The federal government contributed $2.5 million on Monday to help Canfor Pulp install technology that will help it improve pulp quality and tailor its products to specific buyers.
The announcement was one of several made across Canada totalling $88 million by the Stephen Harper-led Conservative government.
"Our government's top priority remains the economy," said Cariboo-Prince George Conservative MP Dick Harris. "With the economic recovery still fragile, we will continue to take action to protect and create jobs in Canada, including the important forestry jobs in Prince George."
Canfor Pulp, with about 1,100 employees, is an important economic contributor in Prince George.
The Canfor Pulp project's total cost is $9.4 million and is expected to be complete by the end of 2011.
Canfor Pulp will be installing three different pieces of technology at its three pulp mills.
Infrared sensors will scan wood chips for moisture, density and species; while other scanning equipment will take readings during the pulp manufacturing process. Finally, an array of 23 cameras will provide constant information on dirt and defects of finished pulp.
The information the technology will provide will allow Canfor Pulp to optimize its products, and to produce pulp under very specific parameters to customers, explained Robert Thew, Canfor Pulp's engineering manager.
The technology will ensure the raw materials and finished pulp products are matched to the customer's end use, added Robert Dufresne, Canfor Pulp's general manager at Northwood.
"This partnership between government and industry will enhance Canfor Pulp's competitiveness in the global pulp market," he said.
Canfor's pulp is used to produce paper but also some 100 specialty products including fibre cement, masking tape, sand paper, decorative laminates, medical gowns and coffee filters.
FP Innovations, a joint government-industry research agency, helped with the project.
The funding to Canfor Pulp was provided under the federal government's transformative technologies pilot-scale demonstration program.
Canfor Pulp is already in the midst of an approximately $160 million of capital investments to improve energy efficiency and reduce air pollution emissions.
The majority of the funding, $122 million, comes from the a federal government green subsidy program.
