AT A GLANCE
- First-of-its-kind molding line
- Optimized machine performance with Reliability+
- Continuous improvement through quarterly visits and remote support
- Record-setting production levels — and a stronger team
Need
Automating a Hard-to-Fill Role
When Roseburg Forest Products set out to automate its molding line at the Pembroke, Ontario facility, they were breaking new ground. The project was a prototype — one that had never been done before — and success would depend on iteration, refinement, and the ability to adapt on the fly.
The original goal was to reduce reliance on a physically demanding role that was increasingly difficult to staff — improving safety and unlocking new capacity. But building a line that could handle molding in a wide range of sizes and profiles would prove more complex than anyone anticipated. Without a clear roadmap, Roseburg needed a partner who could troubleshoot, improve, and evolve the system over time.
We used to package by hand, but struggled to hire for those roles. No one wanted to do that physical labor. We’re a safety-conscious company; we protect our team members — so if we could eliminate the need to wrap by hand and continue to optimize our operations, it was a win-win. Because of our great relationship with Con-Vey, we decided to start investigating the automation of the molding line.
Kevin MacGillivray
Logistics & Value-Add Manager / Roseburg Forest Products
solution
A Partnership Built on Continuous Improvement
Con-Vey’s Reliability+ program became the glue that held the project together. Through a combination of quarterly site visits, bi-weekly strategy calls, and remote PLC support, the service agreement allowed both teams to stay aligned and responsive to the equipment’s complexity. Together, we worked through growing pains and fine-tuned the equipment, even making sensor and tooling adjustments to improve performance.
It’s not just ‘flip a switch.’ There are so many mechanical elements, and everything needs to communicate and handshake up and down the line. It was a prototype — we collaborated to make it run better. Post commissioning, Reliability+ helped to optimize the line with steady production results — including ongoing communication and training with our guys.
REsult
Improved Reliability = Record-Breaking Performance
With each iteration, the equipment improved — thanks to an evolving, collaborative effort between Roseburg’s full in-house team and Con-Vey’s engineers. What began as an untested prototype turned into a reliable operation… and the results speak for themselves.
We’re beginning to reap the rewards: We’ve set three production records in the past four months, and being more productive has allowed us to hire more people to support the operations. Everyone’s excited about what the molding plant has done, and there’s no doubt Con-Vey is a part of it. That’s the power of equipment reliability.
