Invest Ontario is supporting Element5’s $107 million investment to expand its mass timber operations in St. Thomas, Ontario. The project will double the site’s production capacity, boosting domestic supply of sustainable building materials to meet the rising demand for affordable, modular housing.
The expansion features a new facility equipped with a fully automated Glulam (glued-laminated timber) production line. The investment will create 150 new jobs, with the company’s workforce expected to surpass 300 employees.
Mass timber construction has been gaining popularity in both housing and non-residential projects in North America. It offers a low-carbon, renewable alternative to concrete and steel used in building structures, while enabling faster construction speed.
Element5 has been a key supplier for affordable housing projects, having completed nine projects across Ontario to date. A notable example is a four-storey, multi-unit supportive housing building in Kitchener that took only one year from design to completion. The company’s portfolio also includes commercial, industrial and municipal projects such as North America’s first mass timber-constructed warehouse in Brampton.
“This expansion represents a bold step forward for Element5, our partners and the mass timber industry in Canada,” said Chris Latour, President of Element5. “We are proud to provide innovative, sustainable building solutions that help address Canada’s urgent need for affordable, climate-friendly housing and infrastructure. With our expanded operations, we are even better positioned to support communities across Ontario and North America.”
Ontario’s rich forest resources, combined with its skilled workforce and advanced manufacturing expertise, make it the natural home for Element5’s continued growth. Forests cover nearly two-thirds of the province’s land area, providing a reliable supply of sustainably sourced lumber.
By increasing production of Glulam and cross-laminated timber (CLT) made of lumber sourced in Northern Ontario, Element5’s expansion contributes to strengthening the province’s forestry sector and regional economies, while reducing the reliance on imported building materials.
“Ontario’s forestry and wood manufacturing sectors support tens of thousands of jobs across the province,” said the Hon. Vic Fedeli, Minister of Economic Development, Job Creation, and Trade. “As our government delivers on our plan to protect Ontario, Element5’s expansion will create over a hundred new jobs and bolster the province’s wood manufacturing supply chain, increasing the forestry sector’s competitiveness and unlocking new opportunities for workers, builders and homeowners.”
Founded in 2015, Element5 is a homegrown manufacturer and leader in the design, fabrication and assembly of mass timber buildings. Last year, it received a strategic investment from parent company the HASSLACHER group, an Austrian-based timber producer, that helped fund this expansion.
The investment will be supported with a loan of up to $8 million through the Invest Ontario Fund, subject to reaching a definitive agreement.
“At Invest Ontario, we are expanding our scope to respond to a changing economic environment including support for affordable housing which is a priority for Ontario,” said Khawar Nasim, CEO of Invest Ontario. “This project advances that focus by supporting a homegrown mass timber supplier that is instrumental in meeting the growing demand for affordable, modular construction.”