$10 million in provincial funding will help Huntsville-based manufacturer Daiken North America scale up production of an innovative laminated board designed for global markets.
  
A new chapter in Canadian forestry is unfolding as the province of Ontario partners with Japanese firm Daiken to bring an advanced, sustainable wood panel product to market

With the help of a significant provincial grant, Daiken North America is set to revolutionize the global market with its new DIO woodcore product—developed and produced right in Huntsville.

$10 million in provincial funding will help Daiken North America scale up production of an innovative laminated board designed for global markets.

The money will help the company upgrade its laminated board production line at its manufacturing facility in Huntsville and bring a first-of-its-kind wood panel product to market, create jobs, and boost productivity.

"Daiken’s $70 million project will equip them to manufacture a new type of wood panel used in flooring, recreational vehicles, and modular housing, while supporting 128 existing jobs and creating 10 new jobs. This made-in-Ontario forest product is the first of its kind in the world, offering a higher-performance, lower-cost alternative to imported material," says a release.

"It will be made available to domestic and international markets, enhancing Ontario’s reputation as a world-recognized manufacturer of innovative and sustainably-sourced wood products."

Supporting Daiken’s project will also help build a stronger forest sector by providing a new market for underused wood and supporting 28 forest sector businesses throughout the region.

“Ontario’s forestry sector is a key pillar of our economy, supporting over 100,000 jobs across the province,” said Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade. “Through the Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program, our government is ensuring companies like Daiken can scale their operations, which will not only strengthen our domestic manufacturing supply chains but expand the reach of Ontario-made products to new markets, increasing the sector’s resilience and competitiveness.”

Daiken Corporation is an international panel producer based in Japan. The company has close to 4,000 employees, with net sales equivalent to $2.3 billion in 2022. Daiken North America’s Huntsville facility employs 128 people, manufacturing panels sold to Original Equipment Manufacturers as well as Canadian and U.S. distributors.

Source: orilliamatters.com