The Ontario government is investing $10 million to help a manufacturing plant in Huntsville bring a new kind of wood panel product to market. Daiken North America will utilize the funding, through the province’s Forest Sector Investment and Innovation Program, as part of the company’s $70 million project to modernize its laminated board production line. The province said the upgrade would support 128 existing jobs at the plant and create 10 new ones, while also helping 28 local forest-sector businesses that supply materials to the facility. “Our government’s investment in Daiken marks another chapter for our province’s innovative forest sector,” said Kevin Holland, Ontario’s Associate Minister of Forestry and Forest Products. “We’re helping the industry adapt, compete, and thrive.” Daiken’s new product, called DIO woodcore, is the first of its kind in the world. Officials describe it as a lightweight, durable wood panel that combines the strength of oriented strand board with the smooth surface of particle board. The product will be used in flooring, modular homes, and recreational vehicles, providing a more affordable alternative to imported plywood. Daiken’s president, Tiger Yoshiura, said the new product would put Huntsville on the map for innovation in the forest industry. “We hope DIO will strengthen the local economy and make Huntsville known as a leader in sustainable manufacturing,” he said. “Huntsville is proud to be home to innovators, like Daiken, who are showcasing the strength of our forest sector and the talent of our local manufacturers, while having the vision to compete in both domestic and international markets,” stated Mayor Nancy Alcock. “It is a shining example of how Ontario-made ingenuity can support our local economy while advancing sustainable practices.” The Huntsville plant is Daiken’s North American base, employing 128 people. The company’s global headquarters is in Japan, where it employs nearly 4,000 workers. Daiken expects to launch full commercial production of its new wood panel next spring.
