Spearhead Announces New Glulam Plant

Spearhead, a Nelson, BC-based family-owned timber fabricator, is investing $60 million in a new production facility housing a specialized glulam manufacturing line and advanced CNC machining technology.

With construction already begun, the new facility sits immediately adjacent Spearhead’s existing operation just outside of Nelson, a site the company has called home for almost 30 years.

Ledinek Engineering, a leading European manufacturer of wood processing technology based in Slovenia, is delivering the complete glulam line. The facility will also house a new Hundegger K2i CNC, Spearhead’s third Hundegger unit.

The operation will utilize locally sourced softwoods and hardwoods to produce glulam in straight, curved, and double-curved layups up to 80 ft. in length. Spearhead reports it will be one of the only laminators in North America able to produce zero VOC glulam, meeting growing demand from projects with stringent indoor air quality and sustainability requirements.

Installation and commissioning of the equipment is scheduled to begin this summer, with product certifications expected in early 2027.

The project team includes architect Leckie Studio, engineer Fast + Epp, and general contractor HR Pacific. Spearhead is also working closely with Neue Holzbau, a global leader in the engineering and fabrication of complex timber structures, to introduce GSA glued-in-rod technology to North America through Spearhead’s new facility.

Through this expansion, Spearhead is creating more than 60 full time jobs in Nelson, taking the company’s head count to more than 120. The project has received $7.5 million in provincial funding from the Manufacturing Jobs Fund.