Bigger facility, increased production, more jobs at Element5 in St. Thomas, Ont.

St. Thomas company announced expansion in modular wood construction. CTV Gerry’s Dewan has more.

Element5 unveiled its expanded operations in St. Thomas, Ont. on Wednesday morning.

The company is looking to build on a reputation as a Canadian leader in modular wood construction.

The expansion that’s been in the works for more than a year, but it couldn’t have come at a better time, as the province looks for ways to endure U.S. tariffs.

Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade, addressed the gathering at the Dennis Street facility.

“By ensuring strategic supply chains are developed in Ontario with Ontario workers, we continue to secure the province’s place as the single most competitive jurisdiction in the entire G7,” said Fedeli.

Element5 uses lumber forested in Northern Ontario and incorporates it into modular building components made from laminated and cross laminated wood.

Chris Latour is president of Element5.

“They know that we are a way for the forestry industry to move from really a commodity product to something that is more value-added and really change the outcome of what the forestry industry can do, and how it can tie into modular housing,” said Latour.

The Element5 expansion also comes at a time when there a need for more residential structures, but for those structures to go up faster.

“Our affordable housing series that we did in Kitchener for the YWCA, we got the building up in about 18 days, which is by far the fastest in the industry and really changes the whole trajectory of how that building is built. And they were able to move tenants in 12 months after starting the project,” said Latour.

Fedeli said the province has changed legislation and regulations to open the door for the use of modular wood in high rise buildings.

“To go from four to six to 12 to 14 storeys, and now we’re looking even higher because we know that land is expensive. And once you’ve serviced in front of a piece of property, you might as well be going up,” Fedeli added.

Element5 partnered with the Austrian-based Hasslacher Group, which has a long history with modular wood building products. They combined to fund the $107 million expansion.

“We’re tripling the size of the square footage and doubling the capacity of the line, from 40,000m³ to 80,000m³. So, our trajectory just keeps going up and up and up every year,” Latour told CTV News.

Latour said it will also mean an additional 150 jobs at the facility.