Atlas Engineered Products has broken ground on a new robotics manufacturing facility in Clinton. A $4-million investment from Natural Resources Canada, through the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program, is intended to help the company expand production capacity and strengthen the wood construction supply chain through increased manufacturing of value-added building materials. The announcement was made Wednesday by Sarnia-Lambton MP Marilyn Gladu on behalf of Energy and Natural Resources Minister Tim Hodgson during a groundbreaking ceremony at the site. According to the federal government, the new facility will allow Atlas Engineered Products to modernize and expand its manufacturing operations with advanced automation and robotics technology. The investment comes as Canada’s forest sector faces economic pressures, including trade challenges and tariffs affecting exports to the United States. Federal officials say the funding is aimed at helping Canadian forestry and wood-products companies innovate and expand production. In a statement, Hodgson said the forestry industry remains a key economic driver for many Canadian communities and that investments in industrial-scale innovation can help companies increase capacity and develop new products. Gladu said projects such as the Clinton facility help create jobs and support economic growth in smaller communities. Atlas Engineered Products manufactures wood-based building components and construction products. The company says the new facility will help increase production while supporting demand for housing and other construction projects. No timeline for the facility’s completion was immediately announced.
