Technology and the Canadian Forest-Product Industries ... - ArtSites

Papritection was developed as follows:1. In 1974the concept of Papritection originated within the corrosionand materials engineering section of Paprican.2. In December 1977 the first prototype was built.3. In February 1979 the second prototype was built.4. In June 1980 a licensing agreement was signed with CorrosionService Co. Ltd. (CSCL) of Toronto, which provided for a slidingscale or royalties with CSCL paying 100 per cent in the first yearand 50 per cent in the fifth year. This scale was introduced toencourage the equipment supplier to develop the technology.5. In June 1980 Papritection was built on a commercial scale. By 1985,64 had been sold (31in Canada); revenue totalled $3.6 million androyalties amounted to $585000. In June 1983 a licensing agreementwas signed with a Swedish company and another licence is beingnegotiated with a Japanese company.6. The licence with CSCL was assessed in June 1985, after a five-yearperiod, and the agreement was renewed.The R&D costs probably amounted to $1.4 million, but the returnon Papritection must be substantial. According to Paprican, it wouldnot have been possible for a company such as MacMillan Bloedel tohave developed Papritection.Feric as Technological CatalystIn seeking to stimulate technological innovation in Canadian woodharvestingoperations Feric has rarely become involved in appliedresearch and the building of prototypes. Rather the institute has goneout to wood-harvesting sites and identified technological needs. Thenby suggestion, collaboration, and sometimes financial support Ferichas sought to stimulate innovation in wood-harvesting both directly,and indirectly through product development by Canadian-based loggingand silvicultural equipment manufacturers. A good example ofFeric's role as a "technological catalyst" is provided by the developmentand application of high flotation ("wide") tires?Wide tires had apparently been tried in the Canadian woods inthe early 1960s but were discarded because they were too heavy,62