Dismantling begins of grant plant in Timmins.

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The Grant Forest Products oriented strand board (OSB) plant in the west end of Timmins is being dismantled. The facility has been idle since the fall of 2006 when a labour dispute resulted in the lockout of more than 100 employees.

EDS Decommissioning Canada, out of Montreal, purchased the above-ground assets of the plant.

"We successfully resold pretty much the entire plant, so that is being dismantled and packaged for relocation," said Christopher Barten, account executive with EDS.

"Our business is to relocate plants and equipment and we do end up scrapping some stuff but ideally that is a last resort."

The company has hired about 100 local people and has also contracted some local companies.

"For all the equipment not related to the OSB plant - specifically pumps, motors, tooling, bag houses, electrical equipment, small mobile machinery, and pretty much everything down to the last nuts and bolts - that has been sold to local companies," he said.

Fire equipment, such as hoses and suits, have been sold to some colleges needed for classroom instruction.

"What we do is always a last case scenario, unfortunately. It is always best...