October 8, 2008—Low product pricing and weak product demand have caused Tolko Industries to curtail operations at its Soda Creek mill starting on October 20th.
The stud mill and planer operations will be idle until at least November 2nd, affecting about 145 employees. Nearly 9 million board feet will be removed from the marketplace.
The decision to start up the mill will be dictated by market conditions.
“Returns and demand for lumber are weak. The picture for studs is even weaker,” says Rob Fraser, General Manager, Cariboo & Alberta Lumber.
“We know decisions like this are tough on our employees, who have performed well and operated safely throughout the year,” says Fraser. “But we must make decisions in the best long-term interest of our company and our people, and adjustments like this from time-to-time will be necessary while the market is in its current state.”
Tolko Industries Ltd. is a private, Canadian-owned forest products company based in Vernon, British Columbia with over 4,500 employees. Tolko is a major producer and marketer of lumber, veneer, plywood, oriented strand board, and kraft papers, with manufacturing operations across Western Canada. The Company’s Woodlands operations have received third-party certification of their sustainable forest management systems.
Contact
Rob Fraser General Manager, Cariboo & Alberta Lumber
250-392-3371
