Burnaby, BC — Hemlock is proud to announce the relocation of its wide-format production operations to a newly renovated facility in Burnaby, a building with special significance as the company’s former home. The move marks both a return to roots and a major step forward, bringing expanded capabilities, advanced technologies, and future-ready infrastructure together in one location.
Originally home to Hemlock Printers from 1973 to 1986, the facility now serves as the hub for Hemlock’s wide-format operations. Located just a short distance from the company’s main plant, the renovated site brings wide-format and fine art printing under one roof, supporting increased output, automation, and creative flexibility across both rigid and flexible materials.
In addition to its existing rigid and roll media printing capabilities, Hemlock has invested in new technology to expand capacity and streamline production. Recent additions include the Canon Texas LT/X2 flatbed printer and the Kongsberg C64 digital cutter with i-BF60 V2 automated feeder and stacker, enabling greater efficiency and precision across a wide range of applications.
The facility’s Canon Colorado introduces advanced finishing capabilities previously unavailable without additional coatings, including roll-to-roll white ink, spot gloss without the use of varnish, raised textures, and layered printing up to five layers — ideal for double-sided window decals and day/night backlit graphics. Fine art printing is further supported by upgraded Epson technology, delivering highly accurate, richly nuanced colour across twelve ink channels, including orange, green, and violet.
From Screen to Digital — Faster, Smarter Production
Hemlock has fully transitioned from UV and solvent-based screen printing to high-output UV digital flatbed production with the Canon Texas LT/X2, enabling shorter runs, fewer setup steps, and more precise ink application — factors that also help reduce material waste. Digital flatbed printing supports customized campaigns with lower minimums, multiple file versions, and faster turnarounds, while exceeding the timelines and colour range of traditional four-colour screen presses. Hemlock is also actively testing digital alternatives for specialty inks — including simulated spot gloss, glow-in-the-dark, and scratch-off effects — to expand offerings previously limited to screen printing. Automation is central to the new facility. The Kongsberg C64’s automated feeding and stacking increases throughput and pairs seamlessly with the high-output Canon Texas, supporting efficient, scalable production.
“This move is a homecoming that sets a new standard,” said Richard Kouwenhoven, President of Hemlock. “By returning to our former location and integrating today’s technologies, we’ve built a facility that enables brands to produce print faster, more creatively, and with greater flexibility.”
For more on how this relocation supports Hemlock’s sustainability goals, read A Homecoming that Advances Sustainability.