TROIS-RIVIÈRES, QC, Oct. 24, 2017 /CNW Telbec/ - Kruger today officially dedicated Paper Machine No. 10 (PM10), which was completely rebuilt to manufacture 100% lightweight and high-strength linerboard at its Trois-Rivières Mill. Several dignitaries and project partners were present, including Luc Blanchette, Minister of Forests, Wildlife and Parks; Julie Boulet, Minister of Tourism and Minister responsible for the Mauricie region; Jean-Denis Girard, MNA for Trois-Rivières; and Gene Kruger, Vice President, Business Development, Kruger Inc.
State-of-the-art Technology
Kruger invested $250 million in this project to completely rebuild PM10 for optimal results. Well before work got under way, Kruger's engineers toured numerous manufacturing plants in North America and Europe to find the best technology for manufacturing 100% recycled lightweight and high-strength linerboard of the best possible quality.
Commercialized as XTR, the new linerboard grades manufactured on PM10 meet increasing demand for ultra-light packaging without compromising on strength, performance or environmental footprint.
PM10's annual production will total 360,000 metric tonnes of XTR linerboard, an exclusive product that Kruger Inc. is the first to manufacture in North America. A portion of the production will be used by Kruger's packaging plants in LaSalle, QC, and Brampton, ON, while the remainder will be sold to packaging manufacturers across Canada and the United States.
Major Benefits for the Region
Announced jointly by Kruger and the Government of Québec in September 2015, this $250-million project required some 500,000 hours of work over a 20-month period that ended in the spring when the machine entered its start-up phase. The project also consolidated 270 jobs at the Trois-Rivières Mill, in addition to generating major benefits for the Mauricie region and Québec. More than 80 local businesses were involved in the project. Of the total budget, approximately $40 million were spent with local suppliers and $60 million with suppliers elsewhere in Québec.
About Kruger Packaging
Kruger Packaging specializes in the manufacture of containerboard products and corrugated packaging solutions made from 100% recycled fibre. The Montréal-based company was created in partnership with Kruger Inc. and Investissement Québec – acting as the Québec government's agent – which has a 25% take in its assets. Kruger Packaging employs some 800 people, including more than 600 in Québec, and operates four production sites, namely the Trois-Rivières Mill (Trois-Rivières, QC), the Place Turcot Containerboard Mill (Montréal, QC), and the LaSalle, QC, and Brampton, ON, packaging plants. [www.containerboard.kruger.com]
About Kruger
Founded in 1904, Kruger Inc. is a major producer of publication and specialty papers, tissue products, containerboard and packaging made from recycled fibres, renewable energy, cellulosic biomaterials, and wines and spirits. The Company is also a leader in paper and paperboard recycling in North America. Kruger Inc. has facilities in Québec, Ontario, British Columbia, and Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as in Tennessee, Maine, New York, Virginia and Rhode Island in the United States. [www.kruger.com]
It is possible to download photos taken during this event through the following link: http://www.kruger.com/a-propos/salle-de-presse/inauguration-de-la-mp10
SOURCE Kruger Inc.
For further information: Jean Majeau, Senior Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Communications, Tel.: (514) 343-3213, jean.majeau@kruger.com
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