Visy has confirmed it has invested A$30m (€18.8m) in a new 2.8m BHS Corrugated line at its Smithfield board manufacturing facility in Western Sydney, increasing corrugated board output by 33%.
The investment forms part of an upgrade to the company’s integrated recycling and manufacturing site, with the new corrugator incorporating real-time monitoring and digital process optimisation to improve production speeds, changeover times and operational efficiency.
The equipment also provides improved board strength, flatness and consistency, supporting applications including shelf-ready packaging and boxes used on high-speed packing lines.
“We’ve been making cardboard boxes for farmers, and food and beverage brands at Smithfield for over 40 years,” said Mark De Wit, Chief Executive Officer, Visy. “This investment secures a reliable supply of high-quality cardboard packaging that meets demand across the state.”
The Smithfield site incorporates two paper mills producing 100% recycled paper, a corrugated packaging manufacturing facility, a materials recovery facility and a recycled plastics operation. Visy describes it as the largest recycling precinct in New South Wales, employing more than 400 people.
The new corrugator will support packaging production for the agricultural, food and beverage sectors, using paper supplied through Visy’s integrated manufacturing network.
