Canbrands acquisition to nearly double work

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A Springfield plant will nearly double its production as a result of a recent merger.|ret||ret||tab|

More business is coming to Springfield's Canbrands plant, a manufacturing company in the Partnership Industrial Center that recycles newsprint into cat litter and animal bedding. |ret||ret||tab|

The company was acquired by Ralston Purina Company Nov. 1, 1999, and the acquisition is "only going to make us busier," said Diane LeBlanc, executive assistant to the president of Canbrands. |ret||ret||tab|

The company has added a second packaging line and has plans to double the facility's production in coming months. The expansion is the result of a new product Ralston will bring to the Canbrands plants. The new product is to be unveiled in March, LeBlanc said. |ret||ret||tab|

"We just ordered some equipment, and we will be making some preparation before that equipment arrives, so we will be hiring some additional people," LeBlanc said.|ret||ret||tab|

In addition to needing more people, the company will need more raw material, or newspapers, to prepare for its increased production. The company, now a division of Ralston Purina, has two factories, and plans for a third, LeBlanc said.|ret||ret||tab|

"Everything's basically the same as before, but of course now we're in a much bigger league with Ralston as our parent company," LeBlanc said.|ret||ret||tab|

Canbrands' Springfield plant has 25 employees, with plans for about 10 more. The company's other manufacturing plant is in Moncton, New Brunswick, Canada. |ret||ret||tab|

The Springfield plant produces about 250 tons of cat litter and animal bedding a week. |ret||ret||tab|

Its primary product is Yesterday's News, cat litter made from recycled newspapers. The product is now available in most pet stores in the United States. |ret||ret||tab|

The company was founded in 1987 by John Austin. It has been operating in the Springfield Partnership Industrial Center since January 1999.|ret||ret||tab|

The company has an agreement with the city of Springfield and neighboring towns for access to their recycled newspaper.|ret||ret||tab|

Canbrands now operates 20 hours a day, four days a week at the Springfield plant, LeBlanc said. |ret||ret||tab|

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