Displaying items by tag: Cascades

A Water-Based Barrier Coating That Allows Creation of Recyclable, Repulpable, Compostable Take-Out Containers

Cascades Sonoco, a joint venture of Sonoco Products Company (NYSE:SON) and Cascades Inc. (TSE:CAS) has just announced the investment of approximately $16 million for the expansion of its existing Birmingham, Ala., facility.This investment in world-class water based coating technology will provide coated paper and paperboard substrates using its new FlexShield™, FluteSHIELD® and SurfSHIELD™ coating technology. These coatings, recently introduced to the folding carton and corrugated industries, are revolutionary water-based functional and barrier coatings designed to replace the standard LDPE coating used in take-out container folding carton applications, as well as wax replacement technology for the corrugated industry. They offer solutions that are recyclable, repulpable and compostable.

sonoco logo 2014“This investment represents a significant geographic expansion for water-based products by Cascades Sonoco, especially in the fast-growing Southeastern United States,” said Rodger Fuller, senior vice president of Sonoco’s Paper & Engineered Carriers, U.S. & Canada, and Display & Packaging. With this exciting addition to its product portfolio, Cascades Sonoco remains dedicated to maintain its market leadership position in protective roll packaging for the paper industry.”

“We also wish to acknowledge the support of the Birmingham Business Alliance and all our partners as it influenced our decision to invest in the region,” added Luc Langevin, president and chief operating officer of Cascades Specialty Products Group. “This strategic investment certainly helps Cascades Sonoco expand its product offerings into high-growth consumer-oriented markets.”

Installation of the new equipment and expansion of the existing Birmingham facility will begin early this year, and start-up is expected in the second quarter of 2018.  Once at full capacity, the new water-based coating line will be capable of producing 40,000-50,000 tons of sustainable coated materials annually.

“The Jefferson County Commission is pleased that Cascades Sonoco has decided to invest more than $16 million to expand its operations in our community,” said Jefferson County Commissioner David Carrington. “This long-term commitment in capital and increased employment is a testament to our business climate and workforce.”

About Cascades
Founded in 1964, Cascades produces, converts and markets packaging and tissue products that are composed mainly of recycled fibers. The Company employs 11,000 employees, who work in close to 90 production units located in North America and Europe. With its management philosophy, half a century of experience in recycling, and continuous efforts in research and development as driving forces, Cascades continues to deliver the innovative products that customers have come to rely on. Cascades' shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol CAS. For more information on the Company, visit our website at www.cascades.com.

About Sonoco
Founded in 1899, Sonoco (NYSE:SON) is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging, and displays and packaging supply chain services. With annualized net sales of nearly $4.8 billion, the Company has 20,000 employees working in more than 300 operations in 35 countries, serving some of the world's best known brands in some 85 nations. Sonoco is a proud member of the 2015/2016 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. For more information on the Company, visit our website at www.sonoco.com.

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cas logo ppwCascades Inc. (TSX: CAS), a leader in the recovery and manufacturing of green packaging and tissue paper products, announces that it has entered into an agreement with its banking syndicate led by National Bank of Canada and Scotiabank as co-lead arrangers and joint book runners to extend and amend certain conditions of its existing $750 million revolving credit facility.
 
The amendment provides that the term of the facility will be extended to July 2019 and that the applicable pricing grid will be slightly lowered to better reflect market conditions. The other existing financial conditions will remain essentially unchanged.
 
In commenting on this refinancing, Mr. Allan Hogg, Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, stated: "We are pleased with the continued support from our banking syndicate. The combined impact of this amendment and the refinancing of our senior notes in 2014 and earlier this year, will be to reduce total annual borrowing costs by more than $20 million per year, extend debt maturities to 2019 at the earliest while providing us with bank financing availability of approximately $375 million, which is sufficient to allow us to pursue our growth objectives.” 
 
Certain statements in this release, including statements regarding future results and performance, are forward-looking statements based on current expectations. The accuracy of such statements is subject to a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that may cause actual results to differ materially from those projected, including, but not limited to, the effect of general economic conditions, decreases in demand for the Company’s products, increases in raw material costs, fluctuations in selling prices and adverse changes in general market and industry conditions and other factors listed in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission and Canadian Securities Commissions filings.
 
Founded in 1964, Cascades produces, converts and markets packaging and tissue products that are composed mainly of recycled fibres. The Company employs close to 11,000 employees, who work in over 90 production units located in North America and Europe. With its management philosophy, half a century of experience in recycling, and continuous efforts in research and development as driving forces, Cascades continues to deliver the innovative products that customers have come to rely on. Cascades' shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol CAS.

Investors
Riko Gaudreault
Director, Investor Relations and Business Strategies
Cascades Inc.
514 282-2697
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Source
Allan Hogg
Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer

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logo cascades enCascades Inc. (TSX: CAS), a leader in the recovery of recyclable materials and the manufacturing of green packaging and tissue paper products, announces that it has reached an agreement for the sale of its North American boxboard manufacturing and converting assets to Graphic Packaging Holding Company for $44.9 million.
 
The Cascades boxboard units affected by the transaction are:

  • East Angus, Québec, a mill that manufactures recycled coated boxboard for the production of folding cartons. Founded in 1910, it was purchased by Cascades in 1983.
  • Jonquière, Québec, a mill that manufactures three-ply coated boxboard from virgin or recycled fibre. Founded in 1963, it was acquired by Cascades in 1984.
  • Winnipeg, Manitoba, a plant that manufactures folding cartons. Founded in 1905, it was acquired by Cascades in 2001.
  • Mississauga, Ontario, a plant that manufactures high-quality graphic packaging. Founded in 1986, it was purchased by Cascades in 1992.
  • Cobourg, Ontario, a plant that manufactures high-quality flexographic boxboard containers. It was built by Cascades in 1993.

 
The five plants affected by the transaction employ in all approximately 670 workers.
 
“Today, Cascades is announcing an important decision that once again signals its commitment to refocusing its activities in the strategic sectors in which it excels. This transaction follows in the wake of a number of other actions taken during the course of the year, with a view to reducing our debt load and focusing our investments in certain core packaging sectors, as well as in the tissue paper and recovery sectors. It is important to take note that today’s announcement does not affect our European boxboard operations,” stated Mario Plourde, President and Chief Executive Officer of Cascades.
 
“The investments made in past years in these boxboard manufacturing and converting units have led to an opportunity to create synergies with a player such as Graphic Packaging. By exiting this sector of activity in North America, Cascades and Norampac are turning a page in their history. We sincerely thank our employees for their loyal services, and we wish them all the best in the future,” added Marc-André Dépin, President and Chief Executive Officer of Norampac.
 
The acquisition is subject to standard closing conditions and regulatory review and is expected to close in the first quarter of 2015.

Founded in 1964, Cascades produces, converts and markets packaging and tissue products that are composed mainly of recycled fibres. Cascades employs close to 12 000 men and women, who work in a hundred production units in North America and Europe. With its management philosophy, half a century of experience in recycling, and continuous efforts in research and development as driving forces, Cascades continues to deliver the innovative products that customers have come to rely on. Cascades’ shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CAS.

Hugo D’Amours
Vice-President, Communications
and Public Affairs
Cascades Inc.
819 363-5164
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Investors:
Riko Gaudreault
Director, Investor Relations
Cascades Inc.
514 282-2697
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cas logo ppwCascades Inc. (TSX: CAS), a leader in the recovery and manufacturing of green packaging and tissue paper products, announces the acquisition and installation of two new printing presses in its Québec plants, Norampac – Vaudreuil and Norampac – Drummondville , which specialize in manufacturing corrugated packaging products.

Charles Malo , Vice-President and Chief Operating Officer for Packaging at Norampac stated, "This major investment in Québec is part of our efforts to modernize Norampac's and Cascades' assets. Similar investments were made at several of Norampac's corrugated converting plants in Ontario , and productivity at the plants increased significantly. We believe that the investments in Québec will have the same positive spin-offs, allowing us to respond more quickly to our customers' needs, offer packaging products of greater quality, and increase our productivity."

The Evol presses, made by Japanese company Mitsubishi, offer the latest in printing technology, including high-speed production. The investment of more than $13 million will allow the Norampac plants to increase their productivity, their versatility and the quality of their products. The new press at the Vaudreuil plant has been in operation since September 2014, and the press at the Drummondville plant was commissioned at the beginning of November.

"The new state-of-the-art equipment is part of our plan to increase our productivity and market share by focusing on strategic sectors as a means of keeping the Company on track as we move forward. Today's gesture demonstrates the trust we are placing in the employees at the Vaudreuil and Drummondville plants. Cascades will continue to grow here, as it will in the rest of North America ," added Alain Lemaire , Cascades' Executive Chairman of the Board.

Founded in 1964, Cascades produces, converts and markets packaging and tissue products that are composed mainly of recycled fibres. Cascades employs close to 12 000 women and men, who work in over a hundred production units in North America and Europe . With its management philosophy, half a century of experience in recycling, and continuous efforts in research and development as driving forces, Cascades continues to deliver the innovative products that customers have come to rely on. Cascades' shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol CAS .

SOURCE Cascades Inc.
Investors:
Riko Gaudreault
Director, Investor Relations, Cascades Inc.
Telephone: 514-282-2697
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Source:
Marc-André Dépin
President and Chief Executive Officer
Norampac, a division of Cascades Canada ULC

Published in Canadian News
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Star Level Certification in Voluntary Protection Program Affirms Employee and Management Commitment to Creating a Safe Workplace

sonoco logo 2014Sonoco (NYSE:SON) has announced that its Cascades Sonoco facility in Tacoma, Wash., was awarded Star Level certification in connection with OSHA's Voluntary Protection Program (VPP). The Star Program recognizes exemplary worksites that have achieved injury and illness rates at or below the national average in their industry. According to OSHA, the average VPP worksite has a lost workday incidence rate at least 50% below the average of its industry peers.

"Since the inception of the Cascades Sonoco joint venture back in 1992, safety has been a number-one priority," said Thomas Parenteau, plant manager. "We have a global health and safety policy put in writing, and it is signed by our CEOs. It says the health and safety of all employees shall be of the greatest interest to all levels of the organization, ranking in importance above production, quality, costs and service. It is something that we take very seriously because our employees are our most valuable asset. Achieving this certification involved a number of different initiatives including special training programs, safety audits and a high level of employee involvement and commitment. Safety is not a one-time event; it is an every second, every minute, every day focus. As proud as we are of this achievement, we understand the safety journey never ends."

"The team at the Tacoma site is a showcase for the principles of the Voluntary Protection Program, building exemplary safety and health programs through cooperation, management commitment and employees involvement. It is clear that Cascades Sonoco has a commendable program with proven effectiveness," stated Joel Sacks, Safety and Health Director with the State of Washington Department of Labor and Industries.

"Safety is the first thing we talk about at every meeting, which keeps it top of mind with everyone," said Parenteau. "Our mission, as it relates to safety, is to create an injury-free environment for our employees. We strongly believe that all injuries can and must be prevented. Safety is also strongly tied to the Guiding Principle of Sonoco, which is 'People build businesses by always doing the right thing.' Creating a safe work environment for our employees is certainly the right thing to do."

Cascades Sonoco is a 50/50 joint venture established in 1992 to bring together strong technology platforms for the coating and lamination of industrial papers and other substrates. Cascades Sonoco has four locations: two in the U.S. and two in Canada.

About Sonoco

Founded in 1899, Sonoco is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging and packaging supply chain services. With annualized net sales of approximately $4.9 billion, the Company has more than 19,900 employees working in 335 operations in 33 countries, serving many of the world's best known brands in some 85 nations. Sonoco is a proud member of the 2013/2014 Dow Jones Sustainability World Index. For more information on the Company, visit our website at www.sonoco.com.

About Cascades

Founded in 1964, Cascades produces, converts and markets packaging and tissue products that are composed mainly of recycled fibers. The Company employs close to 12,000 employees, who work in 100 production units located in North America and Europe. With its management philosophy, half a century of experience in recycling, and continuous efforts in research and development as driving forces, Cascades continues to deliver the innovative products that customers have come to rely on. Cascades' shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange, under the ticker symbol CAS.

CONTACT: Brett Turner
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cas logo ppwCascades Inc. (TSX: CAS) has announced that it will cease its Kraft paper manufacturing activities in the East Angus (Québec) plant because of unfavourable market conditions and the failure of discussions concerning the plant's transfer and turnaround. Close to 175 employees will be affected by the closure, which will come into effect by October 3, 2014 . By closing the plant, Cascades is withdrawing from the Kraft paper sector definitively.

"With the arrival of new competitors that convert newsprint paper machines to produce Kraft paper, and the ongoing weakening of market conditions for our products, the East Angus plant has not managed to maintain a competitive edge in the market despite significant investments and serious recovery efforts," explained Luc Langevin , President and Chief Operating Officer of Cascades Specialty Products Group. "Last November, we announced to employees our decision to withdraw from the industry. At the time, we offered them the plant debt free. After several months of ongoing efforts on the part of buyer Gino Lévesque, the Québec government and Cascades to come up with a financial package, the project was abandoned because of a lack of new investors. With the failure of the turnaround project and the loss of numerous key employees, today we are forced to announce the end of these activities."

"Naturally, we are very disappointed that the project failed," said Mario Plourde , President and Chief Executive Officer of Cascades. "However, we would like to thank the employees' provisional committee, the buyer and the Government of Québec for the work they put into the project over several months in the attempt to save jobs. Since our strategic orientations are focused on growth in the packaging, tissue paper and recovery sectors, it became impossible to keep the plant open with its inability to regain profitability. Following today's announcement, Cascades will assume all of the plant's responsibilities, notably the employee pension plan."

To assist the employees affected by the shutdown, Cascades will do everything in its power to relocate personnel to other units. It will work with the union and the governments to reduce the impact of the announcement on the workers and the community.

Cascades would like to extend its sincere thanks to the employees of the plant for their loyalty over the years. It hopes that it can rely on them to continue to serve its customers until the plant closes.

It is important to note that this announcement does not concern the coated boxboard manufacturing plant located in East Angus .

SOURCE Cascades Inc.

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Friday, 06 June 2014 13:30

Cascades Fine Papers Group Joins Two Sides

logo casCascades Fine Papers Group, a leader in the manufacturing of ecological fine papers and security papers in Canada, has joined Two Sides, the rapidly growing non-profit organization that promotes the responsible production, use and sustainability of print and paper.

"We're very excited to have Cascades Fine Papers Group join us. They have been a North American leader in producing fine papers with a low environmental footprint and are a great addition to our network as Two Sides begins exploring a Canadian presence. We look forward to working with them to spread the great environmental story of print and paper," says Two Sides President Phil Riebel.

"We are proud to produce paper. It is a beautiful, useful, recyclable and renewable tool, and we make it in a sustainable way. It is a pleasure for us to support an organisation that explains why people shouldn't shy away from paper and promotes the strengths and benefits of this great resource." says Julie Loyer, communications and sustainable development, Cascades Fine Papers Group.

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Cascades has announced that its Cascades® Antibacterial paper towel has received Gold honors – the highest available – in the Edison Awards Consumer Packaged Goods: Cleaning Solutions category. The award, named after Thomas Edison, was bestowed to Cascades in a special gala held last night in Chicago and came by way of an international judging panel of more than 3,000 business executives, academics and leaders in the fields of product development, design, engineering, science and medicine.

The company's novel paper towel was launched October 2012 in the North American market as a simple, safe and effective way to reduce bacterial contamination and transmission. Dry to the touch, the green-colored Cascades Antibacterial paper towel has been confirmed in third-party testing to kill over 99.99 percent of harmful bacteria upon coming into contact with wet hands. Among other uses, the product was designed to help decrease contamination possibilities within the food processing and food service industries, and reduce absenteeism rates at work and school. Studies also show that paper towels are the best choice for good hand hygiene; the antibacterial version is therefore an even safer option.

“We're incredibly proud of this product and pleased to receive this distinguished honor,” said Suzanne Blanchet, Cascades Tissue Group CEO. “Eighty percent of infections are transmitted by hands, so we believe this innovation can have a significant impact on overall public health.”

Published in Featured Products
Saturday, 13 April 2013 18:16

Sides cut deal in mixing zone complaint

Willamette Riverkeeper drops threat to sue over waste from Halsey pulp mill

An environmental watchdog group has backed off its threat to sue the operators of a Halsey pulp mill over pollution in a Willamette River mixing zone after the company took steps to remedy the problem.

Willamette Riverkeeper and Cascade Pacific Pulp LLC announced a $20,000 settlement late Friday afternoon that resolves most of the issues in the dispute and calls for mediation of one outstanding point.

Under terms of the deal, Cascade Pacific pledged to move forward with a dredging project aimed at increasing the volume of water flowing through the mixing zone. The company also agreed to pay $10,000 toward Willamette Riverkeeper’s legal fees and another $10,000 to help fund a floodplain restoration project at Green Island north of Eugene.

The two sides further agreed to let a mediator decide whether the pulp mill operator must post a permanent sign marking its wastewater outfall. Willamette Riverkeeper is backing a bill in the Oregon Legislature that would require such signs for all mixing zones, areas where pollution discharges are allowed to exceed permitted limits because river flows are considered sufficient to dilute the effluent.

Travis Williams, the executive director of Willamette Riverkeeper, said the group got most of what it wanted in the settlement.

“It’s not ideal, but it does remedy the issue with the (Halsey) mixing zone,” he said. “Ultimately they’ll have more flow over the diffuser, and we’ll see that waste we were seeing swept downstream.”

Last August, Willamette Riverkeeper threatened to sue Cascade Pacific Pulp under the Clean Water Act over a coffee-colored, foul-smelling waste plume it claimed violated the company’s discharge permit.

Cascade Pacific is allowed to discharge up to 17,000 pounds a day of process wastewater from the company’s Halsey pulp mill and the adjoining Georgia-Pacific tissue plant. The liquid waste, which enters the Willamette River through an underwater diffuser about 15 miles upstream from Corvallis, is supposed to be dispersed by the river before it leaves a defined mixing zone.

But a gravel bar had built up just upstream, reducing the amount of water flowing past the diffuser pipes and allowing the waste plume to extend well beyond the mixing zone during the summer months.

Cascade Pacific dredged a temporary channel through the gravel bar to alleviate the situation and has applied for permits to remove more than 22,000 cubic yards of material in hopes of permanently solving the problem.

The company’s attorney could not be reached for comment after the agreement was announced on Friday.

Published in North American News

The Cascading Effects of Sustainability

          With global climate change becoming more widely accepted, companies are becoming increasingly aware of their environmental impact. They understand that recycling programs, water and energy saving programs, and chemical reduction programs need to be implemented in order to better protect the health of humans and animals. Cascades is one company that, in the eyes of the CFPA, is doing its part to reduce its environmental impact and providing third party accountability to prove it.

            Cascades has been concerned with their environmental footprint since its beginning in 1964. Antonio Lemaire and his three sons, Cascades’ founding family, would re-use any old paper and waste they found. Antonio often said, “That thing is still good. We can surely make something out of it.” As the company continued to grow, they would go from making pulp with a kitchen blender to renovating old machines and abandoned mills. Even in the beginning, Cascades was finding ways to recycle.

            Fast forward to 2013. Their original recycling practices have been scaled up and are now accompanied with sustainability initiatives. Cascades still strives to reduce their environmental footprint, because they know that paper making consumes large amounts of water and energy. According to the US Energy Information Administration, the paper industry is the fourth largest emitter of greenhouse gas. To combat this, Cascades Tissue Group, a division of Cascades, makes products from 100% recycled materials, such as their 100% recycled towel and tissue products. This removes this waste from landfills and prevents the harvest of new trees.  Because they know a majority of paper products can be recycled up to seven times, they understand the value of recycled fiber.  In addition to recycling, Cascades uses chlorine free production processes to make their tissue and fine paper, and bio-gas is used as an energy source to help meet their energy needs.

            Their efforts do not stop there; Cascades is planning on further increasing their sustainability practices. They developed their first sustainable development plan for 2010-2012. In order to do this, it was necessary to consult with a number of stakeholders, suppliers, employees, customers, communities, creditors, and managers. Cascades established 18 key performance indicators (KPI) which represent the environmental, economic, and social aspects of sustainability. This allowed them to measure a number of factors, including water and biodiversity, reducing energy consumption, increasing renewable energy, reusing paper-making waste, reducing solid waste sent to landfill and more. Cascades believes there is still room for improvement in 2013, as the company is working on its next plan. They will get new goals for the future and continue to increase their sustainability.

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