Seaton specializes in manufacturing waste wood.
SMITHERS – San Group and Seaton Forest Products of Smithers have entered into a strategic lumber supply agreement.
This agreement will combine San Group’s industry-leading integrated value-added manufacturing process with Seaton Forest Products’ specialized processes of manufacturing waste wood into commodity grade lumber products. The San Group process is designed to maximize the utilization of each log harvested. Seaton’s specialized process of manufacturing waste wood uses dry, under-utilized logs that would have otherwise been left in the forest.
Kamal Sanghera, CEO of San Group says, “Over the past few years, San Group has invested heavily into the BC value-added wood products sector. We have constructed one of North America’s largest value-added wood products manufacturing facilities on Vancouver Island. We went against the grain. People wondered why we would build such a plant in Port Alberni. To us it was simple, value-added manufacturing saves the environment and creates jobs. Let’s start with that and the rest will follow.’
With utilization of fibre playing an increasingly critical role in every aspect of the forest business, San Group recognized that it needed to accelerate the development of carbon conscious ways to extend the life of the forests and ensure they remain on the leading edge of environmental stewardship. This San-Seaton agreement brings together deep skills in primary, secondary and tertiary value-added wood products manufacturing.
Andy Thompson, Manager of Seaton, says, ‘At Seaton we process waste wood logs, logs that are generally burned in the forest, and we turn them into cants. San Group is now taking our cants and turning them into value-added wood products. San is fully integrated and has built a world class wood products plant, specialized to create products such as tables, molding, chairs and door frames. In doing this they are breaking the mold. Seaton also prides itself on its philosophy of jobs per metre not metres per job.’