Smurfit Kappa invests 23 million dollars to modernize its plant in Tamaulipas

Tamaulipas

By Elenne Castro

Smurfit Kappa invested $23.5 million  to upgrade its sheet mill in Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, to a fully integrated corrugated plant .

The capital injection includes a state-of-the-art corrugator and the expansion of the building. The new machine, which started operating last week, will have the double advantage of reducing CO2 emissions by up to 40% and doubling production capacity.

The Nuevo Laredo factory has strong alliances in the industrial, appliance and electronics sectors. The region represents 3.3% of the country's GDP and is home to more than 200 companies that manufacture products for the United States.

The increased capacity will streamline Smurfit Kappa 's operations in San Antonio, Texas, where growing demand for sustainable packaging demands higher production volumes.

The investment will contribute to a significant advance in the plant's ambitious sustainability goals. Its CO2 emissions will be reduced by up to 40% due to the significant reduction in transportation between the Smurfit Kappa Nuevo Laredo and San Antonio plants.

Laurent Sellier, CEO of Smurfit Kappa in the Americas, said that this investment reinforces the commitment to be a major player in the growth of the Mexican market. It will also improve its alliances within the sectors that drive the local economy in the Nuevo Laredo region.

Eduardo Rubio, CEO of Smurfit Kappa North America, added that the increased production capacity they now have is thanks to this investment, which has strengthened them to meet the needs of current and potential customers in the region. 

“Smurfit Kappa is a trusted source for high-performance sustainable packaging, regardless of product complexity or supply chain requirements.” 

This latest investment comes on top of the $22 million expansion of the Culiacán corrugated plant in northwestern Mexico that Smurfit Kappa carried out last year.