With the aim of positioning itself as one of North America's most innovative containerboard products and corrugated packaging manufacturers, Kruger (Montréal, Canada) announced late this past month (July 2018) it has invested in more efforts to boost productivity and reduce its operations' carbon footprint, notably in the packaging sector. In addition to the $250 million invested in 2016-2017 in Trois-Rivières to convert a newsprint machine for the production of 100% recycled lightweight and high-strength linerboard, the Kruger Packaging Group has injected new funds into its LaSalle and Place Turcot facilities for various modernization projects to be completed this year at a total cost of nearly $20 million.

 

 

The LaSalle Packaging Plant recently dedicated a new state-of-the-art converting line (pictured above) after investing almost $10 million. The integrated, high-speed production line, which prints, folds, and glues corrugated packaging, produces 24,000 boxes per hour, or 400 per minute, making it one of the fastest currently on the market. The European-made, fully automated machine also features a twin-head strapping machine. The new line, which operates 24/7, accounts for more than one-third of the plant's production capacity and gives it the new momentum needed to meet growing demand in the eco-friendly packaging sector.

Other investment projects at LaSalle include modernizing the corrugator, a project of almost $3 million that will be completed this year, as well as replacing a palletizer and various improvements aimed at increasing the plant's performance and energy efficiency.

Adjacent to downtown Montréal, the Place Turcot Containerboard Mill (pictured below) was one of the first in North America to manufacture 100% recycled containerboard back in 1961. Carried by the wave of transformation that has swept across all Kruger facilities in recent years, the containerboard mill has received new investments since 2016 to boost productivity and product quality while driving greater energy efficiency.

 

 

 

Overall, by the end of 2018, the Place Turcot Containerboard Mill will have completed modernization projects totaling some $9 million. As a result of these recent investments, the facility expects to reduce its GHG emissions by 15% and cut its water use as a result of these technological improvements.

Since 2015, Kruger has invested more than $500 million in its facilities in Québec to convert existing equipment, purchase new equipment, modernize some facilities, and diversify into new growth products, helping at the same time to protect thousands of jobs in Québec.