Jason Koivisto, Ontario Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry.
Scott Burton of Royce/Ayr, Dean Garbett and Frank Horvath of FS Tool, Brett Reid of BC Saw and Tool.
More than 40 people attended Bluewater Wood Alliance’s second Networking Meeting in Walkerton, Ont. on Sept. 29.
The Bluewater Wood Alliance is a not-for-profit group of like-minded manufacturers and suppliers, which represents a ‘cluster’ of wood product manufacturers working together for the prosperity of their companies and the industry as a whole. The Alliance was formed after careful planning and looking at what others – in this case the Europeans – are doing to stay competitive in an increasingly competitive global marketplace.
The regular networking meetings are designed to give members an opportunity to meet and discuss business, network, exchange ideas and speak to suppliers.
The second meeting focused on tooling and three representatives from major tooling companies - Scott Burton of Royce/Ayr, Dean Garbett and Frank Horvath of FS Tool, and Brett Reid of BC Saw and Tool - talked to members about the latest in tooling and trends toward increased use of diamond tooling in the industry. As a result of the dramatic, 25 to 40 per cent price increases of carbide and new manufacturing technologies that have made big improvements to diamond tools, the industry is seeing renewed interest in PCDs. While significantly more expensive than carbide, attendees heard that diamond tools can outlast carbide by up to 300 times under optimal cutting conditions.
Jason Koivisto of Ontario’s Ministry of Northern Development, Mines and Forestry was the keynote speaker.
As manager of the ministry’s department of Forestry Innovation and Market Development – which provided funding for the Bluewater Wood Alliance start-up – Koivisto talked about the governments’ efforts and initiatives to market Ontario wood products across the country and internationally, as well as recent policy developments and how they may affect, aid and impact the industry. He also talked about several assistance programs designed to help the industry take part in trade missions and attend trade shows, as well as Ontario’s Wood Promotion Program and its recently introduced Ontario Wood branding to help Ontario furniture manufacturers set their products apart from cheap imports.
The Bluewater Wood Alliance was represented at the recent Green Build Show in Toronto and will exhibit at WMS in Toronto later this month.
