CANADA -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 in Lac-Mégantic,Quebec.

The USD 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 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.

“Our commitment to operational excellence and high-quality products has been part of our corporate fabric since day one,” said Tafisa CEO Louis Brassard in making the announcement. “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 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 hydraulic, electronic and mechanical components, among others. 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.

Tafisa is a subsidiary of the Sonae Industria Group.