The French tissue producer Le Bourray has announced a strategic investment of €25 million in a new Tissue Machine, which is expected to start operating in September 2026. Construction will begin this fall. This will enable this mill to increase its capacity and position itself in new markets. “This new line will allow us to take a step forward in diversifying our offering, with an extremely innovative product and industrial process,” explains François Bourdin, Managing Director of the company.
Thanks to “this latest-generation machine, unique and environmentally friendly in its process,” Le Bourray will be able to meet growing demand and the expectations of many sectors (tableware, automotive, medical, packaging, etc.). This installation will also strengthen the group’s industrial autonomy, particularly in the medical sector, while relocating to France an activity that was previously dependent on foreign suppliers.
To support this project, an innovative HR program based on mentoring will be deployed. This customized recruitment and training plan will focus on skills development and local professional integration. The company will rely on internal mentoring and the transfer of know-how through managers who are all trained and certified in mentoring. Future operators will be selected using the Simulation Recruitment Method, which assesses skills and interpersonal skills rather than qualifications. They will be offered a comprehensive professionalization program, including a six-month contract with 350 hours of training, leading to a Professional Qualification Certificate and a permanent contract. In total, around thirty positions will be created: twenty operators, as well as maintenance technicians, forklift drivers, a production manager, an IT specialist, and several technical experts. This project is part of the factory’s “Ambitions 2030” strategy, based on skills development, gradual integration, and local commitment.
A producer of white, colored, and recycled tissue paper, Le Bourray is one of the two industrial entities of Stepak Bourdin, a 100% family-owned and independent group specializing in single-use tableware. Acquired in 2019, Le Bourray generates annual revenue of €44 million. Along with the company Manufacture de l’Éphémère, which has a revenue of €38 million, this paper mill belongs to Stepak Bourdin. At the end of June, this group also announced it had entered into exclusive discussions with a view to acquiring Le Nappage and Sodipan Table in France.
Valérie Lechiffre
Photo/Le Bourray
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