Last year, FPInnovations introduced its Innovation Recognition program—an annual competition aimed at recognizing employees with exceptional talent who have contributed toward rolling out an innovative product, process, technology, procedure, or improvement, as well as those who have developed non-traditional forms of collaboration or partnerships. To be selected, innovations must be unique, have been implemented, and provide value, whether of a monetary, operational, or competitive nature. Innovations are then evaluated by a panel of judges made up of FPInnovations employees, using a predefined assessment tool.
To launch the program, FPInnovations celebrated the innovation work accomplished since its establishment in 2007 in a Retrospective including over one hundred innovations. In this year’s edition, 24 innovations were submitted to the competition; all of them are described on plaques on the recognition wall in each of FPInnovations’ main locations. And now – drum roll please – here are this year’s winners!
Science and Technology category
Design provisions for CLT in the Canadian Timber Design Standard
The new design provisions for the 2016 Supplement of the Canadian Timber Design Standard (CSA O86) are considered to be the most comprehensive cross-laminated timber (CLT) design provisions in the world. FPInnovations was widely recognized for facilitating a broader acceptance of CLT among the design, construction, and regulatory communities across Canada, helping to enhance its credibility and demonstrate value to its members.
LignoForce kraft lignin production and use
The LignoForce technology has the potential to increase mill revenues by successfully replacing PF resin with B lignin. FPInnovations assisted a member company in the start-up of its LignoForce lignin production system and the production of B lignin and A lignin, which led to the production of more than 26,000 commercial plywood panels, all passing quality standards and sold to market. Additionally, the mill produced eight tonnes of A lignin for an external client.
Business Practices and Organizational Excellence category
Fly cab on the wall: GoPros to improve efficiency and safety
By putting two GoPro cameras in the cab of a harvesting machine, one facing outwards and the other facing the operator’s screen, researchers can capture otherwise unavailable data. This method allowed researchers to use the operator’s perspective to visually assess the quality of budworm-affected trees and perform timing, and to use recorded on-screen measurements to obtain individual tree volumes. In addition, the innovation reduces the number of field days, ensures access to other data, and allows greater flexibility to conduct measurements.
Want to know more about the Innovation Recognition program? Contact us at info@fpinnovations.ca.