Sault mill may expand product line.

• Author: Ross, Ian
• Position: Sault Ste. Marie - Anthony-Domtar Inc - Brief Article

SAULT STE. MARIE -- A new joint venture mill between Domtar and an Arkansas forest products manufacturer expects to produce its first engineered wood joists by May, 2001.

Officials from Anthony Forest Products Company of El Dorado, Ark. joined Domtar executives at their Sault hardwood plant in early October to break ground for a new 7,920-square-metre manufacturing facility.

The mill will produce a high-quality solid sawn flange I-joist, trademarked in the Anthony product catalogue as the Power Joist. It is made from black spruce scheduled to arrive from other Domtar Mills in Ontario and Quebec. The OSB web material will be supplied by regional producers such as Weyerhaeuser.

The proposed $20-million facility, which is located adjacent to Domtar's lumber mill on People's Road and Third Line, creates 30 high-skilled positions in a new company known as Anthony-Domtar Inc.

Construction at the site began in early November with the building scheduled to be erected just days before Christmas. Equipment will be installed in place by late February 2001, and the first Power Joist will produced sometime in May. Plant capacity is 54 million lineal feet on a two-shift basis.

Representatives from both companies say this joint venture partnership taps into each other's strength including Domtar's manufacturing expertise and access to raw material in Ontario and Quebec, combined with Anthony's experience in engineered wood products along with its extensive sales and distribution network in the U.S. Midwestern market and beyond.

The Sault facility represents the Arkansas-based company's first foray...