Prince George, B.C. – Brink Forest Products Ltd. has entered into an agreement with the Bid Group of Companies to purchase Vanderhoof Specialty Wood Products Ltd. (VSWP); a value-added lumber manufacturing facility that specializes in the production of finger-jointed lumber products, as well as wood pellets and post/rails.

Operating near Vanderhoof since 1991, VSWP employs approximately 70 people. Adding VSWP to the Brink Group of Companies, which includes Brink Forest Products Ltd. in Prince George and Pleasant Valley Remanufacturing Ltd. (PVR) in Houston, the Brink Group of Companies will employ over 300 people in its lumber manufacturing division in northern BC.   In the past ten years, Brink has built two new finger jointing lines at its Prince George facility and is planning further expansion at its PVR operations in Houston.

“We have embarked on this aggressive growth strategy in response to our customer’s growing need for quality lumber products and the increasing consolidation of the lumber industry in British Columbia and throughout North America” said John Brink, President and CEO of the Brink Group of Companies. “The acquisition of VSWP makes Brink the largest remanufacturer and finger-joint producer in Canada. It will also provide added purchasing power in the constant pursuit of finding suitable fibre and low grade lumber for our operations.”

Vanderhoof Specialty Wood Products Ltd. started operations in the secondary manufacturing industry in 1991 with a small group of employees, gradually expanding over the years. It added finger-jointing in the mid-nineties and took another step into value added manufacturing after it was purchased by the Bid Group of Companies in 2010. A pellet plant was added to complete the total utilisation of the fibre and its residuals. Brian Fehr and his group have operated the company for the past six years.

Mr. Brink believes that VSWP is an excellent fit for the Brink Group and has no plans to make major changes to its staff or management.