Oji opening $72m Queensland site

Oji Fibre Solutions has completed building its $72m site in South East Queensland, with assistance from the Queensland Government’s Advance Queensland Industry Attraction Fund.

The company says it will produce corrugated packaging and packaging products, particularly in the fruit, vegetable and meat sectors.

While it is currently unknown which presses will be inside of the site, the company uses flexo four-colours at its other sites in Sydney and Melbourne. It is also a possible recipient of the country’s first digital carton press EFI Nozomi, due here next month.

Japanese-based packaging manufacturer Oji Fibre Solutions (Oji) had increased planned staff numbers from 55 to 70 ahead of schedule at its soon-to-open Yatala factory and was already setting its sights on Queensland’s regions, with plans to expand the business in Far North Queensland later this year.

Dr Jon Ryder, CEO, Oji says, “The Government’s support was a major factor in the decision of the company, which produces corrugated packaging products for use by fruit and produce, meat, industrial, fast moving consumer goods, paper products and consumer durables.

“The Queensland Government has been tremendous help, they are pro-business and commercially astute. We very much appreciate the industry attraction program they put together which has been fundamental in helping us select Queensland as the best destination for this factory.

“It is an exciting time, we are investing, growing, and getting good support. Being associated with the world’s fifth largest pulp and packaging manufacturer helps, we feel fighting fit, and will keep going.”

The Queensland Government says Oji plans to open satellite businesses in far north Queensland and two other regional Queensland locations, creating a potential 30 more jobs.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says, “Oji’s decision in 2016 to build a corrugated box manufacturing factory here in south-east Queensland was a corporate vote of confidence in our state from one of the world’s largest forest, paper and packaging producers with a billion-dollar-plus turnover.

“The incentives our government is providing through our industry attraction fund were instrumental in Oji building this highly automated facility here in Queensland, providing jobs for Queenslanders and another feather in the cap of our state’s growing manufacturing industry.”

It is not the only major investment Oji has made recently, as it picked up specialty on-demand box manufacturer Cardboard Cartons in September, also adding litho and laminating capabilities to its lineup.

Oji is a pulp, paper and packaging company owned by Oji Holdings and Innovation Network Corporation of Japan. Its operations are based in Australia and New Zealand, employing 1600 people. Market Kraft pulp and container board products are produced in their three New Zealand facilities.

Eight paper-based packaging operations across Australasia produce a range of corrugated board packaging products and paper bags principally for the horticulture, dairy, meat and beverage industries. The business also includes the Fullcircle waste paper collection service and the Lodestar logistics operations. Market pulps, container board and packaging products are exported to 25 countries.

 

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