From left, Norampac COO Charles Malo and Cascades CEO Mario Plourde.
Packaging producer Cascades Inc. reports it is investing $26.4 million at its Norampac corrugated board conversion plant in Drummondville, Quebec, Canada, to install a new corrugator that will increase its production capacity.
The company says the investment, which will consolidate the 214 jobs at the plant, will enable Norampac-Drummondville to further modernize its equipment for efficiency and quality improvements and reduced operating costs. The current building will be expanded, the company says.
The project was made possible in part by an Investissement Québec loan guarantee for a maximum amount of $6 million, Cascades says.
“Today’s announcement is part of our strategic plan aiming to focus our efforts and investments in the packaging and tissue paper strategic sectors. This process is beginning to show results,” explains Mario Plourde, president and CEO of Cascades. “This announcement is a sign of confidence in the future, and we are especially happy to be able to make this investment in Drummondville, in the region where Cascades was born.”
Norampac Chief Operating Officer Charles Malo says, “Norampac is the second largest producer of containerboard in Canada and the sixth largest in North America. This project is an opportunity to reinforce our leadership in the market and show our dedication to our clientele. Our customers are the reason for our existence and, now more than ever, we wish to improve our service offer with innovative products that meet the highest industry standards.”
The 45,000-square-foot building expansion will be completed in mid-November, Cascades says, and the new corrugator is expected to be operational in January 2016.