Tafisa Canada, a leading particleboard and TFL decorative panel manufacturer, has announced the completion of a major investment to modernize its Line 1 continuous particleboard press, giving customers access to products of excellent quality and reinforcing Tafisa’s strong industry position.
“Our commitment to operational excellence and high-quality products has been part of our corporate fabric since day one,” said Tafisa CEO Louis Brassard. “This latest investment brings our Line 1 particleboard press to the most advanced, state-of-the-art industry standards, delivering a wide range of benefits to our customers.”
The $23-million modernization project saw the complete refurbishment of the company’s original press, responsible for producing high-quality particleboard panels used in the company’s trendsetting thermally fused laminate (TFL) line of decorative panels. In collaboration with Siempelkamp, the effort involved specialized contractors on site at the company’s Lac-Mégantic plant over a nine-week period. The project began in February and was nearing completion when government authorities declared a public health emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the project was able to proceed at a reduced rate following the implementation of strict and exceptional sanitary measures to ensure a safe environment for workers and employees.
Line 1 was one of the first original continuous presses to be installed in North America, and over the last 28 years, produced superior products that completely transformed the industry, Brassard said.
“Our treasured Line 1 was in need of a major refurbishment in order to prepare itself for the coming decades of operations,” he explained.
The new continuous press features the latest technologies available, enabling Tafisa to prepare for a potential capacity increase to Line 1. This investment will provide for more consistent physical properties, better surface characteristics and more precise control over panel thickness, Brassard explained.
“With this investment in the latest technology, our customers will get a more consistent product that in turn will allow them to gain efficiencies in their internal processes,” he said.
The project consisted of removing every component of the press, leaving only the structure of the original frame and replacing the heating platens as well as hydraulic, electronic and mechanical components. This latest investment by Tafisa comes on the heels of the installation of new rotary screens and a gas extraction system on the same particleboard Line 1.
We're proud to consistently provide the best value products to our customers while maintaining our position as a North American leader in the wood-based panel market,” Brassard said, making a point of especially congratulating the teams involved in the project, which was delivered in an unusual period that required the implementation of unprecedented safety and hygiene measures.
