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DECEMBER 11, 2014
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After loading her cart in the South Cariboo Lioness Five-Minute, $500 Shopping Spree, contest winner Marion Traill, left, of Deka Lake gleefully celebrated with her helpful daughter, Nancy Pinder, and Lioness secretary, Lydia Kendall, at Save-On-Foods on Dec. 5.
Ainsworth merges with industry giant Carole Rooney
Global OSB leadership lights up local mill outlook
Free Press
The future may be rosier for the South Cariboo with the recently announced merger of Ainsworth Lumber Co. Ltd. and industry giant Norbord. Together they are expected to take the helm of global oriented strand board (OSB) leadership. With 100 Mile House positioned as the cornerstone of Ainsworth OSB innovation, Ainsworth president and chief executive officer Jim Lake says the merger really makes a “very nice, bigger and stronger” company. “In general, this is very good for the operations for Ainsworth, and obviously 100 Mile plays a big part in our strategy.” With a combined capacity of approximately 7.7 billion square feet (3/8-inch basis), the merged com-
pany will be one of the world’s largest many of its facilities outside of North and lowest-cost OSB producers. America are also located. He notes this will position the Norbord president/CEO Peter company to better serve national cus- Wijnbergen will take on this same tomer accounts and realize savings in role at the helm of the new company, freight and logistics costs. which will operate under the Ainsworth is already the Norbord name. (Lake has largest supplier of OSB to agreed to stay on for another Japan, the bulk of which is six months.) manufactured in 100 Mile. Wijnbergen says this transLake says it has a coraction unites two businesses porate growth strategy to behind a common vision of continue to grow that Asian enhanced service to its cusJIM export business, with a goal tomers and growth in North LAKE to double its current market America, Europe and Asia. position. “Norbord and Ainsworth “Naturally that would have an are each low-cost producers in their impact on 100 Mile because that’s the respective regions, and with our com[OSB] press that fits that product the plementary operations and a more best, and it also has the proximity to diverse range of specialty products, the port that makes it freight-logical.” we will be better able to serve our Meanwhile, Norbord brings a customers across the globe.” strong business market it has culLake says Ainsworth believes as the tivated in Europe, which is where new combined company improves
operations at all its mills and expands the reach of its products, this larger platform will also provide opportunity to its people. This could be realized through streamlined processes, product line complexity and maintenance flexibility, as well as by having more resources, capital and best practices to draw from, he explains. Lake notes this will be of mutual benefit to both companies. “We are combining two companies with very complementary strengths. On the Ainsworth side, we are very strong at product development and we are very strong at technology. On the Norbord side, they have long been known as one of the industry’s – if not the industry’s – lowest-cost manufacturers.” Ainsworth is “very confident” the merger will go through successfully, he says.