From left, Carl Gade, Albert Lacroix and Edward Heidt

St.-Eugéne, Quebec, Canada—Hardwood lumber manufacturing and distribution firm Foresbec celebrated the opening of its Foresfloor facility with a week-long celebration including a weekend Community Day event with more than 1,000 people in attendance. ForesFloor is a division of Foresbec, established in 2000 to manufacture high-quality hardwood flooring products. Foresbec, a 20-year old company, enjoys sales in more than 45 countries.

The ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by more than 60 invited guests and dignitaries and included remarks from Foresbec president Albert Lacroix and Edward Heidt, chairman and CEO of The Penrod Co., the parent company of Foresbec. Instead of cutting a ribbon during the ceremony, Lacroix, Heidt and Carl Gade, president and COO at Penrod, sawed a board in half to signify the facility’s grand opening.

The opening is significant to the company’s past and future, as Foresbec has dedicated approximately $27 million to the project since 1998 while creating 160 jobs in St.-Eugéne.

“It is a fitting time to put a new face on ForesFloor as well as our facility because it falls right in line with our latest technological advancements, our new product lines and the expansion of our business in the U.S.,” said Lacroix.

The state-of-the-art facility includes a two-bandsaw sawmill; a 150,000-sq.-ft. flooring production plant and drying kilns. It also features a quality control system driven by an artificial vision technology scanner, which improves productivity on the floor while ensuring ForesFloor products are of the highest quality. The highly efficient facility, noted Lacroix, will adhere to and advance Foresbec’s environmental policies, as well. The company has pledged to protect the environment and natural resources by using 100% of its raw materials and using rcycled materials to package all finished products.

Foresbec’s distribution in the U.S. reaches into New England as well as the Great Lakes area. “We have customers just about everywhere in the U.S.,” said Sylvain Masson, Foresbec’s director of sales, “but, in some areas, it is not a structured distribution network. We are [in the process] of moving further into the southern and western parts of the U.S., with a more structured network.”

ForesFloor offers an extensive line of hardwood flooring products including the Classic collection as well as two new flooring collections—the New Expression line and the Technique collection.

Fine dark wood species make the New Expression line a popular choice for today’s consumer, noted Lacroix, with finishes or grades available in exotic, handscraped, brushed, antique or large plank. “The New Expression line meets a growing consumer demand for an elegant presentation coupled with the highest quality, carefully selected wood materials. The species used in the flooring include White Oak, Red Cabreuva, Jatoba and Ipe, also known as Brazilian Walnut.”

The Technique line is engineered wood flooring, offering the look and durability of natural wood flooring while providing exceptional stability and versatility, he noted. “The Technique line is engineered to ensure a precision fit, and is versatile enough to suit a wide variety of installation needs, including on concrete.”

Lacroix said the introduction of the Technique and New Expression lines is a testament to the company’s commitment to creating high quality wood flooring products. “These new lines truly complement our current offerings and provide a full range of fine hardwood products for our clients to use and enjoy.”

All ForesFloors’ product lines offer the highest level of quality in the industry, he noted. This is due, in part, to ForesFloor’s exclusive DuraStar coating and Moisture guard system that provides added protection and value.

“By the volume of wood we produce,” said Masson, “we are one of the largest firms in terms of lumber production, and we are looking to get to the same level in terms of flooring production and sales.”

For additional information, call 819-396-1188.