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Cascades Casino, Penticton, B.C. DECEMBER 2018 | 33 Architectural Woodwork PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY TOP 40 WOODWORKS LTD. Software and apps are changing the world of architectural woodwork by ROBIN BRUNET W hat a difference a few years makes: even younger players in the architectural woodworking sector recall the dark years follow- ing the worst of the great recession, when economic recovery was tepid and it was a huge challenge to retain employees and keep mills running. But in 2018, the challenge is finding new blood to meet the overwhelming number of projects coming from the residential, commercial, and industrial sectors. "If a group of young folk came through my door right now, I could put them to work immediately," says Tom Morin, owner of Morinwood Manufacturing Inc. in Victoria, B.C. The volume of work of late has been such that Top 40 Woodworks Ltd. has invested in new technology, equipment, and expanded floor space. "From 2016 to 2017 we doubled our volume, and this year we're increasing our workforce from 40 to 80 people," says Top 40 manager Kelly Glanzer. The activity is even encouraging veterans of the trade to think positively about the future. Speaking as a director of the B.C. chapter of the Architectural Woodwork Manufacturers Association of Canada (AWMAC), Martin Berryman (who is also the owner of Wanes Custom Woodworks), says, "It's an interesting time for our industry because it's in a state of transition, with more and more young people doing amazing things with software. I'm excited by their potential." Berryman goes on to summarize what's happening in 2018 with his associa- tion's 48 manufacturing members in B.C. and 300 colleagues across Canada. "B.C., Alberta, Ontario, Quebec, and the Maritimes are doing extremely well. There's a ton of commercial work out there, along with mid- to high-end residential jobs keeping the membership busy. Plus, in the commercial sector there are lots of new towers being planned, so we'll probably see this high level of activity continue for another 18 to 24 months, at least." Of course, some of this success is due to the ability of the best woodworkers to adopt to changing needs of end users, with one example being the rise of architectural millwork that incorporates technology – such as hidden occupancy sensors placed within ceiling slats that can track the number of people coming in and out of a room, without having to install a device that would be obtrusive or unappealing; or the increasing incorporation of LED lighting into millwork designs (commonly seen in commercial building lobbies). Or, to cite yet another example that speaks to Berryman's remark of an industry in transition, office conference tables that facilitate the sending and receiving of messages through IT and HDMI, and whose creation requires the collaboration between the builders and technological subcontractors. Keenly aware that efficiency of production is more required than ever, Top 40 Woodworks recently redesigned its entire plant layout to improve flow – "because the volume of work in 2017 really challenged us," says Glanzer – and within a five month period this year it installed $2 million in new equipment, including a new automated material handling system with an overhead crane to feed a CNC router. "The router extends into our storage system where material has been laid out in a cage," explains Glanzer. "When ordered, the crane moves into this area and picks up sheets with a suction device. The sheets are then cut as specified, dropped onto an assembly line belt, labelled, and inspected. "Plus, when delivery trucks come in with new material, the crane transports the material into the storage cage where it is codified via software." With Top 40 Woodworks' new and improved plant flow and manufacturing capabilities, the company can better serve new and long-standing clients; and in Creative Expressions 2018, it finds itself working for Mac's Convenience Stores, Shoppers Drug Mart, Sobeys, Overwaitea, Kal Tire, and a host of other well-known brands. "We're also supplying millwork, wall panels, cabinetry and many other elements for various departments at the University of British Columbia's Okanagan campus," says Glanzer. "We recently finished the new Cascades Casino in Penticton, and we're doing a lot of work on behalf of BC Housing – so we are busy but also have enough capacity for added contracts. We also have more expansion plans in place if and when the space is needed." Tom Morin's company in 2018 completed an extended care facility in the Yukon, a hospital in Penticton, and many other projects. "Frankly, the list is so long my memory of the jobs is blurry, plus it looks like we have several health-care projects on the horizon," he says. With a staff of about 50 people and the capacity to recruit many more, Morin and his colleagues are also visiting schools to encourage new talent. "We've had luck getting co-op students from Camosun College, and we're becoming more involved with high schools, because in our estimation a lot of the woodwork- ing courses in high schools are outdated and we need to show kids what the woodworking industry is like in the 21st century," he says. "Even college level woodworking programs struggle with admissions – so we're showing students what opportunities await them in this field." Berryman believes recruitment drives can be successful if the proper informa- tion is delivered. "Let's face it, our sector is one of the lower paying trades, but it can be one of the most fulfilling and creative, so we have to emphasize that. And like I said, the industry is changing: what used to be a distinctly tactile, hands-on trade is becoming less tactile due to the use of software in design, but the creative potential of this software is amazing – and again, this can be a lure for students seeking a career."

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