Global Sticks hoping for a spring start-up

Thanks to a pleasant winter in Thunder Bay, Ontario, construction on the Global Sticks new factory is progressing on schedule.

"We really have to thank our weather gods for providing this beautiful weather for construction," Bruce Hynnes said, raising his arms to the sky. "Everything’s going to plan."

Hynes owns Hood Logging Equipment, the company that is building the state-of-the-art factory to house Global Sticks. 20 construction workers are busy on-site erecting the steel structure for the new building.

Global Sticks will be assembling Popsicle sticks. The company currently operates in China, but plans to close its Chinese plant to relocate to Thunder Bay.

Global Sticks has already acquired white birch timber rights from the Ontario government.

If everything continues to progress on schedule, Global Sticks will be hiring millwrights to assemble the plant's equipment in April. Production should begin at the end of April.

The $5-million project was assisted by more than $1 million in funding from the province and $3.8 million in loans and loan guarantees through the Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation.

When up and running, Global Sticks Inc. is expected to produce 2.9 million food grade wood sticks each year, including Popsicle sticks, tongue depressors and paint stirrers.

Source:

Warm weather helps stick factory construction (TbNewsWatch)