Kruger Products has officially inaugurated its new light dry crepe (LDC) tissue plant in Sherbrooke, located adjacent to its existing TAD facility. This milestone marks the completion of a large-scale expansion project valued at $377.5 million, which included the construction of a state-of-the-art double-width tissue machine utilizing LDC technology, as well as the installation of two new converting lines: one for facial tissue in the new plant and one for bathroom tissue in the TAD facility.
The project has created 205 direct jobs, bringing the total number of new positions at the Sherbrooke Operational Centre to 378 since 2020. In total, Kruger Products now employs 429 people in the Estrie region and supports approximately 1,500 direct and indirect jobs locally. This latest development brings Kruger Products’ total investment in the region since 2018 to nearly $1 billion, reinforcing Sherbrooke’s role as a major tissue manufacturing hub in North America. The expansion was made possible with support from Investissement Québec, acting on behalf of the Québec government, which contributed $165 million in loans.
The inauguration event was attended by Gene Kruger and Sarah Kruger, Co-Presidents of Kruger Inc.; Christine Fréchette, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy and Minister Responsible for Regional Economic Development; Geneviève Hébert, Member for Saint-François; Évelyne Beaudin, Mayor of Sherbrooke; Michel Manseau, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Business – Canada, Kruger Products; Patrice Bégin, Vice President, Manufacturing, Kruger Products; and Éric Blais, General Manager of the Sherbrooke Operational Centre.
With a production capacity of 60,000 metric tonnes, the new LDC tissue machine nearly doubles the Sherbrooke site’s output, raising total production to over 130,000 metric tonnes per year. Located in Sherbrooke’s Brompton borough, the advanced industrial complex is now one of the most modern and efficient tissue manufacturing facilities in North America. It produces several of Kruger’s leading consumer brands, including Cashmere UltraLuxe®, Scotties® Ultra Soft, and SpongeTowels Ultra Pro®.
Voices from the inauguration
Christine Fréchette, Minister of Economy, Innovation and Energy, stated: “Paper producers must innovate and modernize to adapt to evolving market dynamics. Kruger understands this very well. In today’s global context, initiatives like this are critical to Québec’s economic development and to strengthening local manufacturing. My sincere congratulations to the Kruger family and the entire team.”
Geneviève Hébert, Member for Saint-François, added: “Our government is once again proud to support major investment initiatives in Estrie. Projects of this scale strengthen our regional economy and create high-quality jobs. Congratulations to the Kruger team for delivering this project on time.”
Michel Manseau, Senior Vice President and General Manager, Consumer Business – Canada, commented: “This second facility fulfills our vision to establish Sherbrooke as a key North American centre for premium tissue product manufacturing. Completing two large-scale projects within six years is a remarkable achievement and reflects the dedication and excellence of our team. I offer special thanks to everyone involved in the construction of the LDC plant and TAD facility, and to our Sherbrooke employees whose commitment drives our success.”
Lasting economic impact in Estrie
Spanning three years, the project required over 660,000 person-hours of labour and delivered significant economic benefits to the Estrie region. Direct expenditures are estimated at $165 million, and approximately 1,000 direct and indirect jobs were created during the construction phase. The project was completed on time and on budget in fall 2024.
