Aptar Pharma Celebrates North America Capacity Expansion

Total Boxboard production in Q2 decreased 1% compared to Q2 2023. The boxboard operating rate was 88.5%, up 2.5 points from the same quarter last year and up 0.7 points year-to-date. *Solid Bl. Folding–Domestic production increased 13% compared to Q2 2023. *Solid Bleached Boxboard unmade orders were up 29% compared to the end of the previous quarter and increased 35% compared to June 2023. *Uncoated Recycled Boxboard production increased 3% compared to Q2 2023, and was up 2% when compared to the same 6 months of 2023.

Light Wrap, which has been specifically designed as a wraparound for cartons such as milk and juice cartons, offers a clever design that improves packaging while using less fibre. This results in a remarkable 19% reduction in CO₂ emissions compared to current, alternative packaging methods. Not only does Light Wrap effectively support the weight of stacked packs during transportation and at the point of sale, but it also ensures the safe transportation of cartons without any damage or deformation. By using 19% less paper fibre than other solutions, the innovative design not only minimises environmental impact but also improves protection, efficiency and packaging costs.

Cascades announces an important repositioning of its Tissue Papers platform to enhance the performance of the business. The Company will simplify operations by concentrating the majority of its tissue product operating activities at core, geographically well-positioned sites that offer opportunities for future development. These changes will reduce costs, create synergies and significantly improve the Tissue Group’s financial, operational and environmental performance. This decision will not affect the level of service Cascades provides to its customers. Beginning in July 2023, Cascades will progressively close its underperforming plants in Barnwell, South Carolina, and Scappoose, Oregon, as well as the virgin paper tissue machine at its St. Helens plant, also in Oregon. The equipment slated for closure, which have a combined total annual rated capacity of 92,000 short tons of tissue paper and 10 million cases of converted product, have been operating below capacity producing 56,000 short tons of tissue paper and 5 million cases of converted product in 2022, mostly on the West coast. A portion of this production will be absorbed by open capacity at our other facilities and by the increase in productivity at our sites, particularly in the United States. Cascades has the option to evaluate the possibility of redeploying the seven conversion lines impacted by this decision to other sites at a later date.