Canada Invests in Engineered Wood Production

Atlas Engineered Products, a truss manufacturer based in Nanaimo, British Columbia, has secured a $4 million investment from the Canadian government to build a cutting-edge processing facility.

According to a government announcement, the move is designed to bolster Canada's market for wood products—and to provide some spark for builders amid the ongoing softwood lumber dispute.

The press release highlighted the government's broader "Buy Canadian" movement:

"Through projects like these, Canada is retooling its forest sector to go beyond traditional products into wood-based bioproducts, advanced biofuels and diversified pulp and paper products while also scaling up production of advanced building materials like mass timber. Through the Buy Canadian Policy, federal procurement is now prioritizing Canadian wood and engineered wood products. Through Build Canada Homes, Canadian lumber, mass timber and other advanced wood-based products are helping address Canadian housing needs while driving demand back into Canadian mills and manufacturing facilities."

The funding (which came through Natural Resources Canada’s Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program) will enable Atlas Engineered Products to build a "cutting-edge wood manufacturing facility, powered by advanced robotics." Those robotics, per the company, will "boost precision and efficiency and reduce waste while delivering strong, reliable wooden trusses made with care for the environment."

The press release closes with Canada's view of its beleaguered forest industry.

"Canada’s forest sector is more than an industry. It is a lifeline for communities, a source of good jobs and a driver of sustainable prosperity. By defending forest sector workers today, partnering with industry to modernize the sector for tomorrow and opening new markets at home and around the world, the Government of Canada is ensuring that the forest sector remains a pillar of national strength for generations to come."