Cascades Inaugurates New Deinking Equipment at Quebec Paper Mill

Alain Lemaire, president and CEO of Cascades, and Luc Langevin, president and COO of Cascades Specialty Products Group, have inaugurated $3.7 million in new deinking equipment at the company’s fine paper mill in Breakeyville, Quebec. The facility produces deinked kraft pulp, and is designed to provide the company with an improved end product while preserving jobs.

Begun in 2010, Cascades’ initiative required the addition of several types of equipment, including a flotation cell, washers/thickeners, a disperser and a clarifier and involved the expansion of the company’s Breakeyville facility. 

According to a press release, Cascades took its focus on recovery to a whole new level by sourcing equipment from various plants. Lemaire says, "This investment shows our commitment to maintaining our competitive edge in a down economy and challenging market situation. We believe that innovation is the key to our company's growth."

Cascades says pulp quality has improved because of its investment. Visible dirt and glue residue has decreased 50 percent, while the whiteness of the finished product has increased. 

"We consider this to be a very significant benefit, especially as the quality of raw materials - waste paper to be recycled - is declining more and more. We believe this investment will allow us to remain competitive in continuing to offer high quality recycled products," says Langevin.