Éric Vaillancourt, Vice President at Canlak Inc., joined by Université Laval and industrial partners Boa-Franc, Lambton Doors, Inortech EMCO, and Canadel Inc., announced a new research infrastructure that aims to position Canada as a global leader in eco-responsible interior wood finishing and densification using innovative practices and solutions.
“The new infrastructure takes the form of an Industrial Research Chair in Natural Sciences
and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) and a cooperative research and
development project (CRD). The Partnership will differentiate itself by including the complete value chain for finishing interior wood products,” said Andree-Anne Stewart, Université Laval.
“The mission for the NSERC-CANLAK Industrial Research Chair for the Finishing of Interior Wood Products is increase the use of interior wood products by improving the overall performance of finishing products and the densification process, as well as giving them new attributes,” said Véronic Landry, Research Chair Holder, Associate Professor in the Wood and Forestry Department, Université Laval.
“The decision to invest in the NSERC-CANLAK Research Chair is in line with our company’s mission: Focus our efforts towards the development of high quality and innovative products, enabling Canlak to maintain its position as leader in the Wood Coatings Industry,” said Normand Guindon, President & CEO at Canlak Inc.
The NSERC-CANLAK Industrial Research Chair was made possible thanks to a five-year $3.7-
million investment by NSERC, $2.2 million of which was a contribution of the industrial partners.