MONTREAL, Feb. 15, 2013 /CNW Telbec/ - Tembec is announcing the departure of Executive Vice President, Specialty Cellulose and Chemical Group, Yvon Pelletier and is pleased to appoint Christian Ribeyrolle as Executive Vice President, Specialty Cellulose. Mr. Pelletier will leave the Company on February 22, 2013.
Mr. Ribeyrolle, who holds a chemical engineering degree from l'École Nationale Supérieure de Chimie de Clermont-Ferrand in France, has been with Tembec for ten years. He joined Tembec in 2003 as Manager of the pulp mill in Tartas, France, with an annual production capacity of 150,000 metric tons. In 2008, he was promoted to the position of Director of Sales, Specialty Cellulose, and in 2009, he became Senior Vice President, Specialty Cellulose, and President, Tembec SAS (France).
Under Mr. Ribeyrolle's leadership, Tembec has invested more than 50 million euros in the Tartas site, transforming its process and product mix. When he joined Tembec, specialty cellulose accounted for just 20% of production at Tartas. Today, the Tartas site manufactures 100% specialty cellulose and has become the Company's best performing asset.
"Christian is a key member of Tembec's senior management team. He has led the transformation of the Tartas mill, making it a very profitable operation with a reputation that is recognized internationally in the specialty cellulose market. Christian's deep expertise, his more than 25 years experience in the industry, and his skills as a manager, have served to position Tembec among the global leaders in the specialty cellulose market. We are very pleased to count on his contribution to our executive team," said James Lopez, President and Chief Executive Officer of Tembec. "Christian has been a tremendous asset in the development of the specialty cellulose component of Tembec's business portfolio," he added.
"I would like to take this opportunity to thank Yvon Pelletier for his 32 years of service and recognize his commitment to the Company during his tenure with Tembec. We wish Yvon well," Mr. Lopez stated.
Tembec is the world's second leading producer of specialty cellulose
Refined from wood pulp, specialty cellulose is a component of products in the pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, personal care, construction and electronics industries, among others. It is a high margin business, growing in the range of 4% to 5% per year. Specialty cellulose represents 28% of total revenues.
A $190-million investment project is underway in Tembec's Temiscaming, Quebec specialty cellulose facility. A $120-million Phase 2 to this project is currently under study. This project announced on March 16, 2012 is one of the largest in the forest products industry in many years and will further reinforce Tembec's position as the world's second leading producer of specialty cellulose.
This investment will increase annual production of green electricity by up to 50 megawatts, reduce sulfur dioxide emissions by 70%, increase Temiscaming's annual production capacity of specialty cellulose as well as make Temiscaming one of the world's lowest-cost specialty cellulose manufacturing facilities.
The overall project will increase Tembec's annual production capacity of specialty cellulose from the current 310,000 metric tonnes to 345,000 metric tonnes. The Temiscaming facility's production capacity will increase from the current 160,000 metric tonnes to 195,000 metric tonnes. Tembec's Tartas, France, specialty cellulose facility has a current production capacity of 150,000 metric tonnes.
Tembec is a manufacturer of forest products - lumber, pulp, paper and specialty cellulose - and a global leader in sustainable forest management practices. Principal operations are in Canada and France. Tembec has some 3,700 employees and annual sales of approximately $2 billion. Tembec is listed on the TSX (TMB).
This press release includes "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of securities laws. Such statements relate, without limitation, to the Company's or management's objectives, projections, estimates, expectations or predictions of the future and can be identified by words such as "may", "will", "could", "anticipate", "estimate", "expect" and "project", the negative or variations thereof, and expressions of similar nature. Forward-looking statements are based on certain assumptions and analyses made by the Company in light of its experience, information available to it and its perception of future developments. Such statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, changes in foreign exchange rates, product selling prices, raw material and operating costs and other factors identified in the Company's periodic filings with securities regulatory authorities. Many of these risks are beyond the control of the Company and, therefore, may cause actual actions or results to materially differ from those expressed or implied herein. The forward-looking statements contained herein reflect the Company's expectations as of the date hereof and are subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by applicable securities legislation.
SOURCE: TEMBEC
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Linda Coates
Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Affairs
Tel.: 416 775-2819
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