SCAPPOOSE, Oregon -- Cascades Inc. says it will build a new tissue converting plant in Scappoose, Oregon.

The $64 million investment includes new state-of-the-art converting lines that are scheduled for commissioning at the end of the first quarter of 2017.

This new, modern and automated converting plant will create 200 jobs during the construction phase and will employ 80 people once the work is finished.

It will manufacture virgin and recycled bathroom tissue products and paper hand towels for the Away from Home market. The unit will be supplied by the Cascades tissue paper plant located 12 kilometers away in St. Helens, creating considerable synergies. Its production capacity will be close to sixmillion cases per year, or approximately 53,000tonnes of finished product.

"This new plant is a concrete example of Cascades increasing capacity to service customers on a national scale. This project, which is part of our strategic plan for development, will provide us with a new converting capacity that will improve our integration rate and coverage of the West Coast. The plant will be strategically located to allow us to better serve our customers and continue to grow in a region that offers potential for our Company," commented Mario Plourde , President and CEO of Cascades.

Construction will begin once the municipal permit process has been completed.

Cascades Tissue Group, a division of Cascades Canada ULC, is the fourth largest tissue paper manufacturer in North America.Founded in 1964, Cascades produces, converts and markets packaging and tissue products that are composed mainly of recycled fibres.