Business View Magazine | April 2021

85 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE APRIL 2021 different types of wood we work with.” He adds, “Mekanika has put together many precise and productive factories before in the wood flooring business and they have a great reputation in the industry. Especially now as we transition our equipment, they are proving to be a highly professional and reliable equipment partner that we can count on.” With the COVID-19 pandemic shaking up the timber industry, BSL has had to adjust its projections to cater for a softer market, mainly as demand migrates to upstream product categories like two-by-fours, which have tripled in price. Emery admits, “Substantial backorders have created pressure on our category of products because, for a sawmill, it becomes more appealing to produce two-by-fours than to produce hardwood products.” A rise in construction timber prices is also putting pressure on residential homeowners, who are having to pay such high costs for roofing that by the time they reach the floor, they have little left to invest in premium flooring products. So BSL is doubling down, expecting demand to contract in the short term, as it seeks to weather the current uncertain times facing not just the timber industry but all industries. Peering into the future, BSL is banking on engineered products as the centerpiece of its growth plan. “While we have some good years ahead of us with hardwood, we appreciate that engineered products are the future, and we are actively investing in that direction,” says Emery. The company hopes to tap into the growing demand for engineered products in high-rise buildings like condominiums. BSL WOOD PRODUCTS (BOI S BSL INC . ) “The second thing we are focusing on is building a compelling value proposition that positions BSL products in the premium category,” he continues. “We expect our new branding direction to place us in a prime position, establishing us as a flagship supplier to our partners. The third area we will continue investing in is automation, maybe eventually artificial intelligence that will take our business to the next level.”’