Richmond Plywood, Canada - Enhancing production efficiency and reducing labor costs

MAKING WOOD MATTER

Summary

Richmond Plywood Corporation Ltd (Richply), one of Canada’s leading plywood producers, sought to modernize aging machinery, improve daily repeatability, and reduce labor-related costs. With Raute’s state‑of‑the‑art equipment and responsive support, Richply increased operational efficiency, improved production flow, and strengthened its ability to compete globally. A partnership built over more than 20 years continues to deliver consistent performance, reliable service, and measurable improvements across the mill.

Richmond Plywood Corporation (Richply)

Richmond Plywood Corporation Ltd is an employee‑owned plywood manufacturer located on the Fraser River in Richmond, British Columbia. Since 1956, Richply has produced high‑quality structural panels and specialty plywood for global concrete and construction markets. Continuous modernization, workforce efficiency, and reliable technology partnerships play a critical role in sustaining their competitiveness.
Founded
1956
Location
Richmond, Canada
Annual output
265,000 m3 3/8" basis
Raute Partner Since
2008

Challenge

Before deepening its long-term partnership with Raute, Richmond Plywood faced several operational challenges tied to scale, product mix, and the need for dependable, modern technology. As a mill producing both high‑volume structural sheathing and specialized concrete‑form panels, consistency and reliability were essential, but not always guaranteed. 

Richply identified several key challenges: 

  • Need for highly repeatable, reliable production 
    With an annual capacity of 265,000 m³, Richply required equipment that could deliver stable output every single day. Variability in performance made it harder to sustain the high quality demanded by both structural and specialty plywood markets. 
  • Modernization of core production assets 
    Over decades of operation, the mill had accumulated a mix of older and newer machinery. Ensuring smooth flow and coordination across the entire production line – critical for efficiency and labor utilization – was becoming increasingly difficult. 
  • Rising labor costs and competitiveness pressures 
    As the industry evolved, Richply needed technology that could help reduce manual work, support workforce productivity, and keep the mill competitive in global specialty plywood markets. 

Want to see how Richply overcame these challenges and strengthened its competitive position with Raute’s technology and support? Access the full story.

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