Kruger Inc. has announced a $32.4 million investment in its Kamloops Pulp Mill to implement innovative technology for producing next-generation specialty pulps.
The project aims to diversify the mill's product portfolio and expand into rapidly growing markets in North America and Asia.
The investment, announced on September 12, 2024, is expected to secure 340 jobs at the mill and support an additional 1,000 indirect jobs in British Columbia. The new technology will allow the production of ultraclean pulp grades using significantly fewer chemicals, improving the mill's competitiveness, performance, and environmental footprint.
Both the Canadian and British Columbia governments are supporting this initiative, each contributing $5 million through the Investments in Forest Industry Transformation (IFIT) program and the BC Manufacturing Jobs Fund, respectively.
The project includes the installation of a new pulp washing system that will enhance the plant's effectiveness and reduce inorganic material and talc in the finished product. This process is expected to result in a notable reduction in bleaching chemical usage. The technology will be combined with advanced controls and AI-based capabilities to ensure consistent quality meeting stringent requirements for specialty products.
Irene Preto,
General Manager of
Kruger KamloopsIrene Preto, General Manager of Kruger Kamloops, expressed gratitude for the government support and excitement about implementing the innovative technology.
The project is scheduled for completion in 2026, with plans to increase production of ultra-clean pulp from 43,000 MT in its first year to over 115,000 MT annually by the third year.
This investment aligns with broader efforts to strengthen and maintain the long-term sustainability of the forest sector in British Columbia, supporting local jobs and expanding the supply of high-value forestry products in a changing market.
Founded in Montréal in 1904, Kruger Inc. is a major provider of tissue products, 100% recycled containerboard, corrugated packaging, pulp and paper products, renewable energy and cellulosic biomaterials. The Company is also a leader in paper and paperboard recycling in North America. A privately held family company, Kruger Inc. has 6,000 employees and its facilities are located in Québec, Ontario, British Columbia and Newfoundland and Labrador, as well as in the States of Tennessee, Maine, New York, Virginia, Kentucky and Rhode Island.
