Our History | PowerWood Corp.

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The PowerWood Story

British Columbia's premier environmentally friendly producers of customized value-added wood products.

Our Legacy in Wood: Nurturing Roots, Crafting History

Our History spans over the past 29 years, during which PowerWood has cultivated a robust business grounded in relationships, viewing our products not just as commodities but as a service.

From its inception in October 1995, when Steve Power founded PowerWood in the basement of his Coquitlam, B.C. home, the company has witnessed remarkable growth. What started as a one-person venture has evolved into a thriving enterprise with over 40 employees at our advanced remanufacturing facility in Agassiz, British Columbia, Canada.

This facility, geared to produce a diverse mix of specialty and commodity products, is strategically set up to oversee the entire process — from handling raw materials to crafting the finished products. The growth and success of PowerWood have been deeply rooted in Steve’s early emphasis on fostering relationships and treating products not merely as items but as a service.

These core values continue to permeate the ethos of PowerWood through each generation. Our profound passion for enhancing British Columbia’s abundant wood resources has been a driving force in shaping our rich history and propelling us toward continued success.

PowerWood History: our facility in Surrey, BC

The business experienced steady growth, and within a few years, Steve introduced quality control, administrative, and sales staff. All customized manufacturing was outsourced to businesses in B.C., and our inventory found a home in a leased yard in Surrey. By 2002, PowerWood boasted around 21 employees, prompting Steve to acquire a 5-acre distribution yard in Surrey.

Over the next six years, our sales and customer base continued to expand, marking some of the best years in the company’s history. Profits were reinvested to enhance the lumber yard, and we introduced in-house manufacturing by adding equipment. In 2006, our first resaw and chop saw were acquired, and by the summer of 2008, a Weinig moulder was installed. PowerWood was swiftly transforming into the manufacturer we are today.

Leadership Transition: Charting a Course for Excellence

In 2011, Steve Power retired and was succeeded by the ownership team of Jake Power and Dustin Elliott. While Jake spearheads the sales force, Dustin takes charge of operations. Both have been instrumental in the extensive revitalization of the company’s operations, sharing a dedicated commitment to propel PowerWood forward through unwavering quality, top-notch service, and steadfast consistency.

As our business rapidly expanded, the Surrey site reached its capacity. Consequently, a strategic decision was made to seek a new location that could better accommodate our flourishing operations and align with our vision of transitioning into specialty manufacturing.

Move to Agassiz, BC

In the summer of 2021, we completed our relocation to the new Agassiz facilities, situated on 12.2 acres in British Columbia’s picturesque Fraser Valley. These facilities are positioned on the traditional territory of the Cheam, Sts’ailes, Sq’éwlets, and Seabird Island people.

With a more expansive remanufacturing facility, we’re not only boosting our workforce but also ramping up our output. Our annual production is set to surge to 25 MMBF in the coming years, aligning with our steadfast commitment to adding significant value to British Columbia’s rich fibre resources.

Sustainable Practices: Local Manufacturing for a Reduced Carbon Footprint

Our ability to ship finished products rather than rough green materials over long distances has reduced our carbon footprint and our impact the environment, and our ability to perform all processing and manufacturing locally is also of benefit to British Columbians, with lower carbon emissions resulting from being able to do everything closer to the source in our value-added sector.

Crafting Excellence

At PowerWood, our passion for turning B.C.’s Western red cedar and Alaskan yellow cedar into products that look spectacular and last for 100 years resonates from the top to the bottom of the company. We encourage everyone to grow as an individual and as a professional, even if it takes them beyond PowerWood. We want people in the industry to know that this is a place to grow and learn.

The result has been some of the finest value-added Western red cedar and Alaskan yellow cedar products in the world.

PowerWood and Squiala First Nation Partner to Launch
State-of-the-Art Thermal Modification Facility

New Facility to Produce High-Value, Durable Wood Products
and Reduce Reliance on Old-Growth Fibre

Agassiz, British Columbia — October 7, 2024 — PowerWood Corporation, a leading manufacturer of specialty and value-added wood products, proudly announces a new partnership with the Squiala First Nation to develop a state-of-the-art thermal modification manufacturing facility. This cutting edge facility will produce high-value, thermally modified wood products that offer enhanced stability and durability, making them ideal for various architectural and construction applications.

The partnership is a key step in reducing PowerWood’s reliance on old-growth fibre by diversifying its sources and focusing on underutilized species, primarily from second-growth forests. This initiative aims to promote more sustainable forestry practices across British Columbia.

“This partnership with the Squiala First Nation marks a significant milestone in our commitment to sustainability and innovation,” said Jake Power, President and Managing Director at PowerWood Corporation. “Our new thermal modification facility will not only allow us to produce top-tier wood products but also support the responsible use of B.C.’s second-growth forests. We are thrilled to be leading this important shift within the wood manufacturing industry.”

In addition to the partnership in Thermal Modification, Power Wood will invest $8M in its current facility to improve processing speed and efficiency. The facility upgrades, which include new wood moulders, saws, handling and packaging equipment are already in progress and are slated for completion by the end of 2026. The combination of facility upgrades and the new thermal modification facility will create ongoing economic opportunities for local communities and further strengthen PowerWood’s role as a leader in sustainable wood manufacturing.

Read more about our exciting new partnership announced October 2024.

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PowerWood's History