While there was a fire, the investigation determined the cause was an “arc flash” from an arcing fuse in the motor control centre cabinet. There was no explosion due to dust, nor residual fires due to dust. In fact, the incident happened the day after crews returned from a shut down over Christmas holidays and a major clean up was done during that shut period. Since this electrical fire, the operation underwent third-party arc flash surveys of the electrical system to mitigate or eliminate the reoccurrence of such incidents.

A report in today’s Vancouver Sun says the January 2011 fire went unreported to WorkSafeBC. Per established practice with electrical fires of this specific nature, the report was not filed to the agency.

Though this 2011 event was not linked to dust, Tolko is taking the speculated role of dust in the recent tragedies within the industry very seriously.   Rigorous housekeeping and safety audits are underway at all sites, with a focus on preventative maintenance, procedures, and emergency preparedness.

###

Contact:

Sheri Greeno
Communications Advisor
Tolko Industries Ltd.
250.549.5341 | sheri.greeno@tolko.com

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and the Minister of International Trade, Ed Fast, made the announcement Sunday during a trip to Tokyo.

“Japan is one of our largest and longest standing overseas customers,” said Brad Thorlakson, President and CEO, Tolko. Over the past 30 years, Tolko has exported a broad range of forest products to Japan, including dimension and metric lumber, oriented strand board, plywood, and glulam. “An agreement that reduces barriers and increases competitiveness is welcome news to the Canadian forest industry and our workers.”.

“Expanding our markets around the world is critical to the long term progress of our company and industry,” said Thorlakson. Tolko now sells more than 40% of its production overseas. “We appreciate the government’s drive to move the country’s trade relations in a direction to further this effort to diversify.”

Tolko Industries Ltd. is a private, Canadian-owned forest products company based in Vernon, British Columbia with 3,100 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.

                                                                                                                 -30-

T-GRADE PRO’s greater dimensional stability across its thickness, length and width provide protection against exposure to high humidity or moisture during construction, and offer improved resistance to edge swell, buckling or warping.  Tolko’s easily-identifiable proprietary blue edge seal provides still more protection. 

T-GRADE PRO is consistent.  The panels are fully sanded on both sides to ensure a uniform appearance and a tighter thickness tolerance.  Panels lay flat, providing a smooth surface for floor coverings, and the tongue and groove panel edge profiles ensures a tight, smooth fit, wet or dry. Advanced resin and press technologies give T-GRADE PRO added strength, so it is stronger, with a focused load point.

Hardy Wentzel, Tolko vice president sales, marketing and logistics, said:  “We know the on-the-job challenges professionals face.  When weather is likely to be an issue, T-GRADE PRO can help minimize costly, time-consuming sanding at panel joints, a benefit backed by Tolko’s no-nonsense, 180 day no-sand, 50 year limited warranty.”

Tolko T-GRADE PRO is available now through Tolko dealers and distributors across the U.S. and Canada.

Tolko Industries, Ltd. Is a private, Canadian-owned forest products company based in Vernon, British Columbia.  With more than 3,000 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 been recognized with third-party certification of its sustainable forest management systems.  For more information, visit www.tolko.com.

###

Hardy Wentzel, Vice President, Sales & Marketing, leads the company’s domestic and international market development and growth, plus oversees its logistics service. As a former Vice President and General Manager at Weyerhaeser Co. and Trus Joist’s European and North American operations, Wentzel brings extensive experience to the position. Bob Fleet, Tolko’s new Vice President, Environment & Forestry, brings experience from leadership positions at Grant Forest Products Inc. and more than 14 years with the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. Fleet will guide the company’s performance in the woods and compliance with forestry policy.

Tolko also acknowledges those who have left the company. Randy Chan retired from Tolko after a 40-year career with the company and its predecessor Balco Industries Ltd. Randy’s career and contribution to the BC forest products industry was celebrated by many past and current colleauges along with family at an event in Kamloops, BC.

Jonathan Rogers left Tolko after 5 years with the company in marketing and sales senior management positions. He played an instrumental role in the company’s move into engineered wood products.

“I welcome Bob and Hardy to the Tolko team,” says Brad Thorlakson, President and CEO. “We are confident that their  knowledge, perspective, and leadership will provide strong contributions toward Tolko’s ongoing success.

“I also want to thank Randy and Jonathan for their contributions and wish them all the best in the future.”

Tolko Industries Ltd. is a private, Canadian-owned forest products company based in Vernon, British Columbia with over 3,500 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.

-30-

The markets will be reviewed at the end of the scheduled downtimes to determine if extensions are required. The curtailment will affect approximately 260 employees and reduce Tolko’s plywood production by at least 10.4 million square feet.

“With Canada being the main market for our plywood products, this sector has been particularly impacted by the unusually cold, wet spring, and the related low construction activity,” said Larry Broadfoot, General Manager, Lumber & Plywood Sales. 

Tolko Industries Ltd. is a private, Canadian-owned forest products company based in Vernon, British Columbia with approximately 3200 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.

All of the forest companies involved believe that more help is needed now as the situation in Japan remains dire, with hundreds of thousands remaining homeless from the disaster, and earthquakes continuing to affect the region. BC forest companies have close ties to Japan, some with employees who live in the affected areas and customers struggling with the aftermath. The Canadian Red Cross will direct these funds to the Japanese Red Cross, which is actively engaged in providing vital relief such as tents, blankets, food, medical aid, etc., in the areas of Japan most affected by this tragedy.

The overall effort to provide both immediate relief and longer term reconstruction will be a massive undertaking. The forest companies are urging others to get involved, and to work collaboratively with our government and officials in Japan to provide assistance in their time of need.