Cascades Sonoco, a joint venture of Sonoco Products Company and Cascades Inc. announced the investment of approximately $16 million for the expansion of its existing Birmingham, Alabama, 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.
Installation of the new equipment and expansion of the existing Birmingham facility will begin early this year, and start-up is expected in the 2Q 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.
Cascades produces, converts and markets packaging and tissue products that are composed mainly of recycled fibres.
Sonoco is a global provider of a variety of consumer packaging, industrial products, protective packaging, and displays and packaging supply chain services.
