Marcus Woernle is a young innovator in an ever-evolving forest industry.

Woernle, 38, has utilized his experience from the time he previously worked at the Crofton pulp mill as a power engineer to meet growing demands for the residential and commercial heat market while being environmentally conscious at the same time.

That led him to establish BioFlame Briquettes, with a production plant located in the Chemainus Industrial Park. HeB次元官网网址檚 the sole owner of the company, with a couple of additional employees and the chance for rapid expansion of the workforce in the future.

B次元官网网址淲e make sawdust briquettes, theyB次元官网网址檙e compressed sawdust bricks,B次元官网网址� Woernle pointed out.

B次元官网网址淲hat weB次元官网网址檝e recently got into which I think is going to be the future is we make a smaller briquette.B次元官网网址�

With limited natural gas available in many parts of the region, it seemed a natural to him for the development of the product for wood stoves.

B次元官网网址淭here are so many benefits, especially for older people,B次元官网网址� said Woernle. B次元官网网址淵ou donB次元官网网址檛 have to stack it. You donB次元官网网址檛 have to split it.B次元官网网址�

The briquettes can be used in any wood stove. B次元官网网址淵ou can mix it, too, which is great, especially for people who donB次元官网网址檛 have seasoned wood,B次元官网网址� he indicated.

Woernle became aware of the concept of a biomass briquetting system while at a trade show in Europe and immediately realized the potential. Purchasing a system still came with limitations and risks.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 been the chicken and egg kind of thing,B次元官网网址� Woernle chuckled. B次元官网网址淥n the Island, no one really wanted to do it.

B次元官网网址淚 just saw there was a demand and I kind of went for it.B次元官网网址�

He managed to transform the remnants of a former Western Forest Products site for his plant, taking waste sawdust and using heat and pressure to mold it into bricks.

The bricks are held together from high pressure and natural resins in the sawdust.

In simplistic terms, Woernle receives sawdust delivery and itB次元官网网址檚 stored in large tents to keep the material dry. A front loader moves the material to be fed into a dryer before itB次元官网网址檚 conveyed to a large silo, ready for the briquetting process.

The material is compressed to form the rectangular briquettes and then pushed into an automated packaging machine. Each package contains 12 briquettes.

A hammermill that crushes or shreds aggregate material into smaller pieces is seen as a game-changer in the manufacturing process for Woernle and thatB次元官网网址檚 where recent funding from the B.C. Manufacturing Jobs Fund has provided a big boost.

BioFlame Briquettes received up to $117,320 to buy and commission a hammermill and briquette press that will increase fibre diversity and production at its facility. That will allow the company to take logging waste directly from the forest to reduce wildfire risk and decrease risk of fibre supply uncertainty while creating new jobs.

B次元官网网址淭hanks to the B.C. Manufacturing Fund, BioFlame is able to acquire the necessary equipment to transform low-value wood waste into densified biomass,B次元官网网址� Woernle noted. B次元官网网址淭his waste includes construction and logging residue, allowing BioFlame to increase production and meet demand.B次元官网网址�

B次元官网网址淪eeing a homegrown company like BioFlame expanding its operations and creating new opportunities for local workers means the investments from the B.C. Manufacturing Jobs Fund are helping grow strong, sustainable economies,B次元官网网址� stated Doug Routley, MLA for Nanaimo-North Cowichan.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e working together with innovative manufacturing companies as they look to grow and bring long-term, sustainable jobs to communities throughout B.C.,B次元官网网址� added Minister of Jobs, Economic Development and Innovation Brenda Bailey. B次元官网网址淏y investing in companies as they upgrade and modernize, weB次元官网网址檙e also investing in strengthening local economies.B次元官网网址�

People have probably started noticing BioFlame briquettes available for purchase at Country Grocer, Quality Foods, hardware stores and other retail locations.

B次元官网网址淭he briquettes on the residential side, itB次元官网网址檚 been growing,B次元官网网址� said Woernle.

But thereB次元官网网址檚 also huge opportunities on the industrial side. Landing a contract with Saanich Commonwealth Place to upgrade its boilers to use biomass was significant for Woernle and his company.

The new system utilizes BioFlameB次元官网网址檚 biomass pucks, so named because theyB次元官网网址檙e like wooden hockey pucks, since briquettes are too large for industrial use.

ItB次元官网网址檚 a continual work in progress for Woernle and long hours are necessary at this stage.

B次元官网网址淩unning your own business can be very trying,B次元官网网址� he conceded. B次元官网网址淏ut I donB次元官网网址檛 regret it at all.B次元官网网址�

More information on the company and its operation is available at https://www.bioflame.ca.