SAINT-LOUIS-DE-GONZAGUE, Quebec -- EBSU Ltd., a manufacturer of kitchen and bath cabinets, has acquired Woodlore, a manufacturer of office and institutional furniture based in Brampton, Ontario.

EBSU, which began ramping up a new 180,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Salaberry-de-Valleyfield in March, said the purchase of Woodlore will help accelerate its growth by expanding into new markets, increasing production capacity, and optimizing its expertise to position itself among the major players in the North American industry.

Woodlore manufactures laminate case goods at its 140,000-square-foot facility. The company says it uses “state-of-the-art equipment and automated processes that are supported by our proprietary resource planning software.” In addition to office furniture, Woodlore manufactures products for healthcare, hospitality and educational markets.

EBSU said Woodlore’s high level of automation was pivotal to its decision to acquire the company. “Automation is central to (our) strategy to become a market leader,” the company stated in its press release announcing the transaction.

"Automation in the manufacturing sector is the key to being competitive. It allows us to control the quality and reliability of our products, optimize production and delivery times, and make better use of our internal resources," said Napoleon Boucher, president of EBSU.

Josianne Lasure, marketing director for EBSU, said while the Valleyfield plant started operating in March, “the automated section in this plant will be operational in the next few weeks.”

EBSU specializes in residential cabinets, pre-assembled and ready to install. The company's residential cabinets are sold at large renovation and hardware stores such as Lowe's, Réno-Dépôt, Rona, BMR, and Patrick Morin.

Coincidentally, both EBSU and Woodlore are celebrating their 40th anniversaries, having each been launched in 1981.