Canfor announces $40 million upgrade to Elko sawmill

Canfor announces upgrade to Elko sawmill.

On the heels of investing $40 million in getting its sawmill in Radium Hot Springs back into production, Canfor has announced a $40 million upgrade to its Elko sawmill --- definitely good news for the East Kootenay.

Forestry and lumber firm Canfor officially announced on Tuesday that it will spend $40 million on upgrades to its Elko sawmill in British Columbia.

The sawmill, located in the Kootenay region of B.C., will receive upgrades to the sawmill itself and increased kiln drying capacity, as well as the construction of a greenfield planer mill complex.

“These investments are aligned with our strategic investments in our Kootenay assets, and are necessary to ensure our Elko facility can operate competitively in all market conditions,” Canfor president and CEO Don Kayne said in a statement.

The largest forest company in B.C., Canfor says it has invested $372 million in its facilities in the province.

The Elko projects will launch in the first quarter of 2013, with an anticipated completion of the third quarter of the same year.