CARTIER Packaging, 40 years of innovation

FROM THE DISTRIBUTION OF SANITARY PRODUCTS TO PACKAGING OPTIMIZATION

CARTIER Packaging was founded in 1980 with the desire to break the codes of traditional business. The company started out in a simple garage thanks to its instigator Jean Cartier, a born entrepreneur who accumulated successes, both in banking and in sales and who wanted to ensure the future of his family. The home business was an immediate success and quickly became a small business with employees. 

From the very first company named “Distribution Industrielle St-Césaire”, focused on sanitary products, to the current company specializing in packaging optimization, forty years of practice, transformation and technological developments have built the solid company that has developed an inspiring, visionary corporate culture focused on the well-being of its employees.

A clear sign that CARTIER Packaging has always had the wind in its sails, the company has grown by 28% over the past 10 years and plans to double its sales within the next 5 years.

The path has not always been smooth. In 1998, the ice storm severely affected the company, who housed some of their employees without electricity for up to 30 days. During that same year, the integration of a new IT system challenged internal practices and  was followed by a long journey of learning and transition.

In 2002, the company passed into the hands of the 2nd generation: David Cartier, Josée Cartier and Luce Meunier. Luce retired in 2006 and Josée was bought out by David in 2017 to devote herself to another entrepreneurial project. Having a good relationship based on openness and communication, the transfer to the 2nd generation happened naturally. Luce and Josée helped build a solid foundation for the company and leave behind a legacy that is still used to this day.

In the mid-2000s, an identity crisis forced the company to focus more effectively on its differentiating element, and to refocus on what would become its specialty: optimization. CARTIER Packaging was at a turning point in its existence; pursue its path as a distributor with a “me too” offer or ensure its sustainability by refining its offer which makes it unique. This critical leadership change has led to organizational restructuring and decisions that are difficult but necessary to secure a new start for the company. This image that CARTIER Packaging embodies today now unites all its employees around a common adventure and allows it to stand out with a distinct approach.

In 2011, David Cartier takes over as President of the company and brings a new vision, emphasizing the authenticity of the company and the expertise of its team of engineers. His slogan: “We don’t necessarily want to be the biggest, we aim to be the most relevant.” It was fromt that moment that the CARTIER Packaging innovation laboratory was born, offering an integrated approach for a measurable impact..

THE CARTIER PACKAGING INNOVATION LABORATORY, ONE OF A KIND

Established since 2011, it is the only innovation laboratory in the country that allows a concrete analysis of the impacts of warehousing, transport and handling of companies’ packaging and, thanks to the expertise of its engineers. and technicians, to precisely determine the optimization point. CARTIER Packaging recently invested a new sum of  $600,000, for a total investment of $1.2 million since its founding, to support the expansion of its laboratory and the purchase of new equipment, thus becoming the largest packaging optimization laboratory in Canada.

Take a minute to discover our laboratory

Packaging optimization EXPERT 

In 2014, the company was renamed “CARTIER, Packaging optimized”, with its four complementary fields of expertise: laboratory, equipment, technical services and products. This innovative business model covers all activities relevant to process optimization and gives CARTIER great added value.

The advanced and increasingly state of the art equipment of the laboratory makes it possible to test packaging in transport conditions, to recreate the complete journey of your merchandise and to determine the optimization point of its packaging.

By optimizing packaging, businesses can save on costs, reduce their environmental footprint, and avoid handling and transportation losses.

advanced technological solutions

At CARTIER Packaging, automation began as early has 1990. Since then, the company has continuously partnered with the best in their field, both in Quebec and internationally, to bring the best to its customers. In 2010, it joined forces and created a solid partnership with Robopac, the world leader in end-of-line packaging equipment, which clearly stands out from the competition through their state of the art technologies. Today, CARTIER Packaging is among the top 10 distributors of Robopac worldwide.

In 2018, CARTIER Packaging launched its own 4.0 technology, named Jules, which monitors the settings and indicators of stretch film wrappers 24 hours a day, in order to prevent anomalies, damage to the goods and avoid waste when parameters are not respected. Jules securely transmits digital data by cloud computing services to the CARTIER control center and provides detailed reports, in real time, which makes it possible to provide recommendations for continuous improvement. A valuable tool to make customers’ lives easier

CARTIER Packaging wishes to continue this momentum by continuing to expand its ranges of equipment, by developing automation for e-commerce, but also by expanding its network of partners specializing in automation across Quebec, while continuing to urge optimization in front of automation.

THE FUTURE OF THE INDUSTRY

Data at the service of businesses

Looking to the future, CARTIER Packaging wishes to strive for an increasingly precise prediction of purchasing behavior, a major movement in the industry. According to the company, smart replenishment will be one of the key development points to watch in the packaging industry, .

CARTIER Packaging believes that data analysis could also take its innovation laboratory to another level. The company would then be able to connect different data to offer solutions without physically testing packaging.

Eco-responsibility

The future, CARTIER Packaging also sees it in terms of eco-responsibility. The company wants to become a leader in the development of eco-responsible packaging.

In addition to offering packaging products that are increasingly environmentally friendly, the company has been helping its customers since 2011 to reduce their carbon footprint by developing tailor-made solutions that protect merchandise in a relevant way by using the right amount of packaging, thus preventing waste of resources. Packaging optimization, makes it possible to find a balance between under-packaging (risk of breakage, etc.) and over-packaging (waste) is the eco-responsible approach with the greatest environmental impact in the packaging sector. 

Furthermore, CARTIER Packaging is also working on a project that will provide customers with transparent information on products and their impact on the environment, through a specific lexicon and clear categorization. This will allow customers to make informed choices about the packaging products used in their operations.

Wishing to take this vision to the next level, CARTIER Packaging has set up a committee in 2019 to ensure that everything the company offers is at the forefront of what is being done in terms of eco-responsibility.

Optimization, automation, artificial intelligence and eco-responsibility: in our opinion, these are the words that shape the future of packaging.

With a heritage of 40 years of know-how, we never stop innovating and focusing on the future, in order to offer you the most complete and relevant solutions. To always be at the forefront, this is our aspiration for you!

giving back to the communivty 

In memory of Jean Cartier, who died of Alzheimer’s disease, CARTIER Packaging supports this cause which is dear to us.

Since 2014, the company has been involved with the Alzheimer Society of Haut-Richelieu, in order to generate as many donations as possible: memory walks, encouragement to donate among employees and through the David Cartier network. Over the course of its campaigns, CARTIER Packaging has donated over $70,000 to the Alzheimer Society.

To mark its 40th anniversary, CARTIER Packaging will launch a series of virtual initiatives until June 17th to raise funds for the Alzheimer Society Haut-Richelieu, in memory of Jean Cartier.