"Kiwis who have grown up with household names such as Purex and Handee as well as professional hygiene brands such as Tork, can feel good knowing the tissues are Kiwi-made under the highest quality standards while utilising the renewable forestry stocks of the Bay of Plenty and sustaining more than 200 jobs here in Kawerau," Mr Diplaris said.
The expansion includes a new 13,000m2 tissue conversion hall, a 55m-long state-of-the art Italian-made tissue winding machine and robotised packing and dispatch and is a major strategic investment for the Australasian company.
"This expansion secures a long-term future for our Kawerau site as the sustainable supplier for the New Zealand and Australian markets. It also confirms the site's significant export role with an estimated 2600 containers of product exported through the Port of Tauranga each year," Mr Diplaris said.
Total output from the site will initially increase by the equivalent of 66 12m containers each week, with an additional 11 per week to be added from 2015 onwards. The site's increased efficiency will add to the major gains in sustainability made over recent years.
Mr Diplaris said the skilled, knowledgeable and committed local workforce was a further factor in the company's decision to invest in the Kawerau facility.
"I wish to pay particular tribute to the project team, site employees and the army of local and international suppliers. We have kept everyone safe through more than 175,000 hours of work while also delivering this major undertaking on time and on budget."
