Interfor to invest $50 mill in Castlegar facility
By Castlegar Source
Interfor has announced it will be making a $50-million investment in its Castlegar facility, according to a Nov. 6 press release which also said the project will convert the Castlegar mill to a two-line operation with state-of-the-art technology and optimization.
“We expect significant improvements in lumber recovery, productivity and grade outturns as well as lower conversion costs as a result of the investment,” said Duncan Davies, Interfor’s president and CEO, adding the project will also eliminate the need for approximately $20 million in maintenance-related capital spending over the next four years.
“Rated capacity of the mill calculated on a full two-shift basis will be in the range of 210 million board feet per year compared with the current level of 185 million board feet. Proforma cash payback on the project is less than three years,” the press release said.
“The project is scheduled for completion in the fourth quarter of 2015 and will require approximately 30 days of operational downtime during the construction period. Full operating performance is targeted for the first quarter of 2016.”
