Wood Industry Spring 2023

EMBRACING MODERNIZATION

EMBRACING CHANGE AND RENEWABLE RESOURCES

EACH SPRING allows us the opportunity to be reflective while embracing growth and preparing for change. This past January, I joined Wood Industry/ Le Monde Du Bois as the Editor and dove headfirst into this incredibly versatile industry. The team has embraced my arrival with open arms and has been there every step of the way to ensure we’re giving our readers compelling stories and industry news updates each week. This Spring issue will mark the first publication with Wood Industry/ Le Monde Du Bois that I oversee and assemble with features and columns from our brilliant group of writers. Although 2023 is just a few months in, we’ve already noticed how many wood companies are adopting new sustainability solutions and embracing transformation. With Spring signaling change, it’s only fitting for us to reflect on the sector’s efforts toward modernization.

Ellie King

It’s no secret that many industries are committing to a complete transition toward being more environmentally friendly, and the wood industry already contributes fewer greenhouse gas emissions. For businesses in our sector to commit to reducing their carbon footprint even further gives them a competitive edge. The Government of Canada continues to invest in the wood sector to achieve its climate change goals while increasing demand for Canadian wood products and creating jobs for Canadian citizens.

One of the businesses leading the charge towards sustainability is Québec-based company, South Shore Furniture. In this issue, we take a deep dive into their 2022 sustainable development initiatives implemented by their in-house green committee and sustainable development team and why what South Shore Furniture is doing is so impactful to the industry. Sustainability is beginning to take the wood sector by storm. Another Québec furniture brand, Rove Concepts, uses FSC-certified wood products that are ethically sourced from timber manufacturers with sustainable forest management methods to reduce their carbon footprint.

There are hundreds of Canadian wood industry companies transforming their efforts to promote change. Our conversation on this topic will not stop here. We want to hear about what your business is doing to promote sustainability and eco-friendly objectives this year. If you have any initiatives you want to share with us, please reach out to me @elliek@mediaedge.ca to share.

ART DIRECTOR

PUBLISHER

Mike Neeb miken@mediaedge.ca

EDITOR

Ellie King elliek@mediaedge.ca

PRESIDENT Kevin Brown kevinb@mediaedge.ca

PRODUCTION MANAGER

Ines Louis Inesl@mediaedge.ca

Annette Carlucci annettec@mediaedge.ca

GRAPHIC DESIGNER

Thuy Huynh roxyh@mediaedge.ca

CIRCULATION circulation@mediaedge.ca

Wood Industry is published four times an nually, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter, for the secondary wood products manufacturing and marketing industries in Canada. Subscriptions are free to qualified participants in Canada’s secondary wood processing industry. Subscribe at www. woodindustry.ca. Paid subscriptions rates: $40 to Cana dian addresses, $60 U.S. and foreign, $20 student rate. Please mail payment to Wood Industry, 2001 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 500, Toronto, Ontario M2J 4Z8 For subscription inquiries, e-mail circulation@mediaedge.ca

© 2023 by MediaEdge Communications

All rights reserved. MediaEdge Communications and Wood Industry disclaim any warranty as to the accuracy, completeness or currency of the contents of this publication and disclaims all liability in respect to the results of any action taken or not taken in reliance upon information in this publication. The opinions of the columnists and writers are their own and are in no way influenced by or representative of the opinions of Wood Industry or MediaEdge Communications

2001 Sheppard Avenue East, Suite 500 Toronto, Ontario M2J 4Z8

Turn your inspiration into a reality: myLEGRABOX

Everyone has something that inspires them. LEGRABOX offers countless design possibilities that allow you to turn your inspiration into a reality. LEGRABOX, the box system for your exact demands.

www.blum.com/legrabox4

Canadian Graduates Win NKBA Student Design Competition

The National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA) announced the winners of their Student Design Competition in January. Bow Valley College grad Beatriz Hernandez and Lakeland College graduate Brea Holt took home first and second place prizes. Hernandez’ first place winning design featured a coastal, openconcept kitchen with natural tones, and oak vinyl flooring to denote relaxation and calm of the beach and ocean. The design also included a bar area that opened onto a terrace from the kitchen via large folding doors. The award granted Hernandez a $5,000 scholarship and an all-expenses paid trip to Las Vegas for the annual Kitchen and Bath Industry Show (KBIS). “I wanted to provide the clients with a beautiful and functional renovation that will work for them now and in the future. I put together a construction plan and design statement that offers a combination of meeting personal tastes and needs and timeless finishes at will add to the value of their home,” said Hernandez.

Holt’s kitchen design concept placed second and included oversized windows to draw in the coastline along with white-oak cabinets, exposed beams, and a sleek concrete floor. The palette is designed to reflect the sand, seashells and clouds at the beach. It’s completed with a multipurpose island and polished with a Calacatta Leon quartz slab. “This award has reassured me that hard work pays off. The time and effort required to design this kitchen was worth it,” noted Holt. She was awarded a $2,500 schol -

arship, airfare, and accommodations to attend the KBIS 2022 expo in Las Vegas for the 2023 Design Awards Ceremony.

In December 2022, Hernandez received her Kitchen and Bath Design Post-Diploma Certificate and now works full-time as an assistant to the designer with Krista Hermanson Design. Holt now works full time with Redl World Class Kitchens in Saskatoon as a cabinetry designer.

AWMAC Announces Board Member Resignation

AWMAC announced the resignation of Peter Gallagher as the company director on January 12. Gallagher joined the board of directors in May of 2019 as a manufacturer member of the Ontario chapter and has worked for AMWAC for over 12 years.

The new director to replace Gallagher on the AWMAC board is Ian Christie, former president of the AWMAC Ontario Chapter. Christie will be granted the position through AWMAC’s annual general meeting in June of 2023 and will be elected by AWMAC members. AWMAC’s board of directors and members wish Gallagher all the best in his future endeavours.

The board of directors took the time to recognize and honour Gallagher’s contributions to AMWAC and undeniable commitment throughout his tenure. He made a significant impact to the Chapter Standardization Committee since its development in 2017. Gallagher also led the AWMAC National Convention planning that will be held in Toronto this year. Planning was delayed three times due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Gallagher diligently planned for each anyway.

ChopValue’s Interior Solutions Used for Calgary Mcdonalds

Chopstick recycling manufacturer ChopValue’s wood products were used in a new Calgary Mcdonald’s at the University District. Their team was responsible for the interior solutions in the new restaurant’s location and received Ecolab’s industry-wide approval and passed third-party testing requirements for commercial finishes. ChopValue is a leader in the circular economy through their innovative and sustainable business practices.

The enterprise has opened micro factories across Canada and the United States turning chopsticks into home and office furniture, gaming accessories, and wood products for fast-food chains. This is a pivotal step forward for ChopValue in its effort to adopt environmentally friendly solutions and continue to reduce its carbon footprint. The Calgary ChopValue team was led by Joanne Dafoe and Mike Bodnar and they were responsible for making this partnership happen and further connecting ChopValue to the community. Dafoe and Bodnar worked closely with the Mcdonald’s Canada Design and Construction team to complete the restaurant’s interior layout.

The development of the new Calgary Mcdonald’s was led by Usman Tahir Jutt, Canada’s youngest Mcdonald’s franchisee and president and CEO of Chirp Foods and his team. Tahir became the youngest owner of the chain in Canada in 2013 and now owns and operates over a dozen restaurants.

The new-generation of soft close hinges from Salice. Besides showing no resistance while opening doors, the Silentia+ hinges guarantee an exceptional and consistent deceleration thanks to twin fluid dampers, delivering a perfect soft closing action in all applications and under any temperature condition.

Silentia+ incorporates an innovative switch to adjust the deceleration mechanism. This enables the closing speed of doors of any size or shape to be perfectly adjusted.

30° 10°

( R ) EVOLUTION ( ) ( )

ADENTRA Shares Its Inaugural Sustainability Report

World-class distributor of architectural building solutions, ADENTRA, announced the release of its 2023 Sustainability Report. The document outlined the company’s priorities for the year and the business practices they plan to accomplish to ensure a strong future for ADENTRA and its business partners and stakeholders. The report highlights the enterprise’s core values and how they plan to align sustainability with financial success.

Some of the key revelations from the report include how ADENTRA engaged an external advisor to conduct a meticulous assessment of business performance, developing a detailed outline on sustainability based on environmental and material stewardship, cultivating a healthy workplace, and championing privacy, transparency, and ethics. ADENTRA plans to have its sustainable actions align with the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and the Sustainability Reportings Board (SASB).

“We are proud to share our inaugural sustainability report,

highlighting the progress we have made in our areas of focus,” said Rob Brown, CEO of ADENTRA. “As our business continues to grow and evolve, our attention to sustainability throughout our business is also transforming. We want to build an even stronger and more sustainable future for our company and our key stakeholders, and we hope that this first sustainability report provides important insights into the ways we are working to create a positive impact on our world.”

ceed WCA members Greg Heuer, Duane Griffiths, and Mick McGowan who have each retired.

Bangall and Bowness High School joined WCA as EDUcation members in 2016. Since then, he has become an accredited skill evaluator with the organization. “The biggest benefit to being a WCA EDU member is having access to up-todate learning and teaching resources that I use often in my construction technology and trades classes. The widgets for teaching real application of measurement tasks are appropriate and adaptable for my classes in a meaningful way. The WCA assessment checklists make project development in my classes interesting as students can see the specific skills they will learn and demonstrate while working with tools needed to build their projects,” said Bagnall.

Woodwork Career Alliance Appoints New Board Members

The Woodwork Carrier Alliance of North America (WCA) announced the addition of two new members to their board of directors in February. The organization welcomed John Stearns and Brad Bagnall to the WCA board. Both members were appointed to three-year terms with WCA on the nonprofit board. Stearns is a career technical education director at Amity School District of Amity in Oregon, and Bagnall is a construction teacher at Bowness High School in Calgary, Alberta. Both Stearns and Bagnall will suc-

Expanding the presence and prominence of WCA in Canadian high school construction and skilled trades courses is one of Bagnall’s prerogatives.“I have worked as an Accredited Skill Evaluator in partnership with my employer, the Calgary Board of Education, and Southern Alberta Institute of Technology to offer WCA Skill Training courses for our school instructors. I hope to broaden these partnerships and continue to offer training sessions to educators. Being a part of the WCA Board of Directors allows for more networking capabilities with industry and I am excited to explore additional opportunities to bolster the WCA in Canada,” he said.

A LEGACY OF INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP

Reflecting on AFMQ’s accomplishments and impact on the Québec furniture industry for the Association’s 81st anniversary

By Ambre O. Khiari, Wood Industry Magazine Contributing Writer & Translator

The Quebec furniture market is well alive, and its industry is one of the biggest in Canada. It represents 45% of the jobs in this sector in the entire country and accounts for a considerable part of the province’s manufacturing market overall. The Quebec Furniture Manufacturer’s Association actively contributes to the province’s furniture industry by promoting its development across Canada and the rest of the world.

Last year marked the QFMA’s 80th anniversary. Some would say it is an old organization but on the contrary, it is actively and constantly working to stay young by adapting its services to its members reality. But since 1942, its main mission remains: to unite, support and propel Quebec’s furniture industry. Last year marked the QFMA’s 80th anniversary.

For over 45 years, the main purpose of the QFMA was to own and promote the Canadian Furniture Show, held in Toronto. Many continue today to connect the Association to the show, despite the fact it was decided to put an end to it in 2019. Since then, the Association has worked hard to change this perception, to redefine its purpose and to promote its range of services. The QFMA is the only organization of its kind, a 100% dedicated to the Quebec’s furniture industry. The team consistently work to ensure that the members find long-term benefits in joining AFMQ and have their needs and expectations met as manufacturers and entrepreneurs. It provides them with relevant and strategic information, and an easier way to access government subsidies. Indeed, the members benefit from the stablished channel the association has with the governmental representatives. Moreover, the Association make sure to gather members to network with each other

and share their day-to-day experiences. “The beauty of the Association is that we adapt to whatever is going on in the news, and our projects help address needs or move issues forward for the industry,” said Julie Lamarre, AFMQ director of marketing and membership services.

The Association develops and implements activities, webinars, and event ideas for members. It is also currently working on the PACMAC, a project which supports the furniture and kitchen cabinet manufacturers to modernize their digital marketing tools and methods, like creating online transactional sites.

Last year, for the annual members congress, the Association focused one’s efforts on the labor shortage. This year, the event will take place in Quebec and will address several topics such as leadership, digital transformation, and supply chain management. While the pandemic was very beneficial to the furniture industry, as Canadian customers were able to use a segment of their earnings to renovate their home interiors, the supply chain was very much shaken by it, and the labor shortage was felt very strongly. “That’s why the AFMQ launched a public relations campaign - with success - to advance the temporary foreign workers situation and raise the thresholds from 10% to 20%”, Lamarre explained.

In 2017, the QFMA created the Meuble du Québec signature and website, which gives visibility and provides a showcase to Quebec’s manufacturers. The main purpose is to promote local products and local buying. Major campaigns were held in the past few years, including TV and social media advertisement, to raise awareness amongst consumers to the importance of prioritize furniture produced in the province when shopping. Retailers were also encouraged to use Meuble du Quebec display tools to help consumers find the local products.

The Association is proud of the numerous achievements they’ve made over several decades for the Quebec manufacturers and look forward to what the future holds for the furniture industry.

Julie Lamarre, AFMQ director of marketing and membership services.

IN THE WORLD!

Felderʼs Preventative Contact System (PCS) prevents accidents at the speed of light.

Every woodworker (and woodworking company) has ten good reasons not to compromise when it comes to working safety - PCS prevents accidents and assures dexterity and a quality handshake forever!

Today, all state-of-the-art saws and panel saws need to have standard safety equipment such as a splitter and an overhead saw guard in accordance with the applicable Ontario Health and Safety accident prevention regulations. For some years, there has also been a technical solution that largely prevents cuts due to instant blockage of the saw blade, but it destroys the saw and unit. The consequential costs for the repair are the price that you have to pay for saving one or more fingers. Until now, because there is a better way:

• If the system detects movement past a certain threshold - which surrounds the saw blade and protects against access from all directions - a safety lowering mechanism is triggered. The system lowers the saw blade below the circular saw bench a few milliseconds after a risk detection. Its extremely fast response time is possible thanks to the principle of electromagnetic repulsion, says Felder.

• The safety lowering mechanism does not cause any damage to the blade or incur extra costs. And the table saw will be ready for reuse at the push of a button.

• The PCS system doesn’t feature any wear partsavoiding the need to adjust or maintain anything beyond regular machine maintenance.

“The system is amazing. No one else has anything comparable to the system. It acts without being touched, it drops down at light speed without causing any damage, and the customer can restart the machine right away.

Robert Tratter, Head of R&D at the Felder Group

Surveillance of danger zone with advance approach detection.

In the case of an unexpected fast approach in the saw blade area the PCS drop-down safety feature is triggered. The area of protection encloses the saw blxade and prevents access from any direction.

Accident prevention in a matter of milliseconds.

After detecting the risk of an accident, PCS triggers the retraction of the saw blade under the table in few milliseconds. The method used on the electromagnet repulsion principle enables a never before achieved ultrafast action time.

FELDER GROUP MISSISSAUGA, ON 1-866-922-8879

info@felder-group.ca

Immediately ready for use again.

The Panel saw with the PCS retraction is ready for use again at the touch of a button and does not require additional attention or cleaning cycles.

Felderʼs Preventative Contact System is available on the Kappa 550 Emotion

FELDER GROUP CALGARY, AB

1-403-720-8330

info@felder-group.ca

BURNABY, BC

Ultimate Tools

1-604-291-WOOD(9663)

felder@ultimatetools.ca

FOR ADDITIONAL DEALER LOCATIONS CALL 1-866-922-8879

OAK BLUFF, MB

Wallace Machinery & Tool Co.Ltd.

1-204-788-1199

kevin@wallacemachinery.com

DEFINING MARKETING OBJECTIVES EFFECTIVELY

The basis of success: the development of marketing objectives

By Julie ST. ARNAUD, VIOLETTE MARKETING MANAGING DIRECTOR & WOOD INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTING Writer

I often heard my father talk about his business using the “boat” metaphor. To arrive safely, the ship must have only one captain on board. A captain well supported by his team of sailors. The

role of the captain is to see far ahead and to predict and anticipate possible storms. He is also the one who defines the destination and who coordinates his team so that they all row together

to arrive at the port according to the planned deadlines.

If the team on board has no idea where to go, and when and how they will arrive in port, they cannot be expected to row with motivation, harmony, and especially in the same direction.

It’s the same in business. Goals are your destination. If your team doesn’t know where you are going,

The goal-setting process plays a crucial role in the success of any business. Let me explain how much.

how will they be able to put in place the right actions to follow you?

A MARKETING OBJECTIVE IS IMPERATIVE TO A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS

Did you know that the first step in any marketing plan is to define your objectives? It makes sense, considering that marketing objectives define our “destination”, while strategies chart the path and tactics represent the means used to get you there.

I find that few companies take the time to clearly define their objectives every year, or even every 2 to 3 years. However, the exercise is simple, it only takes a short time and, it must be admitted, it is so much more reassuring to know where you are going than to navigate with your eyes closed.

I realize that the main reason for these failures lies in poor knowledge of the process of developing objectives. In order to help, I suggest that you define several types of objectives related to sales and marketing.

SOME EXAMPLES OF MARKETING OBJECTIVES

Goals related to sales:

• Increase your turnover by…%

• Increase sales of featured product by…%

• Increase sales per representative, per territory, per distributor by…%

• Increase the number of distributors of...

Marketing objectives:

• Enhance your reputation

• Increase your web traffic

• Increase your social community

• Increase your bank of email addresses

GLOBAL AND SMART MARKETING OBJECTIVES

In order to make sure that you are on the right track and that your goals will be valid, I suggest that you go for SMART goals! For those unfamiliar with the concept. It is necessary to remember that, to obtain better re -

FROM THE HEART. THEY ARE REAL AND SUSTAINABLE. THEIR FOUNDATIONS ARE STRONGER BECAUSE THEY ARE BUILT WITH

sults, our objectives must be Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Time-bound, therefore SMART.

In his book Smarter Faster Better , the author Charles Duhigg proposes a more complete and more concrete approach to which I agree 100%.

In fact, the author suggests combining stretch goals with SMART goals. In order to create a sort of “to do list” in which the global objectives are broken down into several small objectives following the SMART method.

Within psychology, these smaller ambitions are known as “proximal goals” and repeated studies have shown that breaking a big ambition into proximal goals makes the large objective more likely to occur.”–

Charles Duhigg

By following this method, the goals become much more realistic, achievable and they more effectively demonstrate the path to follow. Here is an example:

Overall objective: Increase my web traffic. Specific: I would like to welcome an average of 40 visitors per day.

Measurable: My indicator will be the results of Google Analytics.

Reachable: A strategy combining content creation, such as blog posts, optimizing my SEO efforts and creating Meta (Facebook Ad) and Google Ads (Google Adwords) campaigns will definitely increase traffic.

Realistic: With one blog post per week, a budget of $500 per month for Google Ads with well-chosen keywords and a budget of $300 every two months.

Temporal: Over a period of 1 year.

A RESOLUTION BEFORE TIME: ESTABLISH YOUR MARKETING OBJECTIVES FOR 2023

Once your marketing objectives have been defined, you can and should create and implement the right strategies and tactics, those that will allow you to stand out, to create value in the eyes of your customers. Strategies and tactics that will be perfectly aligned with your marketing objectives and that will propel your turnover to the height of your ambitions. Don’t forget to communicate your intentions to your team.

“IN THIS EVER-CHANGING SOCIETY, THE MOST POWERFUL AND ENDURING BRANDS ARE BUILT

THE STRENGTH OF THE HUMAN SPIRIT, NOT AN AD CAMPAIGN. THE COMPANIES THAT ARE LASTING ARE THOSE THAT ARE AUTHENTIC.”

– HOWARD SCHULTZ, CEO OF STARBUCKS

Julie St-Arnaud is the President and Director of Business Development and Marketing Management at Violette Direction Marketing.

BLACK & WHITE: DESIGN DELIGHT

Ritchie’s newest flooring store in Burnside industrial park is the first of its kind in both scale and product offerings

By Clare Tattersall, Coverings Editor and Wood Industry Contributing Writer

When you pull into the parking lot of Ritchie’s Flooring Warehouse in Dartmouth, N.S., you expect to walk into a typical flooring store. While partially clad in glass and wrapped in a ‘band’ of blue siding, the building’s mainly grey facade is otherwise unassuming. But on the other side of the entry doors is a showroom that far exceeds expectations.

Opened in January 2022, Ritchie’s newest flooring store in Burnside industrial park is the first of its kind in both scale and product offerings. The retail-focused showroom is not only huge at 13,700 square feet but it offers decorators, designers, builders, developers, landlords and the general public the largest selection of flooring in Atlantic, Canada: hardwood, pre-engineered wood, luxury vinyl plank, tile, laminate, cork, broadloom carpet, area rugs and more.

But perhaps what stands out most is the showroom’s clean aesthetic and modern design.

Envisioned by Halifax-based commercial interior design studio Design360, the project team had just six months amid a global pandemic to transform the former discount retail warehouse once renovation work got underway. The primary objective was to create a showroom that effectively markets all of Ritchie’s flooring products and service offerings, including quality installation, while allowing for flexibility to change out flooring displays as required to keep product offerings current and on-trend for its residential and commercial clientele.

It was determined a black and white palette would best serve as a neutral, serene backdrop to the many variations of flooring options within the displays and the products themselves. The showroom was divided into sections based on the structure of the existing building, which allows customers to focus on a certain type of flooring products without becoming overwhelmed by too many offerings. Adding to the user experience, room scenes were established to aid customers in visualizing the products in their own space. These areas also aid in wayfinding, providing circulation routes within the showroom. The lighting approach takes on a residential focus in key areas, such as the reception, lounges, kitchenettes and coffee serveries, while the display units are highlighted with retail track lighting for accurate colour render-

ings of products. The sales associates’ touchdown desk is highly visible and flanked by large acoustic pendants to aid in easing client conversations within an open space.

Wood was intentionally incorporated into much of the showroom for its beauty, to balance the black and white palette, add warmth and showcase the diversity and impact wood flooring products can

have on a space, particularly those provided by Ritchie’s. For these reasons, wood was not only used on the floors but also for the custom millwork, manufactured and installed by Provincial Woodworkers, which, coincidentally, is located in the same industrial park; in the construction of case goods; and on ceilings and walls. White oak flooring can be found underfoot on both the main and second floors, supplied by Karastan and Melmart, respectively.

However, the main and most visible wood feature element is the dropped ceilings wrapped with pre-engineered medium-toned oak flooring by Fuzion Flooring, which contrasts with the black open plenum ceiling. Different installation patterns — vertical, horizontal and angled — were also used throughout the showroom to demonstrate wood’s versatility and how this natural material can impart a particular overall look and feel depending on how it’s installed. Ritchie’s completed the wood installation on floors, staircases, walls, and ceilings to illustrate the quality of its trained and experienced installation crew.

In business now for more than a year, Ritchie’s Dartmouth location has been well-received by its professional clientele and the general public for the showroom’s one-of-a-kind retail design, extensive stocked inventory and, not to mention, its products’ value for money, 100 per cent satisfaction guarantee and top-notch customer service that the fourth-generation family-owned and operated business is known for.

Unsurprisingly, Ritchie’s is already considering further expansion plans — the flooring retailer’s original location is in Moncton, N.B. — with the goal of becoming a household name in the Maritimes.

Clare Tattersall is an interior designer and decorator in Toronto, and the editor of Canada’s floor covering magazine, Coverings.

Designed by Halifax-based Design360, Ritchie’s Flooring Warehouse in Dartmouth, N.S., is not a typical flooring store.

AUTOMATECH Robotik

OF A DIFFERENT

Lauten Woodworking’s high-end approach

By Matthew Bradford, Wood Industry Contributing Writer

DIFFERENT CUT:

A

drian Lauten and Kate Walker have a flair for finishing in style. Since opening Lauten Woodworking in 2006, the business partners have developed a farreaching reputation for using world-renowned tech and wood finishes to craft architectural millwork for their high-end residential and commercial clients.

Photo credit: Ema Peter

Designer Credit: Falken Reynolds Interiors

Based in North Vancouver, Lauten Woodworking has become a go-to partner for designers and architects throughout the region. And while its 20-plus team is known for bringing their clients’ luxury home visions to life, it’s the company’s track record for using industry-leading tools and products that initially caught Wood Industry Magazine’s attention.

A PHOTO FINISH

High-end clientele comes with skyhigh expectations. For this reason, Lauten and Walker are consistently scanning the market for products that are a cut above industry standards.

And in the case of its wood finishing materials, that search led the pair overseas.

“When we established our new finishing facility in 2018, our objective was to transition from lacquers and conversion varnishes to a product with superior performance and reduced environmental impact. This led us to switch to 2k polyurethanes, acrylics, and water-based products to accomplish this goal,” says Lauten.

The company partnered with one of the leading manufacturers out of Europe to introduce what Lauten and Walker believe to be a more durable, versatile, health conscious and eco-

forward finish compared to the material it was using before.

“One of the reasons we switched to 2K polyurethanes and acrylics is that there’s no formaldehyde which is a well-known carcinogen. The solvents off-gas quickly, while more commonly used products such as conversion varnish can take months to release formaldehyde,” Lauten explains. “When our finished products are installed in a customer’s home, there is minimal smell without the harmful release of chemicals. So, from our experience, it’s just a healthier and more environmentally friendly option for our end users and us.”

Lauten Edgemont Residence Project.

Photo credit: Ema Peter Designer credit: Andrea McLean Studio Inc.

Another advantage of the company’s is the ability to produce a natural effect finish using a high-performance water-based product that has won over Lauten’s clients.

“Everyone loves natural wood. It is a challenge to achieve because clear coats typically “wet” the surface, causing the wood substrate to appear slightly darker. The product we are using has a natural effect appearance and a non-wetting feature which we have manipulated even further to create a one-of-a-kind finish unique to Lauten” he says, noting, “We had clients here the other day who saw their finished product and asked if it was really finished. I grabbed a raw piece of wood and compared it to the finished product and they were exactly the same colour.”

THE TECH TO MATCH

Lauten Woodworking’s eye for tech has also been a competitive advantage. In recent years, the team has implemented cutting-edge equipment throughout its shop, including a German-made Venjakob automated flat-line finishing machine, which handles finishes for flat products up to 2.5 inches in depth. The machine features a 53-inch wide conveyor belt with four spray guns, through which pieces are automatically measured and sprayed as they go through.

“We do everything through there, including our clears and pigmented solid colors. We even use it to do a water-base spray stains,” explains Lauten. “It lets us get a more precise and consistent spray than if we did it by

hand, and it helps when working with massive wall panels where it can be difficult to reach the center if you’re doing things manually.”

One of the most valuable additions to its shop, however, is the German Weber sander Lauten sourced while attending the LIGNA woodworking trade fair in 2019.

“ I don’t think there’s any like this sander in the Lower Mainland, where we are. It’s the most expensive piece of equipment we have,” he notes, adding, “Our finishing line can spray about 1500 square feet per hour, and everything that comes out of there has to be scuff-sanded with 320 grit before it goes back through for a top coat. So, you can imagine the volume getting sprayed, and if you had to do that with a hand sander, you can also

“WE COLLABORATE CLOSELY WITH THE CLIENT’S DESIGN TEAM TO DRAW A BALANCE BETWEEN UNIQUE DESIGNS THAT ARE NOT ONLY VISUALLY STUNNING AND IMPECCABLY CRAFTED BUT ALSO FUNCTIONAL AND PURPOSEFUL.”

Lauten Woodworking team

imagine how much labour that would be. The sander is a partner to the spray machine; you can’t really have one without the other.”

Both the sander and sprayer were big investments for the company, but as Lauten adds: “They’re definitely paying for themselves in terms of the quality they put out and labour they cut down.”

EYE ON EXPANSION

Lauten Woodworking is a much different shop than when it opened 17 years ago. And even after several expansions and workshop upgrades, the team is still eyeing new ways to transform its operations. Soon, Lauten reports, the business will move into a new 12,000 Sq ft location in North Vancouver that will enable it to expand its reach and attract the best in the woodworking business.

“The new shop expansion is exciting for us,” says Lauten. “We’re going to a freestanding building, and we want to put a rooftop patio where we can have BBQs, put in a lounge area, and make the place a fun place to work.”

“Talent is a big deal for us,” he continues. “We’re really focused on employee retention because once you have the kind of highly skilled people we do, you want to do everything you can to hold on to them.”

The new headquarters is another big investment in Lauten Woodworking’s books, but with almost two years of work already booked, and contracts growing in value every year, it’s one the company can afford to make.

“We’re in a good place,” says Lauten. “Now that we’ve made it to a certain level in the industry, it’s just about maintaining our level of quality. We work with high-end clients who are willing to spend the money for perfection and that is what we will always strive to deliver.”

“DESIGN CREATES CULTURE. CULTURE SHAPES VALUES. VALUES DETERMINE THE FUTURE.”

– ROBERT L. PETERS, DESIGNER AND AUTHOR

Matt Bradford is a writer, editor, and longtime contributor at MediaEdge’s Wood Industry e-digest and magazine. He has spent years reporting on the wood and construction industries.

FROM RUSSIA WITH LOVE

Serving small and large contractors, Kaufman Cabinetry serves the GTA with pride

By Joel Kranc, Wood Industry

Contributing Writer

Anton Poniaev, president of Kaufman Cabinetry

Anton Poniaev has paid his dues. Growing up in a town in Russia, where he says he could see China from his parents’ house, Poniaev immigrated to Jerusalem at the age of 18, and at the age of 30 made Canada his home.

With a young family, Poniaev says he needed to work and was able to find construction jobs to pay the bills. But Poniaev never sat still. Although he had no formal construction or carpentry education he used his construction jobs as his school. “My personality is to learn details and I ask questions. I learned it on the job,” he explains.

While he was learning the trade of carpentry in his adopted country, Poniaev lived his Canadian dream and started his own company creating finished carpentry, closets and custom wardrobes with an ultimate vision to manufacture. “Slowly we learned all the facets of the business from the inside out, and to manufacture. We learned how it all works together.”

The longer he stayed in business the more services he added. He got into the closet business by purchasing premanufactured material, and cutting it or installing it as needed. But because it was pre-manufactured, there was little he could do with it in the custom world.

As clients asked for more custom work, Poniaev and his company introduced a software system into the process that allowed him to cut and prepare custom jobs. After the 10-year mark, Poniaev began approaching equipment companies. “We created a business plan and did all the procedures, as if you were getting a loan. Then we pulled the trigger and started Kaufman Cabinetry & Manufacturing in 2021.”

Even though the custom business was built in the heart of the pandemic, Poniaev says he had no basis to compare how business was going because it was all very new. “To start a business is hard in any condition,” he says. “You don’t know how it compares to what many people would say is a standard year.”

As the business got off the ground he started with both standard and custom closets. “We also added a thermo foil business as well,” he adds. “It was my wife’s idea, and we got another machine to offer this product.”

This year, Poniaev will be able to produce assembled kitchens that are builders grade. Authorized dealers will be able to showcase assembled samples for their customers to see, as opposed to closets, which is harder to display. “The quality is the same for all dealers large or small,” he explains. Authorized dealers that work with Kaufman download their proprietary software and use it to showcase the company’s cabinets or other products.

When dealers downward the software, they can build any design for a closet, kitchen or wall bed, from the catalogue, and are able to price the design immediately. “This software allows you to change angels, and our

TOP: Valeri Poniaev, Anton’s father

BOTTOM: Kaufman Cabinetry warehouse

dealers can create a proposal that they show the customer. They know how much it will cost them to have it made on the spot.” Lead-time for the customer is about two weeks.

Kaufman Cabinetry offers eight finishes, not including white. But, adds Poniaev, the company can cut any material. This comes up when installers work with designers with specific material needs or wants. “With closets and kitchens, about 90% is white material,” explains Poniaev, “because it’s less expensive.”

Kaufman also offers garage cabinets. “The difference,” he says, “is that for kitchens we use a three-quarter, or fiveeights [cut], but garages are one-inch

shelves. The sides of the cabinet are threequarters, but the shelves are one inch, so when you assemble it, it is very strong. The reason it is like that is the floor in the garage is usually not even, and companies that do instillation into garages just screw the cabinets into the wall.”

Essentially, it’s off the floor and oneinch shelves makes it very durable. Another product Kaufman makes are wall, or so-called, “murphy beds.” Authorized dealers outsource the hardware, then Kaufman cuts the rest. Despite current economic

hardships, wintertime is generally a slow time for business. Poniaev says it is up and down from one week to the next. Also, during the pandemic, material costs would go up very frequently, which was a challenge. Now, he adds, prices are more stable.

For now Kaufman is focused on growing the business and offering good quality products at a competitive price. “We and our customers are in the same boat,” says Poniaev. “If you offer competitive prices then we can grow faster. If they grow, we grow.”

Joel Kranc is an experienced and award-winning editor, writer and communications professional. With more than 26 years of experience, Joel has covered a variety of topics in the finance and B2B space.

“KAUFMAN IS FOCUSED ON GROWING THE BUSINESS AND OFFERING GOOD QUALITY PRODUCTS AT A COMPETITIVE PRICE.”

– ANTON PONIAEV, PRESIDENT OF KAUFMAN CABINETRY

WMS has connected Canada’s professional woodworking industry with the world’s most prominent machinery manufacturers, material suppliers, hardware companies and other services and products for more than four decades.

Can’t miss WMS 2023 features:

• WMS Live – On-the-show-floor presentation stage offering free education sessions to attendees on a range of timely manufacturing, technology and other hot topics.

• Bustling Expo Floor - With more than 65,000 square feet filled with major machinery manufacturers, distributors, and materials, software and supply companies, you are sure to discover something you could use for your shop.

• Happy Hour Events – The first two days of the show will conclude with an opportunity to unwind with a drink and talk shop with fellow attendees.

For general conference and show information: Harry Urban | Woodworking Network harry.urban@woodworkingnetwork.com (708) 373-4344

TOP 4 INGREDIENTS

Used to Build a Strong Culture

By Amrita Bhogal, People & Culture Leader at Sunrise Kitchens Ltd.

Culture in an organization is essential for attracting new hires, retaining talent, and creating a sense of belonging. Building one is like creating a family recipe that is adjusted accordingly as it is passed down through each generation. Below are the top four ingredients we focus on to build our culture at Sunrise Kitchens.

RESPECTFUL COMMUNITY

An important attribute to building a strong culture is having respect. Some ways you can build a respectful community within your team is to practice active listening skills. Being an active listener can help you build trust, develop a mutual understanding, and empathy with others. Active listening can break the barrier of listening to any objectives when teams are faced with the resistance to change. In LEAN perspective, we hear the phrase “walk the Gemba or where the activity is and listen to the people”.

Approaching conflict as a collaborator will also help mitigate those who are most troubled with the changes. Collaborating and understanding where they are coming from will show your team that you are willing to listen and be flexible to come to an agreement both are comfortable with.

ENCOURAGING ENVIRONMENT

To have an environment that encourages your team to build their careers within your organization, it is important to provide opportunities for training, courses they can enroll in and participate in organizational workshops. Policies can help streamline career development, especially for employee transfer policies that are initiated by the employee. An open-door policy also allows employees to come in and share their thoughts.

INCLUSION, EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY

A unique way to share the diversity of the team is to visually represent where your team is from. There are endless ideas of how this can be brought to life. For example, it can be in the format of a map on the wall or a pin able globe. You can

achieve team cohesiveness through being transparent in your communications by creating an internal newsletter or having organizational meetings every quarter. Furthermore, making employee focused decisions will help create equality. Lastly, building a two-way communication in the majority of conversations will help create collaboration and ownership. Another way this can be achieved is through creating a marriage between selfevaluations and performance reviews.

ORGANIZATION EMPOWERMENT

Empowering the organization can take place through many activities. A good place to get started is by embodying

company values by setting examples through actions and communications along with positively reinforcing desired values by providing verbal rewards when the employee demonstrates the values. Another empowering action can be to celebrate failures. This will help break down the fear associated with doing some wrong or the worry of termination. It is important to create a safe environment that allows employees to make mistakes and learn from them. Empowerment can show up in the form of system integration. Allowing departments to work together and access information when they need it will allow them to make powerful decisions.

Amrita Bhogal is the 3rd generation at Sunrise Kitchens Ltd, with a focus on People and Culture. She is leading change through lean principles and by strengthening culture through values and behaviours. Amrita is engaged with her industry as the Vice President of the Canadian Kitchen Cabinet Association and a member of the board of directors with Surrey Board of Trade. For her innovation, Amrita received the Wood Manufacturing Council’s Innovation in Human Resources Award in 2020.

“EMPLOYEES ARE A COMPANY’S GREATEST ASSET — THEY’RE YOUR COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE. YOU WANT TO ATTRACT AND RETAIN THE BEST; PROVIDE THEM WITH ENCOURAGEMENT, STIMULUS, AND MAKE THEM FEEL THAT THEY ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF THE COMPANY’S MISSION.”

- ANNE M. MULCAHY, FORMER CEO OF XEROX CORPORATION

THE PROMISE OF SUSTAINABILITY

Canadian businesses and eco-friendly innovations

By ELLIE KING, Editor, Wood Industry Magazine

Sustainability has been a popular buzzword for many businesses, especially in the last few years. The term is used in marketing campaigns and advertisements, product descriptions, and even brand bios. However, it is all too often spoken about instead of acted upon. South Shore Furniture does not sell a dream of sustainability, they actively implement methods to achieve it.

Innovation is the key to progress any enterprise forward. Especially, in this time period where your carbon footprint matters more than ever before. Sustainable practices can make a piece of furniture far more durable and sturdier to live a longer life in one’s home or office.

SOUTH SHORE FURNITURE’S GREEN TEAM

Sustainability is the ultimate goal. However, it is, unsurprisingly, no easy feat. Hence why South Shore Furniture has developed its own in-house green committee to be responsible for these sustainable strategies.

Comprised of a team of ten employees that are passionate about both furniture and the environment, the committee is knowledgeable about the environmental issues affecting the furniture industry and what methods South Shore Furniture can implement to reduce their impact on the earth. With their commitment and fervour, the company has been able to reduce its carbon footprint over the past few years.

Mathilde Giffard Chatelain has been the corporate manager of continuous improvement and environment for South Shore Furniture’s sustainable development team for almost four years now. When she first began working with the furniture business, the sustainable team was only working on methods that complied with environmental regulations. Since Chatelain has been in charge, she’s revolutionized the sustainable development department in fairly influential ways.

Chatelain discusses some of the sustainable projects stating, “actually we are working on a project like that right now, we’re going to provide furniture that we call ‘Last Chance Furniture’ which is furniture we can’t sell anymore because of a minor scratch and instead of throwing them away, we sell them to our employees at

a very low price or provide them to an organization.”

The sustainable team and green team are committed to reducing waste from South Shore at the production and distribution level. “We have a process that we implemented three years ago and are getting back some of the products that consumers don’t want anymore or refuse at the reception and we repack them. We make sure that the quality is concern and regulation concern are okay, then we repack them and sell them again. That’s a great way for us to reduce waste at the store,” Chatelain said.

The committee is analyzing the reason behind their returns first to reduce the number of them and in doing so has been collecting data on South Shore’s carbon footprint. Chatelain continues by stating “We call it the ESG (environmental, social, and governance)

Mathilde Giffard Chatelain, corporate manager of continuous improvement and environment for South Shore Furniture’s sustainable development team.

project that has us measuring our impact on the community, government, and environment every year. We are communicating that to our company and the goal is to have the right image of where we are and where we need to go to reduce.”

Chatelain and her team not only cut back on their waste but their timing as well. She was adamant on the entire group prioritizing the right projects to avoid working on any green task that does not make sense for the company. Her team has so far worked on:

• Plastic reduction within our events

• Reuse of our last chance components & furniture

• Reduction of paper (printing)

• Plastic pallets reuse

• Measure the carbon footprint

THE VALUE OF WOODEN PALLETS

Wooden pallets are incredibly durable and have a long-life cycle as well. Unfortunately, most pallets are thrown away after one single use eliminating any future potential.

South Shore Furniture’s Coaticook shipping supervisor Pierre Boucher, understood the myriad of possibilities that wooden pallets could offer if they weren’t tossed away after one use. He challenged himself by initiating a pallet return system to see how effective it would be. Due to the inflated price of wood and issues with supplies, Boucher’s pallet return system has flourished. The project has resulted in $150,000 in pallet savings, 89 tonnes of pallets were diverted from landfills and 236 kg of greenhouse gases were avoided.

SOUTH SHORE FURNITURE’S SUSTAINABLE INITIATIVES

• Using panels made from 50% recycled wood to make our furniture.

• More than 85% of the waste produced in our factories is recycled.

• Redistributes slightly damaged or returned furniture to our employees or various community organizations.

• Collaborates and develops business relationships with ethical and responsible suppliers.

THE CANADIAN FURNITURE INDUSTRY AND ECO-FRIENDLY INITIATIVES

Industry attitudes towards sustainability have progressed, especially in the furniture sector. The majority of consumers care significantly about the manufacturing and processing methods used by the furniture businesses they buy from. In fact, 69% of Canadian consumers expect companies they support to have sustainable initiatives and pay attention to their environmental impact. Eco-friendly

“BUSINESSES MUST RECONNECT COMPANY SUCCESS WITH SOCIAL PROGRESS. SHARED VALUE IS NOT SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, PHILANTHROPY, OR EVEN SUSTAINABILITY, BUT A NEW WAY TO ACHIEVE ECONOMIC SUCCESS. IT IS NOT ON THE MARGIN OF WHAT COMPANIES DO BUT AT THE CENTER.”

– MICHAEL PORTER, HARVARD BUSINESS SCHOOL PROFESSOR

furniture, especially made from wood, lasts for an extensive period, can be reused and recycled and is safe for the buyer and often the health of the workers as well.

To move towards being green, the furniture industry must make distinct developments. This includes product design and assembly changes, alterations to packing, manufacturing, and shipping. Transitioning towards eco-friendly initiatives has been found to reduce costs for manufacturers through:

HOW SMES IN CANADA CAN GO GREEN

Energy savings: The more environmentally friendly the piece of furniture and resources used to create it, the less money is spent by the business. Especially in regard to water, electricity and fuel usage.

Waste Reduction: Through consistent reuse and recycling and the less material and methods required to package a product, the fewer waste there is.

Tax Incentives: The Canadian government offers a number of green programs from rebates to tax credits and financial incentives for Canadian businesses that practice sustainable solutions. Companies can learn about funding opportunities and resources to green their business effectively.

Employee Retention: Almost 75% of employees say that they want more environmentally friendly workplaces, according to an Essity survey. Businesses that go green can see an increase in productivity and a reduction in staff turnover.

As more businesses in the wood and furniture industries turn toward sustainability, it’s worth celebrating those that commit so much of their time and energy to it. It’s important for businesses in this sector to prioritize reducing their carbon footprint and increasing sustainability to contribute towards national and global development. By 2030, Canada plans to significantly reduce its waste as part of its Federal Sustainable Development Strategy through prevention,

reduction, recycling and reuse which support the circular economy.

South Shore Furniture’s efforts reflect and are actively working towards this goal, as are many other businesses in the sector. Creating premium furniture pieces and recycled or salvaged wood is ideal green furniture pieces are frequently manufactured with fewer chemicals. It’s also quite cost effective as

CNC ROUTING SOLUTIONS

environmental efforts can offer bottomline economic savings including making operations more efficient. Ultimately, the initiatives must come from a drive to find innovative ways to support consumers and the environment. South Shore Furniture’s sustainable development team is voluntary, just as genuine support for the environment and sustainable practices should be.

SELEXX SERIES | CNC ROUTER

HIGH PERFORMANCE NESTING CNC ROUTER FOR MAXIMUM OUTPUT.

The Omnitech Systems Selexx Series CNC Router has been developed specifically for higher production CNC router requirements demanding the utmost precision and accuracy, all within a cost-effective investment. The Selexx is the ideal CNC router for nesting applications as it is packed with standard and optional features to maximize output. An industrial design provides for maximum cutting & processing speeds. It is available as a stand-alone solution with automatic part offloading or can be integrated into a full line solution.

www.akhurst.com

Building Trust. Creating Together.

Delta, BC | Edmonton, AB | Mississauga, ON | Montreal, QC | Dieppe, NB

SAWTEQ B-500 Panel Saw HOMAG

The SAWTEQ B-500 machine offers stateof-the-art technology and innovative design. It is equipped with a high saw blade projection of 150mm or 170mm and ensures optimal panelcutting performance.

SAWTEQ B-500 is easy to maintain with easily accessible lubrication points. It also offers reduced dust emission, and a new saw carriage guide with self-adjusting running wheels designed with a patent pending. The saw body is made of SORB TECH which offers ten times better vibration dampening and 30% longer saw blade life. The machine’s main saw blade has energy-saving positioning by mean of a linear guide system with a rocker.

Industrial Wood Coatings Graintone Plus Premium Color System - Axalta

The Graintone Plus stains and glazes are perfect for wood cabinets, tables, furniture, and other interior wood surfaces. The products enhance the rich colour of the wood and can be finished with approved sealers or self-sealing topcoat methods. Graintone Plus stains and glazes are fast drying with little odour and can be cleaned with water. The dyes in the products are colourfast and enhance the tone of the finish. Pre-mixed and ready to spray NGR stains, the coatings are also HAPs compliant. Designed for industrial use and wood substrates only.

Enhanced Over Stack Panel Feeder Black Bros. Co.

The Over Stack Panel Feeder is robotically engineered to push substrates off an autoindexing scissor lift and into production equipment. The machine allows for increased pushing force and running speed of up to 300bs and 100+ fpm. It increases the range of board thicknesses and is capable of feeding 1/8” boards of up to 4”. Additionally, the panel feeder is equipped with an improved air cylinder, carriage movement and operator ergonomics. The machinery comes with a new welded, braced frame for optimal stability and easy installation. The feeder allows panels of 4’x 4’ up to 5’x12’ without the need for a second operator.

MPJC – V4S & V4L Dust Collector Belfab

The Belfab V4L dust collector is a product from the MJPC series. The unit is outfitted with up-flow vertical cartridges and a pulse jet cleaning system. Built with a heavy-duty 11 gauge fully welded and reinforced steel that allows it to be used for pressure ranges and different application requirements. The production processes offer grinding, welding, buffing, sanding, and smelting. There’s an explosion door and accessories, a silencer package and rotary airlock. The dust collector also has easy access to filters and a NEMA 4 control panel.

ORGA-LINE for drawers Blum

The ORGA-LINE system is ideal for the interiors of kitchen drawers and high-fronted pullouts. The unit can be arranged to suit the contents of your choice and ensure organization. The application is available in nominal lengths of 500 to 550 mm. The ORGA-LINE is most used for container sets, utensil divider sets and combo sets. The system is designed for wood drawers with length 19 ¼” to 20”. The trays are stainless steel and have spring-loaded components.

ABS Edge Banding EGGER

ABS Edging is for chipboard, MDF, HDF, and lightweight boards and is available in several decorative coating types, widths, and thicknesses. Perfect for interior design, trade fair construction, and office and home solution, the edge banding system is available from a roll. Optically matched to the respective board decor and wood texture type. Developed with a high-quality look and feel, the device offers creative solutions or different projects. The ABS Edging product is designed to be matched with other EGGER products and decors.

Leadermac Smartmac

Moulder Akhurst

The Leadermac

Smartmac machine makes for a perfect addition to other machines in a facility or works for a small shop looking for a moulder. The unit offers fast set-up to reduce changeover time and a wide range of features in a compact design. Made with a solid cast iron frame, the Smartmac produces unrivaled finished part quality with optimal vibration damping. Designed with a heavy-duty cast iron frame that provides superior vibration damping, it also promotes long bearing and extended machine life. It’s tables and fences are hard chromed with 0.012”-0014” thick hard chrome for longevity.

Automatic Edgebander with glue pot and chain drive- E450 / E450PM HolyTek

Holy Tek’s Edgebander is a PLC controlled logic operated thermoregulator with automatic stand-by and a glue temperature indicator. The machine keys have LED indicator lights for different machining selection units by encoder placed on the transmission system for the drive of the panel. It prompts diagnoses with messages about the use and maintenance required for the machine. There’s an upper presser with a double row of rubber rollers mounted on bearings. The presser is adjustable in height with a handwheel based on the thickness of the panels and designed with a digital position indicator. The Edgebander is outfitted with a pre milling unit with diamond cutters, a roll cutter up to 3mm, finishing brush group and glue scraper unit.

DMC Eurosystem Wide Belt Sanders SCM Group

The Eurosystem is equipped with a roller, sanding roller and superfinisher along with a roller with sensitive EPICS electronic sectional pad. The device detects the working height of the roller and determines the reading of the value with precision. The “POLI-V” belt allows for powerful, efficient, and silent transmission. The machine’s automatic belt tensioning system ensures that the tension remains intact and consistent. DMC Eurosystem Wide Belt Sanders device is perfect for woodworking technology solutions.

Alpha-Brush Infinity Brush Machine

Taurus Craco

The Infinity Brush Machine is ideal for small to medium size production shops and is quite affordable. The device includes Alpha-Brush abrasives available in 600mm, 1000mm, and 1350mm widths and can be ordered with two to four sanding stations. The machine is adaptable for different sanding solutions. It can also be outfitted with sanding rollers or discs controlled by a heavy-duty conveyor system. The sanding rollers and disc stations can be adjusted based on the speed, height, and rotation. The Infinity system allows the user to process various applications including light stock removal, sealer sanding, denibbing, polishing and deburring of flattened wood parts and composites.

Maple Bottom Mount Reduced Depth Waste Container

Rev-A-Shelf

There are two container types in this waste container series. Both are easily concealable and do not compromise their design or style. The 4WCSC-1532DM16-1 Series product reduced depth waste container in light-gray 32 qt. This container design is much slimmer than others in the series which makes it perfect for under the sink applications. The 1532DM16-1 is outfitted with a BLUMOTION soft-close. The 4WCSC-1220-19-1 is the newer version of the two in the series.

Fusion Maker Starter Machine

EpilogLaser

Epilog Laser’s Fusion Maker is the newest machine in their line of entry-level CO2 CO2 laser engraving, cutting, and marking systems. The apparatus combines hobbyistlevel pricing with industrialgrade engineering. It can create engraving and cutting projects from various types of materials from wood to paper, plastic, and textiles. The machine is compact and ideal for new businesses that are just starting up. It’s equipped with a 24” x 12” engraving table and up to 60 IPS engraving speeds. Plus, the Fusion Maker is available in either 30 or 40-watt configurations.

50%

Nearly half of small businesses have experienced random cyberattacks in the past year.

Source: Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)

$2

Trillion

Over $2 trillion in business assets are at stake as majority of small business owners plan to exit their business over the next decade.

Source: Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)

3rd Largest

Canada has the third largest forest area in the world (approximately 350 million hectares), making it no surprise that the forestry industry is a key contributor to country’s economy.

Source: Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB)

13%

Single Family Rental renovations are predicted to account for 13% of all K&B remodeling spending.

Source: National Kitchen and Bath Association (NKBA)

18%

18% of Canadian businesses are owned by women, including small, medium and large companies. The bulk of women-owned businesses in the country have been increasing for several years now and so have the number of female entrepreneurs in Canada.

Source: Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH)

$13

Billion

Labour and skills shortages are harming the Canadian economy. In the last year alone, these shortages have resulted in economic losses totalling nearly $13 billion, a figure calculated from the responses of 563 manufacturers from across the Canada.

Source: Canadian Manufacturers & Exporters (CME)

$17.1

Billion

Canada Exports of wood and articles of wood US $17.1 Billion during 2022, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade, last updated on February of 2023.

Source: The United Nations COMTRADE Database on International Trade

25%

25% of Canada’s four million tradespeople will have to upgrade their skillset within five years due to technological advancements.

Source: RBC Skills Canada

BRANDS OF DISTINCTION

LARGEST INTERIOR PRESSURIZED CABIN & DUAL FAST - QUICK CHANGE SPRAY GUNS SYSTEM

UALTECH

400 SERIES

MVT - PERFECT EDGE PREPARATION

Spending too much time and labour edgesanding yo primed MDF components?

• Ideally suited for integration into panel finishing lines

• Modular design allows for sur facing veneered and/or

coated wooden and MDF edges

• Dramatically improves finished edge quality and appearance.

Dualfast

gun “quick-change” system allows you to switch from one colour to another in seconds! Having a dedicated Dualfast setup reduces contamination and time. sy spray gun

POUND FOR POUND, THE 400 IS THE BEST VALUE AND BEST PERFORMING DUAL ARM SPRAY FINISHING MACHINE IN CANADA

• Designed to spray stain, primer and top coat finishes onto smooth or shaped sur faces

“The patented 'DUALFAST' quick change system is a game changer ”

WILLIAM VAN LAGEN, CARVER CABINETRY

With a branded product, you know what you’re getting. GRASS is the best case in point. Our premium movement systems combine technological advance, comfor table functionality, top quality and precision all the way through to the smallest detail. kinvaro.com