Cascades, Kingsey Falls, Que., Canada, has named Xerium Technologies, Raleigh, N.C., USA, winner of the fourth edition of its Sustainable Supplier Award, a contest that recognizes best business practices in sustainable development among its suppliers. Created by the company's Corporate Procurement Department, the award enables Cascades to publicly acknowledge the efforts of its suppliers that have had positive repercussions on its products, processes, or manufacturing methods. The projects undertaken were also assessed on their environmental, societal, and economic impacts.
Xerium Technologies, with its Weavexx and Stowe divisions, has been working in the pulp and paper industry since the mid-1800s. The company provides forming fabrics, press felts, dryer felts, roll covers, and spreader rolls. Its long-standing business partnership with Cascades has led Xerium to integrate state-of-the-art rolls and fabrics in many Cascades Tissue Group plants in North America (Candiac, Eau Claire, Kingsey Falls, Mechanics, Memphis, Ransom, Rockingham, Scarborough, Whitby). Integrated projects on 14 machines have helped increase efficiency of operations. This optimization has generated significant savings in costs as well as a reduction in the consumption of water and energy in the targeted plants.
Harold Bevis, president and CEO of Xerium, said that "I see this prize as one of the best incentives for encouraging suppliers like us to engage in a sustainable development approach with its clients. For the coming years, Xerium intends to continue developing paper machine clothing and rolls technology for the purpose of improving the performance of its clients."
Cascades notes that the Sustainable Supplier Award is a prime example of the importance it attaches to good relations. According to Alain Lemaire, president and CEO of Cascades, "if year after year we succeed in distinguishing ourselves and in bringing to market top quality products, it is partly thanks to our suppliers who bring us concrete solutions and that help us improve ourselves."
The prize was awarded during the annual meeting of Cascades' plant managers in North America, in front of more than 100 people. It was deemed the most appropriate time by Cascades because it made it possible to highlight the accomplishments of some plants as well as make known the supplier that is being honored and its expertise in other units of the company.
In the photo below are (l-r): Alain Lemaire, Cascades' president and CEO; David Pretty, Xerium's president North America and PMC Europe; Harold Bevis, Xerium's president and CEO; John Lamont, Xerium's VP Sales; Stephane Dube, Cascades' corporate procurement manager; and Mario Plourde, Cascades' COO.
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