A Legacy of Continual Progress...

In 1960, two families - the Greten and Baehre families from Germany - pooled their entrepreneurial talents to try out a new wood panel manufacturing process. The shareholder group increased in 1966 to include the Shotbolt family, resulting in the Flakeboard Company Limited of today, which for over four decades now has been defining the industry of composite wood panels.

The history of our major accomplishments is testimony to our philosophy of innovation and growth:

	We introduced the first melamine surfacing operation in Canada in 1969.
	In 1972 Flakeboard unveiled the first continuous Mende thin board line in North America.
	In 1985, we became the first producer of particleboard, utilizing continuous technology, in North America.
	We were the first Canadian producers of melamine-faced panel products on a continuous press in 1989.
	In 1991, we became Canada's first producers of dry process hardboard (FIBREX® thin high density MDF).
	In April 1996, the first panel rolled off the world's largest continuous MDF press at G-P Flakeboard in Sault Ste. Marie, our second joint venture with Georgia-Pacific Corporation.
	In 1998, we launched a $30 million expansion to double production of FIBREX®, which has made our St. Stephen, New Brunswick operation one of the world's largest producers of this product.
	Acquired Toronto Melamine Operations in December, 1999, adding two more melamine presses to our capabilities.
	Added cut-to-size capabilities at our plant in St. Stephen, New Brunswick in Fall of 2001.
	In 2002, introduced our 9-stage Direct Print line, UV-topcoat production, and pegboard press, located at our facility in St. Stephen, New Brunswick.
	Woodchem, our resin supplier, was offered for sale in 2003 by its holding company and purchased by Flakeboard to realize vertical integration benefits.
	In August of 2005, we acquired the Georgia-Pacific interest in the joint venture MDF mill in Sault Ste. Marie, making it a fully owned Flakeboard plant.
	Melamine operations moved from the Toronto site in August 2005 to a brand new lamination facility adjacent to the Sault Ste. Marie MDF board plant.
	Flakeboard became the largest in composite panel manufacturer in North America in the summer of 2006 when the company acquired six Weyerhaeuser plants in the United States quadrupling the company’s capacity.
	On September 22, the company announced a $16.5 million investment in the Sault Ste. Marie backed by a 10% grant from the Ontario government. The investment consisted of an energy recovery system, plant capability modifications and the installation of patented resin application technology.

Technology with a human dimension

Continuous improvement - applying to products and people - is central to Flakeboard's strategic plan and integral to our vision. Achieving superior quality and customer satisfaction starts with establishing systems with a strong human dimension focused on our business goals.

We adopted the team concept and cross training so that over time, each member learns to perform every operation the team carries out. Typically, teams meet before or after shift to discuss the day's work, applying their collective ingenuity to improve quality, process and productivity. Management keeps all team members in the information loop, ensuring that they receive regular financial reports that help them relate to how they affect overall company goals. From this collective effort comes cost-effective innovation, top quality products and satisfied customers. Flakeboard has instituted a program of profit- and gain-sharing in support of the positive impact teamwork has had on our business.