Cascades Announces Strategic Expansion

Cascades announces the installation of a new tissue converting facility in Wagram, North Carolina. This investment will reorganize and expand the Company’s converting activities in the Southeastern United States – a targeted area of growth for the Corporation. The total estimated cost of the project is US$55 million and the start-up is planned for the end of 2014. “Cascades is expanding its presence in the Southeast, one of the fastest growing markets in the United States,” says Suzanne Blanchet, president and CEO, Cascades Tissue Group. “This investment will allow us to optimize our converting platform by relocating equipment presently used elsewhere, by adding new manufacturing equipment and installing robotized warehouse management. In doing so, we are moving closer to many key markets, and improving our productivity and logistics while enhancing customer service.” The total annual capacity for the new converting plant is approximately 10 million cases on six converting lines, with the capacity to produce various tissue products including bathroom tissue, kitchen towels, paper napkins and hand towels for both the Away-from-Home and Consumer Products markets. “Cascades has made clear its intention to prioritize investments in the tissue paper and packaging products sectors,” adds Mario Plourde, President and CEO of Cascades Inc. “This new investment in Wagram will allow us to further improve our tissue manufacturing and customer service through the addition of an ultra-modern converting plant that will situated to serve the growing needs of our customers.”