing Communities Partnership initiative. The program is a federal effort to increase domestic manufacturing by “supporting the development of coordinated, long-term economic development strategies in communities,” according to Business Oregon.
The U.S. Department of Commerce selected the regions based on competitive proposals. The first 12 regions were accepted last year and the Pacific Northwest was not among them. U.S. Commerce Secretary Penny Prtizker said the initiative is critical to the administration’s efforts. “To support American manufacturing, create good paying jobs and spur sustainable growth across our country,” she said. She said the designation is an important positive signal to potential investors in the Northwest and other parts of the country.
The Pacific Northwest Partnership Region will focus on reviving and modernizing the timber industry. Cross-laminated timbers (CLT), a type of cross-hatched wood product, are as strong as steel or concrete and will be manufactured locally under the program.
On its website, Business Oregon says cross-laminated timbers have “significantly lower environmental impact, sequesters carbon and yet meets the same fire and safety code regulations as concrete and steel.” The new type of wood can even be used to frame skyscrapers.
From Jefferson Public Radio: https://ijpr.org/post/timber-manufacturing-increase-pacific-northwest
