Trinity Post & Panel Inc. (TPP) has expanded to a new factory site, and the company has some big plans for its energy-saving home and commercial building system business.
CEO Ken Harper says the company purchased a 12-hectare (29-acre) manufacturing site in Lone Butte on June 1, and moved its production there on July 1.
It’s the first South Cariboo manufacturing site owned by TPP, despite being based in 108 Mile Ranch, he explains.
“We were working on private property, but [this] is a brand new site … brand new location.”
Harper says the company’s goal is to work towards growing “significantly more employment” for the communities of the South Cariboo.
“Our desire is to begin construction of an expanded manufacturing and education facility in the fall of 2017.
“This is our starting point, and our goal is a 300 per cent increase in sales as a result of this [by the end of] 2016.”
He notes TPP has already seen an increase of 113 per cent for this year, and currently has nine employees.
“Hopefully, next year at this time, we will double that [to 18 staff], at the very least.
“Long-term, we have 40-50 [employees] planned for the yard, and 20 for the office.”
Peter Skene Ogden Secondary School (PSO) teacher Chris Drouillard says he volunteers as TPP sales and marketing consultant for the benefit of local youth.
The local physical education teacher notes he is also licensed in computer science and has taught business education and entrepreneurship at PSO in the past.
Drouillard adds he wants the community to be aware of, and benefit from his “greater purpose” of helping to secure more education and athletics funds.
“My goal is to provide enough prosperity that we can invest in our local athletic programs for our schools and our kids … and Ken Harper is supporting that through this company.”
Says Harper: “This is one direct avenue where we are going to actually give back and support the community. It’s one of our chief goals to fund athletic programs.”
The Lone Butte manufacturing site includes a facility for a new polyurethane press TPP is building for its lamination process (for manufacturing walls and roofs), as well as plenty of room for its outdoor processes, he explains.
“We’re installing our own mill … to cut the timbers for our patented construction system.”
With the expanded business the company has planned, Harper adds TPP will need “a lot of wood.”
“We’re talking to a lot of communities [around British Columbia] for our wood supply – specifically, First Nations.”
With the help of its teacher-volunteer Drouillard, and others, TPP markets its patented, eco-friendly building system for the construction of everything from houses and condos to resorts and commercial buildings.
Drouillard adds the TPP process and patent will hopefully also create a lot of spin-off employment for other communities, and industries, beyond the new local jobs in its focus.
“We are talking about more full-time work and more economic development as a result of our need for things like timber and running [the new] plant.”
Historically, the new TPP factory site at the train crossing on Watch Lake Road was the (James and Glenn) McMillan lumber mill site from 1963 to 1978. Later, it was also home to Pacific Log Homes for many years.
More information on TPP’s future plans and employment opportunities is online at www.trinitypostandpanel.com, or on Facebook (under Trinity Post & Panel Inc.).
