Cascades Inc. will invest $80 million in the construction of a new containerboard packaging plant in Piscataway, New Jersey.The Canada-based company recuperates recyclable materials and manufactures green packaging products and tissue paper.
The new plant, which will create 120 jobs, will manufacture corrugated packaging products and will be among the most modern of its kind in North America. It will begin operations in the second quarter of 2018. Once all equipment is installed, total annual production capacity will be 2.4 billion square feet.
“The investment announced today, which is already included in our capital expenditure budget, is part of the deployment of our strategic plan that aims specifically to modernize our assets and increase the integration rate between our primary production and conversion activities,” said Mario Plourde, president and chief executive officer of Cascades. “It is also part of our continuing process to reorganize and consolidate our containerboard and packaging activities in the northeastern United States. This investment will help us better serve our customers and boost our production capacity, thus increasing our market positioning.”
“The Piscataway conversion plant will have state-of-the-art technology and will be among the fastest in the industry,” added Charles Malo, president and chief operating officer of Cascades Containerboard Packaging. “It will offer increased flexibility and allow us to provide more efficient and innovative products to meet our customers’ needs. Located close to the major urban centres along the eastern seaboard of the United States, the site was also chosen because it has room for subsequent development. This important investment strengthens our position and continues our growth.”
Cascades worked with the state of New Jersey, Middlesex County and the City of Piscataway to develop the project.