Making their mark in industry.

It's a little-known operation on Industrial Park Crescent, but the Nelson Paint Company of Canada has marked their spot with foresters, loggers and surveyors across Canada.

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Best known as the inventor of the paint ball, the seven-employee Sault plant occupies a specialty niche in the forestry industry sending aerosol tree marking paint to supply houses across Canada.Plant manager Allan Russell says most conventional paints used for wood scaling or marking saw logs won't withstand extreme dry or wet conditions.

They also won't retain a mark that shows up vibrantly that lasts for years. Their marking paint is solvent-based and is used mostly in hard wood areas.

Their parent Kingsford, Michigan-based company started in 1940 and has been operating its only Canadian plant in the Sault since 1987. They distribute nationwide to the forestry, surveying industry and a lesser extent, the construction and mining industry for extensive use underground.

The company also sells paint marking supplies including tree marking guns and parts.

The Sault operation makes 16 colours, which Russell says, means different things in various regions of Canada.

In Ontario, for example, blue marks 'areas of concern.'

Red signifies 'boundaries.' Yellow or orange marks a 'cut.'

"Every area has a predominance of colour that means something to that local prescription or regulation."

Among their standard and fluorescent colours, their main product is Nelson Aerosois but they also produce their popular 'Super Spot' and 'Boundary Mark', and 'Log Mark'.

Rather than ship individual cases factory direct to the end users, Nelson sells in volume through a distributor network.

Their main industrial suppliers include Edmonton's Commercial Solutions Inc., Industrial Reproductions in British Columbia, and Dendrotik, a Quebec forestry consulting group.

They also ship to forest management groups who hold Sustainable Forest Licenses.

Russell says sales have remained relatively stable, despite the crisis in the North's forestry industry, largely due to a more diversified market in other sectors.

"I'm pleased we're doing as well as we are."

U. S. shipments account for 16 per cent of total sales while exports to small customers in the Czech Republic, Germany and Argentina makes up two per cent.

And though they're always looking to boost international sales, Russell says there are more obstacles hurdles with a more regulations than five years ago regarding shipment of dangerous goods.

For competitive reasons, he will not divulge sales or production figures, citing there's plenty of competition globally with few areas for growth.

www.nelsonpaint.com

By IAN ROSS 

Northern Ontario Business