By embracing renewable materials and advanced manufacturing, PinkWood Ltd. delivers innovative solutions for the housing industry’s growing demands 

Founded in 2010, Pinkwood Ltd. is the largest manufacturer and supplier of I-joists in Western Canada. Known for its focus on production quality and planet-first practices, the company has experienced ongoing expansion into new territories. As company President, Steve Kovats, begins: “We currently operate out of an 80,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Calgary, Alberta. The main goal is to manufacture sufficient volumes of engineered I-joists for the residential and multi-family property sector, as well as some commercial applications. Originally, we operated exclusively in Western Canada, but as time went on, we were able to expand into the US market. Now, we have distribution as far as South Texas. 

“In 2021, we added a second shift operation, which brought us close to over 120 employees, most of whom work on the shop floor. We also have a leadership team overseeing the entire operation. Our managers are young and energetic – the average age being around 39 years old. It’s a diverse team, with 50 percent being part of a minority group. In addition, we produce an environmentally friendly product, with all our input wood coming from sustainably managed resources. 

Steve Kovats, President Pinkwood Ltd
Steve Kovats, President Pinkwood Ltd

“Engineered wood products, like our I-joists, further extend this benefit by using up to 50 percent less wood, all of which comes from smaller, more rapidly renewable tree types. All our raw materials, as far as wood is concerned, are local to Western Canada, which reduces our carbon footprint and transportation costs. Sustainability and diversity are really our core values at this point.” 

As one of the foremost manufacturers of engineered I-joists in Canada and the US, PinkWood Ltd. offers everything homebuilders need to create sturdy and sustainable structures. As Steve discusses: “Within our product portfolio, we have a range of sizes and grades, designed to meet the needs of our customer base. The designs vary in terms of size and depth – ranging from ten inches, all the way up to 24 inches. In addition, we offer fire rated solutions, known as Web Shield®. These products provide additional safety measures for homeowners and firefighters. They’re one of our most sought-after products, as they outperform the proposed regulations in both Canada and the US.” 

Celebrating 15 years in business, Steve considers the secrets behind PinkWood’s success: “I think the biggest driving force behind our success has been continued investment in our people and facilities. These efforts have been crucial as we’ve managed expansion into new markets and territories. It’s thanks to the efforts of our highly trained workforce that we’ve been able to increase our market share over the past few years. 

“Another cornerstone of our success has been our focus on continuous improvement. This is a critical element of our company culture that brings a desire to grow and evolve into daily life. We see opportunities for this in all areas of the business; whether it’s new equipment, more streamlined processes, or alternative materials, we’re always considering how we can be better than the day before. 

“Finally, I believe that our location has also been central to our success. Being the only I-joist manufacturer in Western Canada gives us a big competitive advantage in the region. Our location really provides a freight advantage to our customers in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest and there is also a currency benefit to our US clients.” 

The company’s culture of continuous improvement means PinkWood Ltd. is always researching and developing new strategies for success, as Steve details: “We stay in close contact with our customers and suppliers. The biggest thing is to understand market trends. By working with our customers, we can gain greater insight into their needs. Using that data, we can tailor specific product offerings to those requirements and specifications. 

“We also use research and development to overcome any challenges we might come across – for example, we’ve recently been having some difficulty with material supply. Lumber producers in Western Canada continue to struggle when it comes to continuously logging new fiber – they’re having a tough time sourcing the materials, and, subsequently, supplying industries such as ours. There are lots of reasons for this, such as forest fires, Pine Beetle, government restrictions, and so on. It means we’re constantly under pressure to diversify and qualify new wood species that we can run through our facility. Our lumber broker (Canadian Engineered Wood Products) has done an excellent job supporting us by sourcing alternative suppliers.

“In addition, we’re continually running trials and new equipment to process different kinds of wood. Through this process of constant refinement, we’re not only able to find solutions, but also locate and implement new efficiencies into our process. This helps improve quality, and really speaks to our belief in continuous improvement, as we’ve been able to turn an obstacle into an opportunity for growth.” 

Major investments in the latest manufacturing technology will safeguard the future of PinkWood, as the company steps confidently into its next chapter. As Steve reveals: “Between 2023 and 2024, we’ve spent upwards of $10 million on new manufacturing equipment. We’re now seeing the tail end of an intense period of large-scale capital investments, and the goal here was to modernize and automate our facility. This was to ensure the longevity of our operation by increasing efficiency and raising the standard of quality over the next ten-plus years. 

“Current data is showing that North America is experiencing a housing shortage, and that’s definitely going to drive demand for our products. With these new automated systems, I’m confident that we will continue to play a key role in getting these properties built. Over the coming years, our mission is to help bring homes to people who need them, and grow our business at the same time,” he concludes.  

www.pinkwood.ca