Major Investment at Uniboard Canada in Mont-Laurier

MONT-LAURIER, QUEBEC--(Marketwired - July 16, 2015) - Government of Canada

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, and the Honourable Greg Rickford, Minister of Natural Resources Canada and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario, announce that Uniboard Canada Inc. has been granted financial assistance to acquire strategic equipment for its Mont-Laurier mill in order to improve the facility's productivity and competitiveness.

This support, which totals $4,740,000, is being awarded in the form of a $1,500,000 repayable contribution through CED's Quebec Economic Development Program and of a $3,240,000 non-repayable contribution through Natural Resource Canada's Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program.

Quick facts

• Uniboard Canada Inc. is Quebec's leading manufacturer of thermofused melamine panels, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), high-density fiberboard (HDF), laminate flooring and decorative wood products. Dedicated to the manufacture of fiberboard, the Mont-Laurier mill has been a major local employer since 1987, providing jobs to over 90 people in the region.
• The company's project mainly involves the integration of a microwave-based European preheating technology, the modernization of its kiln dryer and the automation of its existing press line. The funding from both CED and Natural Resources Canada will go to financing the equipment acquisition and installation costs.
• This investment will enable Uniboard Canada to maintain the viability of the Mont-Laurier mill and, consequently, that of other enterprises in the forest industry value chain, notably sawmills and logging companies. It will also help sustain Uniboard Canada's strategic positioning on Canadian and American markets.

Quotes

"By investing in the modernization of Uniboard Canada's Mont-Laurier mill, our government is proving once again that it is determined to take the necessary measures to boost the growth potential of our economy and to support the transformation of the Canadian forest industry."

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

"Today's announcement will help create jobs and prosperity for Quebecers and all Canadians while furthering the competitiveness of our forest industry. Our Government is proud to support projects that contribute to innovation in the forest sector while ensuring its sustainable development. This is why, since 2006, we have invested nearly 720 million dollars to support Quebec's forest industry and the communities that depend on it."

The Honourable Greg Rickford, Minister of Natural Resources Canada and Minister for the Federal Economic Development Initiative for Northern Ontario

"The shareholders of Uniboard Canada Inc. are proud that our company is making use of an innovative European technology for wood preheating. We are confident that the modernization of our facilities, coupled with the determination of our employees, will enable the Mont-Laurier mill to become more competitive. This investment will help ensure a market for sawmill by-products and allow us to meet the growing demand for our products."

James N. Hogg, President and CEO, Uniboard Canada Inc.

Related document

See the accompanying backgrounder for further details on the particleboard preheating system.

Related links

To learn more about the QEDP: http://www.dec-ced.gc.ca/eng/programs/qedp/index.html

For further information on Uniboard Canada: http://uniboard.com/

Stay connected

Follow CED on Twitter @CanEconDev

Follow NRCan on Twitter @NRCan

BACKGROUNDER

Pre-heating of Wood Fibre Using Microwave Technology

Through funding from Natural Resources Canada's Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program, Uniboard Canada Inc. is aiming to implement a microwave preheating device to increase the production of medium density fibreboard (MDF) by 20 percent at its factory in Mont-Laurier, Quebec.

The device uses magnetrons that generate microwaves to increase the temperature of the fibre mat prior to pressing. This temperature gain immediately prior to pressing reduces the cooking times required to manufacture the fiberboard.

The Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program was first introduced in Canada's Jobs and Growth Budget 2010 to help secure a more prosperous future for Canada's forest industry and the communities that depend on it.

The Government of Canada's Economic Action Plan 2014 committed $90.4 million over four years to recapitalize the IFIT program in support of the ongoing renewal of Canada's forest sector.

This project aligns with the goals of the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation program through the demonstration of a new innovative technology in Canada's forest sector.

For more information, visit Natural Resources Canada on the Web.

Follow us on Twitter: @NRCan (http://twitter.com/nrcan)