Italy’s Lucart has strengthened its presence in France after investing in a Toscotec-supplied AHEAD 1.8 tissue machine to be installed at its plant in Laval-sur-Vologne.
PM15 will increase the site’s production capacity to a total of 75,000tpy, with the investment part of Lucart’s plans to increase its group annual capacity to 400,000tpy by the end of 2027.
It will operate at speeds up to 1,800m/min with a basis weight range of 15 to 22g/m² and produce high-quality toilet and towel paper.
The Laval-sur-Vologne site has tripled Lucart’s French subsidiary’s turnover over a 15-year period.
Industrial growth has been accompanied by the progressive expansion of the site’s product offering and infrastructure.
Francesco Pasquini, Lucart Chief Executive, said: “France has been a key driver of Lucart’s international growth for almost two decades.
“What began in 2008 with the acquisition of a single facility has evolved over time into a fully integrated industrial and logistics hub, capable of serving strategic markets for the Group.
“The installation of PM15 marks another significant step forward: we are investing simultaneously in production capacity, technology and energy efficiency, with the aim of making our growth increasingly consistent with the decarbonisation journey we have embarked on.”
PM15 will replace the existing technology at the Laval-sur-Vologne plant and, once operational will increase the site’s production capacity to a total of 75,000 tonnes of tissue paper.
The machine is equipped with a shoe press and has been designed to enable a gradual transition to low-carbon energy sources.
The hoods will be equipped with electric heaters and gas burners, making it possible to operate them with up to 100% electricity.
Pasquini added: “Lucart’s history in France demonstrates how an industrial investment can evolve over time alongside market needs and environmental challenges.
“PM15 represents exactly this evolution: not simply higher capacity, but a technology that allows us to look to the next phase of our growth with an even more efficient and responsible approach.”
