|
Brink Expansion Brings New Jobs
• Back to News
By Gordon Hoekstra , Prince George Citizen staff
Despite punishing softwood tariffs, a rising loonie and uncertainty around the B. C. forest policy changes, John Brink is pushing ahead with his plans for a new lumber remanufacturing plant.
Equipment is being installed now in the new operation, called Brink Wood Specialties Inc., across from his existing Brink Forest Products plant on River Toad. Brink has been working on getting the new operation off the ground since last November and hopes to have the $3-million to $4-million plant operating within two months.
The lumber remanufacturing line- which will turn low-quality lumber and trim blocks into high quality boards by gluing them together with strong fingerjoints – is expected to create 60 to 75 new jobs in its first phase. Another 30 to 40 jobs could be created later, doubling Brink’s workforce to about 200.
The plant’s start-up is significant because it creates the first new jobs in the wood manufacturing sector in Prince George in the better part of a decade. The primary sawmilling industry has shed hundreds of jobs in the Prince George region in the same period.
“I feel very, very positive of where the industry is going, where the market is going,” says Brink, who pioneered finger-jointing lumber in Western Canada in the 1970’2. “I’m building because I believe in the location in Prince George.”
Despite the uncertainty around the timing of the B. C. Liberal’s forest policy changes, Brink credits the changes as the basis for his optimism. The policy changes include putting more timber up for auction and lessening restrictions on where and when forest companies use their timber. They no longer have to mill the timber in their own facilities, and that should increase the flow of timber and lumber.
Brink also believes the softwood lumber trade dispute will be resolved in the next month or two. He says it’s important, however, that lumber remanufacturers have access to quota in any interim deal with the U.S.
He said he will continue to foster a relationship with Canfor as a key for secondary manufacturers like him is access to raw material. Canfor has supplied the boards for Brink’s operations for the past six or seven years. Brink said it’s important the primary sawmill industry is supportive of the secondary wood sector.
He also plans to move up the value-added wood chain, installing equipment which can produce a variety of wood trim for mouldings, windows and doors.
|
