Roseburg Forest Products Pembroke Ontario MDF Plant Receives $3 million in Funding for Technology Upgrades

Canadian Parliament Member Anita Vandenbeld announced today (6-27-23), on behalf of Minister of Natural Resources Jonathan Wilkinson, that Roseburg Forest Products of Canada has received $3 million (CAD) in funding to install robotic equipment at its medium-density fiberboard (MDF) plant located in Pembroke, Ontario, Canada. The funding is expected to provide a significant boost to Canada’s forest sector.

The Canadian federal government is investing $1.5 million, using funds from the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program. Citing that the funding will help Roseburg Forest Products Canadian MDF plant adopt innovative technologies and promote low-carbon projects, thereby increasing competitiveness in the forest sector. In addition to IFIT’s contribution, Roseburg has also received a $1.5 million in funding from Ontario’s Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program, which highlights the province’s commitment to supporting sustainability initiatives in the forestry industry.

The integration of robotic systems at the Pembroke MDF plant is expected to have a substantial impact on production capacity. The project involves the installation of and operation of two MDF moulding lines, accompanied by robotic stacking, packaging, and labelling stations. The technological advancement will not only improve efficiency and safety but also create specialized job opportunities, including roles as robot operators for 18 individual.