From the site acquisition in 2008 to the creation of a strategic hub serving European markets: Lucart continues its growth in France with the installation of a new Toscotec-supplied tissue machine, designed to increase production capacity and reduce carbon emissions through electrification
On the 18th anniversary of the acquisition of the Laval-sur-Vologne site, Lucart is strengthening its presence in France with a major investment in its Vosges plant: the installation of a new tissue machine supplied by Toscotec. This new line marks another milestone in Lucart’s industrial growth and decarbonization journey and is part of the Group’s strategy to increase its annual production capacity, with the goal of reaching 400,000 tonnes by the end of 2027.
Over the years, the Laval-sur-Vologne site has evolved into one of Lucart’s leading production hubs in Europe. Acquired in 2008, this facility has progressively expanded its role within the Group, tripling the French subsidiary’s turnover over a 15-year period and creating more than 100 new jobs. Today, approximately 350 people work at the site.
Industrial growth has been accompanied by the progressive expansion of the site’s product offering and infrastructure. In 2011, Laval became one of the first plants in Europe to integrate the production of tissue paper made from recycled beverage cartons, contributing to the development of Fiberpack® technology. The evolution of its French presence has also included logistics. In 2023, Lucart announced the acquisition of a new logistics centre in Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, which became operational in 2024. Covering 22,000 square meters and with a storage capacity of approximately 20,000 pallets, the centre was designed to consolidate finished products and manage shipments to France, Germany, the Benelux countries and Northern European markets, working in synergy with the Laval-sur-Vologne plant.
“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,” comments Francesco Pasquini, CEO of Lucart. “The installation of the new 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 decarbonization journey we have embarked on.”
“We are proud to support Lucart’s decarbonization goals by providing an advanced solution designed to optimize performance while setting new benchmarks for energy efficiency,” says Alessandro Mennucci, CEO of Toscotec.
The new PM15: greater capacity and a more efficient production process
The new Toscotec tissue machine, known as PM15, will replace 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 new line is equipped with a shoe press, a technological solution designed to maximize energy efficiency and the quality of the paper produced. However, its key distinguishing feature lies in the process used to generate and utilize heat, which represents the most energy-intensive stage in tissue paper production. The machine 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. The high-efficiency Yankee dryer will also be fed with steam generated by a new electric boiler.
The electrification of the thermal process will enable Lucart to significantly reduce the direct emissions associated with the operation of the new line, making a concrete contribution to the plant’s decarbonization journey.
The investment in PM15 is therefore part of a long-term strategy focused on industrial growth and reducing the environmental impact of production through measures aimed at improving energy efficiency, optimizing resource use and reducing emissions.
From France to Europe
Today, Laval-sur-Vologne is a strategic component of the Group’s industrial presence in Europe. Its location, at the heart of the continent and close to the key markets of Central and Northern Europe, enables production and distribution to be integrated, connecting the plant with the Saint-Dié-des-Vosges logistics centre and with the Group’s other production sites.
“Lucart’s history in France demonstrates how an industrial investment can evolve over time alongside market needs and environmental challenges,” concludes Pasquini. “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.”
