Sherbrooke QC, May 13, 2019 /CNW Telbec/ - KP Tissue Inc. (TSX: KPT) and Kruger Products L.P. today dedicated the construction site of their future Sherbrooke tissue plant that will be equipped with Canada's most advanced and best-performing TAD technology. The official ground breaking ceremony was held in the presence of Pierre Fitzgibbon, Québec Minister of Economy and Innovation; Geneviève Hébert, Member for Saint-François and Deputy Government Whip; Steve Lussier, Mayor of Sherbrooke; Nicole Bergeron, Chair of the City of Sherbrooke's Executive Committee and Councillor for the Brompton Borough; Dino Bianco, Chief Executive Officer, Kruger Products; and Joseph Kruger II, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Kruger Inc.
Located in the borough of Brompton, the new plant will be constructed on a site adjacent to an existing Kruger paper mill, along the Saint-François River. This $575-million investment will create 180 jobs in Estrie, as well as some 1,700 direct and indirect jobs during the construction period that will end in 2021. In addition, a large number of local suppliers will be involved in this vast construction site that represents one million person-hours of work, which is equivalent to about 10% of person-hours worked annually in all of Québec's industrial construction sector.
Kruger Products' Sherbrooke Plant will include a through-air-dry (TAD) tissue machine, the world's most advanced ultra-premium tissue manufacturing technology. TAD uses less fibre to obtain a bulkier, stronger ultra-premium product that is exceptionally soft and more absorbent. The Sherbrooke complex will also include converting lines.
Ultimately, the plant will manufacture approximately 70,000 metric tonnes a year of ultra-premium bathroom tissue and paper towels under the Cashmere®, SpongeTowels® and Purex® brands.
"We are very proud to strengthen Kruger Products' presence in Québec with this large-scale project that will provide significant benefits to the Estrie region. What's even more exciting is that the local know-how will shine across North America with products distributed throughout Canada and in the United States," said Dino Bianco, Chief Operating Officer of Kruger Products.
About KP Tissue Inc.
KPT was created to acquire, and its business is limited to holding, a limited partnership interest in KPLP. KPT currently holds a 15.7% interest in KPLP. For more information visit www.kptissueinc.com.
About Kruger Products L.P.
Kruger Products L.P. is Canada's leading manufacturer of quality tissue products for household, industrial and commercial use. KPLP serves the Canadian consumer market with such well-known brands as Cashmere®, Purex®, SpongeTowels® and Scotties®'. In the U.S., KPLP manufactures the White Cloud® brand, as well as many private label products. The Away-From-Home division manufactures and distributes high-quality, cost-effective product solutions to a wide range of commercial and public entities. KPLP has approximately 2,500 employees and operates eight FSC®(FSC® C104904) certified plants in North America.
