Kingsey Falls, Quebec, Canada, 20 April 2011 – A new machine used in the manufacture of molded pulp products was today inaugurated at the Cascades Forma-Pak plant. Started in 2010, the work has led to the introduction of a new machine and automation of existing equipment. The improvements required an investment of more than CAD 3.5 million.

"Located in the heart of the city of Kingsey Falls, the plant is limited in terms of space. Rather than expand, we've completely redesigned it to accommodate more equipment and increase its efficiency,” explained Mario Plourde, chief operating officer.

These changes will increase the plant's production capacity by 40%. Significant gains in product quality also been been achieved, particularly with respect to finishing and packaging. As such, automation will allow for increased packaging rigidity. The machines also were made more secure, thereby improving employee safety.

Cascades Forma-Pak manufactures 100% recycled molded pulp products using old newspapers and telephone directories as raw material. The plant specializes in egg filler flats and cup carriers used for quick service restaurants. “It was time to modernize this plant, which manufactures environmentally friendly food packaging solutions. Since molded pulp material is fully recycled and recyclable, we believe that it is a product with a future, especially with a packaging industry that increasingly demands more responsible solutions,” Plourde said.