While the price of lumber may be tough for those who buy it, it has been good for a few large Salmon Arm companies.

At USNR, the former home of Newnes Machine, General Manager Rob Seaman said the lumber prices definitely benefit the company.

“USNR is strong, and we continue to be strong in the industry and will continue to do so. Lumber prices help our customers, which means that we get more opportunities. “

USNR supplies equipment and technology for the woodworking industry.

A little over 100 people currently work at the facility, according to Seaman.

At the beginning of 2020 the company had to “brighten up a bit”, but then the prices of sawn timber rose, which meant more staff.

Seaman said that while the site used to be mostly manufacturing, this is handled in other departments. Most of the Salmon Arm facility is currently in operation.

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At Canoe Forest Products, General Manager Marcello Angelozzi said the company had a difficult year 2019, which lasted until around spring 2020.

“Things changed in midsummer, both on the timber market and on the plywood side. The markets are very strong right now.

“We have order files that take us through the summer. Long order files mean we’re in good shape with the market, which has stayed strong for a while.”

Angelozzi commented on an unfortunate event that is good for business.

“When we see a bad forest fire season, prices usually get even higher – but we would prefer not to see that.”

He said the Salmon Arm plywood factory managed to bypass many of the problems that plagued some companies. He said the Canoe Forest Products management team did a great job on the COVID-19 front by adapting and wasting very little time due to staff absenteeism.

“We’ve been pretty lucky in that regard. You know we have the best safety metrics we’ve ever seen at our facility. The guys are sure to do a great job. “

He said the facility had fewer security incidents every month and there had been a big improvement year after year.

The Salmon Arm plant employs almost 200 people, a total of around 1,000 in the Gorman Group. This includes various activities in Revelstoke, West Bank, Lumby, and Oroville, Washington.

martha.wickett@saobserver.net
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