Country Activity
Activity in France
Activity overview
Industrial facilities in France are commissioning operational energy infrastructure and deploying new production equipment across papermaking and finishing segments. Papeteries du Cotentin (PAPECO) has targeted the complete elimination of natural gas at Orval-sur-Sienne via a thermal storage system, while Canson commissioned a 5 MW biomass boiler at its Saint-Marcel-lès-Annonay site. In tissue manufacturing, Lucart is installing a flexible electric tissue line at Laval-sur-Vologne, and Saica Group activated an 86 million euro biomass installation at its Nogent-sur-Seine facility.
Further converting, finishing, and processing operations include Eurobrillance investing 7.5 million euros in machinery and software systems, Smurfit Westrock committing 20 million euros to modernise its Vernon corrugated facility as part of a wider program, and Technicarton acquiring Cartec to combine cutting tools with corrugated converting machinery.
What changed
Technicarton acquires corrugated equipment maker Cartec
France-based Technicarton has completed the acquisition of Cartec, merging expertise in precision cutting tools with advanced corrugated converting machinery to strengthen global packaging supply chains and enhance production capacity.
Smurfit Westrock announces 20 million euro modernization at Vernon corrugated plant
Global packaging leader Smurfit Westrock has announced a €20 million investment to modernize its corrugated cardboard plant in Vernon, France. Part of a massive €600 million commitment tied to the Choose France summit, the initiative aims to boost capacity for eco-designed packaging, improve energy efficiency, and advance the group's 2050 net-zero decarbonization goals.
Saica Group activates 86 million euro biomass boiler at Nogent-sur-Seine
Saica Group has activated a new €86 million biomass boiler at its Nogent-sur-Seine paper mill in France, cutting natural gas consumption by 89 percent.
Eurobrillance allocates 7.5 million euros for finishing machinery and systems
French paperboard finishing specialist Eurobrillance is investing €7.5 million in new machinery, AI, and ERP systems, creating 35 jobs to double its 2026 turnover.
Canson commissions biomass boiler at Saint-Marcel-lès-Annonay mill
Specialty paper manufacturer Canson has commissioned a 5 MW biomass boiler at its Saint-Marcel-lès-Annonay mill, replacing 89% of its natural gas steam demand.
Lucart installs electrifiable tissue line at Laval-sur-Vologne
Lucart is installing a new Toscotec AHEAD 1.8 tissue line at its Laval-sur-Vologne mill, boosting site capacity to 75,000 tonnes with a fully electrifiable setup.
PAPECO installs thermal storage system at Orval-sur-Sienne mill
Papeteries du Cotentin (PAPECO) is replacing all natural gas at its Orval-sur-Sienne mill with a 35 MWh thermal storage system provided by Epyr and Energy Pool.
Companies in motion
Canson
Specialty paper manufacturer Canson has commissioned a 5 MW biomass boiler at its Saint-Marcel-lès-Annonay mill, replacing 89% of its natural gas steam demand.
Cartec
France-based Technicarton has completed the acquisition of Cartec, merging expertise in precision cutting tools with advanced corrugated converting machinery to strengthen global packaging supply chains and enhance production capacity.
Energy Pool
Papeteries du Cotentin (PAPECO) is replacing all natural gas at its Orval-sur-Sienne mill with a 35 MWh thermal storage system provided by Epyr and Energy Pool.
Epyr
Papeteries du Cotentin (PAPECO) is replacing all natural gas at its Orval-sur-Sienne mill with a 35 MWh thermal storage system provided by Epyr and Energy Pool.
Eurobrillance
French paperboard finishing specialist Eurobrillance is investing €7.5 million in new machinery, AI, and ERP systems, creating 35 jobs to double its 2026 turnover.
Lucart
Lucart is installing a new Toscotec AHEAD 1.8 tissue line at its Laval-sur-Vologne mill, boosting site capacity to 75,000 tonnes with a fully electrifiable setup.
Papeteries du Cotentin (PAPECO)
Papeteries du Cotentin (PAPECO) is replacing all natural gas at its Orval-sur-Sienne mill with a 35 MWh thermal storage system provided by Epyr and Energy Pool.
Saica Group
Saica Group has activated a new €86 million biomass boiler at its Nogent-sur-Seine paper mill in France, cutting natural gas consumption by 89 percent.
Smurfit Westrock
Global packaging leader Smurfit Westrock has announced a €20 million investment to modernize its corrugated cardboard plant in Vernon, France.
Technicarton
France-based Technicarton has completed the acquisition of Cartec, merging expertise in precision cutting tools with advanced corrugated converting machinery to strengthen global packaging supply chains and enhance production capacity.
Toscotec
Lucart is installing a new Toscotec AHEAD 1.8 tissue line at its Laval-sur-Vologne mill, boosting site capacity to 75,000 tonnes with a fully electrifiable setup.
Connected developments
Thermal and Biomass Energy Displacements at Mill Sites
Canson, Saica Group, and PAPECO have all implemented mill-level utility projects to replace natural gas consumption using biomass boilers and thermal energy storage. However, the evidence does not establish any shared technical infrastructure, common commercial agreements, or identical operational cycles connecting these three facilities.
Machinery Integration Across Corrugated Converting and Tooling
Smurfit Westrock's investment in plant modernization in Vernon and Technicarton's acquisition of Cartec both involve machinery assets in the corrugated packaging sector. The evidence does not demonstrate an operational partnership or supplier relationship between Smurfit Westrock and Technicarton or Cartec.
Activity analysis
The recorded projects show primary papermaking facilities undertaking physical fuel-displacement retrofits alongside equipment additions. The implementations at Nogent-sur-Seine, Saint-Marcel-lès-Annonay, and Orval-sur-Sienne focus on displacing fossil fuel for steam and thermal cycles via biomass boilers and thermal storage units, while Lucart's Laval-sur-Vologne expansion integrates electrifiable machine design directly into site capacity growth.
- Technicarton acquires corrugated equipment maker Cartec
- Smurfit Westrock announces 20 million euro modernization at Vernon corrugated plant
- Saica Group activates 86 million euro biomass boiler at Nogent-sur-Seine
- Eurobrillance allocates 7.5 million euros for finishing machinery and systems
- Canson commissions biomass boiler at Saint-Marcel-lès-Annonay mill
- Lucart installs electrifiable tissue line at Laval-sur-Vologne
- PAPECO installs thermal storage system at Orval-sur-Sienne mill
Downstream from base paper production, converting and finishing companies are adjusting plant-level machinery and capital assets. Investment announcements and acquisitions such as those by Smurfit Westrock in Vernon, Eurobrillance, and Technicarton demonstrate capital deployment dedicated to corrugated converting, finishing equipment, and cutting tooling within French production footprints.
- Technicarton acquires corrugated equipment maker Cartec
- Smurfit Westrock announces 20 million euro modernization at Vernon corrugated plant
- Saica Group activates 86 million euro biomass boiler at Nogent-sur-Seine
- Eurobrillance allocates 7.5 million euros for finishing machinery and systems
- Canson commissions biomass boiler at Saint-Marcel-lès-Annonay mill
- Lucart installs electrifiable tissue line at Laval-sur-Vologne
- PAPECO installs thermal storage system at Orval-sur-Sienne mill
Regional context
Original The Paper reports
- · Technicarton acquires corrugated equipment maker Cartec
France-based Technicarton has completed the acquisition of Cartec, merging expertise in precision cutting tools with advanced corrugated converting machinery to strengthen global packaging supply chains and enhance production capacity.
- · Smurfit Westrock announces 20 million euro modernization at Vernon corrugated plant
Global packaging leader Smurfit Westrock has announced a €20 million investment to modernize its corrugated cardboard plant in Vernon, France.
- · Saica Group activates 86 million euro biomass boiler at Nogent-sur-Seine
Saica Group has activated a new €86 million biomass boiler at its Nogent-sur-Seine paper mill in France, cutting natural gas consumption by 89 percent.
- · Eurobrillance allocates 7.5 million euros for finishing machinery and systems
French paperboard finishing specialist Eurobrillance is investing €7.5 million in new machinery, AI, and ERP systems, creating 35 jobs to double its 2026 turnover.
- · Canson commissions biomass boiler at Saint-Marcel-lès-Annonay mill
Specialty paper manufacturer Canson has commissioned a 5 MW biomass boiler at its Saint-Marcel-lès-Annonay mill, replacing 89% of its natural gas steam demand.
- · Lucart installs electrifiable tissue line at Laval-sur-Vologne
Lucart is installing a new Toscotec AHEAD 1.8 tissue line at its Laval-sur-Vologne mill, boosting site capacity to 75,000 tonnes with a fully electrifiable setup.
- · PAPECO installs thermal storage system at Orval-sur-Sienne mill
Papeteries du Cotentin (PAPECO) is replacing all natural gas at its Orval-sur-Sienne mill with a 35 MWh thermal storage system provided by Epyr and Energy Pool.