Building Products of Canada (BP) has been producing quality home building and home renovation products for over a century. They continue to be the products of choice in hundreds of thousands of homes across North America each year.
The company was originally incorporated as Building Products Limited in 1925 with the merger of two respected manufacturers. Bird and Son, founded in 1795, built what was to become BP’s fibreboard plant in Pont-Rouge, Quebec, in 1905. Ruberoid Company started up the LaSalle, Quebec, roofing plant one year later. The company brought its roofing and paper making capabilities to the West with the construction of a mill in Edmonton in 1951.
In 1964, the company was acquired by Imperial Oil.
In 1987, the company was purchased by Emco Limited, Canada’s largest distributor of plumbing products to the residential, industrial and municipal construction markets.
BP focused its attention on its core roofing business and, as one of the continent’s largest producers, on its diversified line of wood fibre products.
BP’s penchant for product innovation appeared in many forms over the years, from its invention of vinyl siding back in the ‘60s to its recent introduction of the patented Enermax acoustical panels, now the leader in its category. Manufacturing joint ventures and other forms of partnership with some of the industry’s most important players has enabled the company to expand capacity, introduce new technologies and new products, and enter new markets. The company has also been recognized for innovative marketing, including award-winning merchandising systems and leading-edge e-business initiatives.
In 2003, BP was acquired, along with its parent company Emco, by private investors.
While drawing from its storied past, the company is clearly focused on the future. The core driver of its strategic plan is sustainability. Over the past few years, it has invested heavily in technology upgrades to ensure it remains at the cutting edge of product design and manufacturing excellence. Its products are right for the time and certain to be in demand for years to come. Its plants are in the industry’s top tier for efficiency and low cost production. The commercial, manufacturing and service groups across the organization work arm-in-arm to strengthen the company’s position in its core markets and to ensure it remains, for its expanding customer base, the supplier of choice.
Pont-Rouge Plant
Lasalle Plant
Edmonton Plant
Joliette Plant
Working towards Zero Waste in the LaSalle and Edmonton roofing plants, the company has agreements with several manufacturers to recycle shingle waste into paving asphalt and to use as fuel in cement plants.
The Edmonton plant operates a paper recycling depot, part of the city’s network of recycling drop-off centres. On a yearly basis, the depot collects thousands of tons of waste paper used in the production of felts.
All of the cellulosic fibre used in the manufacture of the company’s wood fibre panels in the Pont-Rouge plant is from post-industrial and post-consumer waste. These panels contain absolutely no volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, HCFC or Pentane. In the manufacturing process, residues that cannot be recycled to create new products are converted into safe fertilizers that are given to local farmers. At the end of the building lifecycle, 99% of these panels can be recycled.
BP’s focus on the future assures that sustainable development remains a core driver of its strategic plan. With a commitment to respecting new environmental regulations, the company offers a line-up of environmentally-safe products that promote energy efficiency and sustainability. Sold under the Eco-Logical banner, they include interior and exterior insulated sheathings, air barriers and acoustical panels.
BP supports and manufactures in compliance with government and industry ecoENERGY standards and programs. BP is a member of the Canadian Green Building Council and manufactures FSC® (FSC-C113184) fibreboard products that meet LEED guidelines for reducing a building’s energy consumption.
If any one thing has been responsible for BP thriving over the course of 100 years, it is its ability to establish and maintain long-term relationships. Whether it be with employees, customers, material suppliers, service providers, industry or government bodies, or members of the local community, BP has built on a foundation of integrity, an environment of trust, and a coming together of shared goals that has kept relationships and partnerships intact, often for decades.
To be able to provide quick and reliable service from coast to coast requires an efficient distribution network. Logistics partners and a network of specialty distributors across Canada and in the U.S. have facilitated the task and have made BP one of the industry’s most reliable suppliers.
BP HAS CREATED INNOVATIVE, AWARD-WINNING PROGRAMS AND TOOLS TO HELP OUR CUSTOMERS BE THE CONSUMMATE PROFESSIONALS THEY NEED TO BE TO PROSPER. NOT SURPRISINGLY THEN, OVER THE YEARS, THE COMPANY HAS BEEN NAMED VENDOR-OF-THE-YEAR BY NUMEROUS RETAILERS AND NON-RETAILERS ALIKE.
The BP Certified Roofer Program, with three levels of certification, is one of the most comprehensive manufacturer programs available to the roofing trade. Qualified roofers have access to complete roof system training, custom marketing and selling tools, and a reward points program. Consumers have the reassurance that the Certified Roofer they select has the experience and meets the strict workmanship standards required for their roofing project.
BP’s builder partners benefit from sales staff training, customized showroom assistance, web support with project locaters, model home participation and a reward points program. Of course, they also benefit by protecting their reputation and their customers’ investment in their new homes by using quality BP roofing, insulating and soundproofing materials.
Focused on architects, architectural technicians, specification writers, building designers, engineers and inspectors, as well as regulatory authorities, Architect Custom Services provides technical support, automated information updates and a specialized site on bpcan.com.