What Les Cartons Northrich inc does

Les Cartons Northrich inc is a privately held Canadian protective packaging manufacturer founded in 2001 and headquartered in Granby, Quebec. The company develops and produces paper-based protective packaging products built from 100% recycled fiber, organized around three core lines: ANGLEGUARD™ brand edge protectors (including Strapguard and poly-coated variants for moisture resistance), tubes and cores, and a range of protective sheets and pads (slip sheets, tier sheets, divider sheets, separators, and anti-slip sheets). It also markets a lower-cost AngleGuard™ NW tier introduced in 2023. The firm operates four converting plants across North America — including a vertically integrated paper mill in Vermont acquired to control raw material quality, cost, and pricing stability — and a converting facility in Wagram, North Carolina. Northrich employs nearly 250 people across its North American operations.

The company sells primarily through a channel of over 200 packaging distributors across North America, supplemented by direct sales for custom solutions and product inquiries. It targets seven vertical segments: fulfillment and distribution centers (primary), general manufacturing, produce and growers, food and beverages, windows and doors, office furniture, and appliances and electronics. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed; products are customized per customer specification, including custom printing (up to three colors in-line since 2023). Northrich has pursued international expansion into Costa Rica, Guatemala, Cameroon, Chile, and Argentina, and in 2024 installed a new palletizer that increased line speed by 50% (from 160 to 230 feet per minute).

Revenue mechanics are anchored in one-time sales of physical protective packaging SKUs through the distributor channel, with the Vermont paper mill providing internal supply and cost isolation. Marketing is primarily content-driven via blog, earned media, and industry awards — including recognition as a Top 10 Pulp and Paper Manufacturing Solutions Company in Canada for 2023 by Manufacturing Technology Insights. The company is founder-led: Richard Normandin serves as President, CEO, and primary public spokesperson. Ownership remains concentrated with the founding team; no external institutional investors, parent companies, or subsidiaries are referenced.

Name

Les Cartons Northrich inc

Legal name

Les Cartons Northrich inc

Website

https://northrich.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

2001

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Northrich is a privately held Canadian paper-based protective packaging manufacturer producing edge protectors, tubes and cores, and sheets and pads from 100% recycled fiber. It serves industrial verticals across North America via 200+ distributors and direct sales, operating four converting plants and a vertically integrated Vermont paper mill.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Protective Packaging Manufacturing

NAICS

Paperboard Container Manufacturing (32221), Paperboard Mills (32213)

SIC

Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Paperboard Mills (2631)

akta.pro primary industry

Paperboard Cores, Tubes & Edge Protectors (IMALACAE)

akta.pro secondary industry

Material Handling Protective Accessories (Slip Sheets, Corner Boards, Pallet Collars) (IMALAFAN)

Keywords

• Protective packaging manufacturing
• Paperboard edge protectors
• Industrial tubes and cores
• Paperboard sheets and pads
• Sustainable packaging products

Headquarters

HQ city

Granby

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Protective Packaging Products: Sale of paper-based protective packaging products including edge protectors, tubes and cores, and sheets and pads. Products are sold through distributor network and direct sales, with customization options available for specific customer requirements.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Les Cartons Northrich inc manufactures and sells paperboard-based protective packaging products for industrial and commercial customers. Its portfolio centers on ANGLEGUARD™ edge protectors (including poly-coated and Strapguard variants), industrial Tubes & Cores, and Protective Sheets & Pads (slip sheets, tier sheets, divider sheets, separators). All products are made from 100% recycled fiber and are fully recyclable, and the company operates four converting plants across Canada and the United States.

Product overview

Northrich is a manufacturer of protective packaging solutions specializing in paperboard-based products. The company operates a multi-product portfolio organized around three core product lines: ANGLEGUARD™ brand edge protectors (including premium, NW affordable, Strapguard, and poly-coated variants) for pallet load reinforcement and protection; Tubes & Cores for industrial applications; and a comprehensive range of Protective Sheets & Pads (including Slip Sheets, Tier Sheets, Divider Sheets, Separators, and Anti-Slip variants). All products are manufactured from recycled paper-based materials and are designed for sustainability, with vertical integration secured through the company's own paper mill in Vermont.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Angleguard™: Edge protectors consisting of multiple layers of recycled fiberboard, securely bonded together with a top sheet that completely wraps around both sides of the board. Available in standard and poly-coated variants.
• Strapguard
• AngleGuard™ NW
• We Care
• We Care / Embracing Circularity

Products and services

• ANGLEGUARD™ Edge Protectors Premium edge protectors consisting of multiple layers of recycled fiberboard securely bonded together with a top sheet that completely wraps around both sides of the board. Designed to reinforce palletized products, prevent edge damage, and improve load stability for industrial and logistics operations.
• ANGLEGUARD™ NW Edge Protectors Cost-effective edge protector solution made from 100% recycled multilayer paperboard, delivering performance similar to standard ANGLEGUARD™ Full Wrap Corners at a reduced cost through optimized manufacturing. Targeted at customers seeking affordable eco-friendly edge protection.
• Strapguard Edge Protectors Edge protector designed to distribute strapping and film tension across a wider area, preventing cuts, indentations, and visual damage on products during transit and storage. Targeted at shippers using strapping on palletized loads.
• Poly-Coated Edge Protectors Moisture-resistant edge protectors with a poly-coating layer providing barrier protection for high-humidity environments. Suitable for produce, food, cold-chain, refrigerated, and export applications.
• Tubes & Cores Industry-leading tubes and cores for various applications including tape and label manufacturing, paper towel, and gift wrap rolls. Available in various dimensions with optional printing up to three colors.
• Protective Sheets & Pads Versatile sheet product line including Slip Sheets, Tier Sheets, Divider Sheets, Separators, Pallet Sheets, and protective pads designed to enhance safety and efficiency in material handling processes.
• Anti-Slip Pallet Separator Sheets Paperboard separator sheets designed to prevent slippage between product layers, significantly improving load stability during transport and storage.
• Partition & Divider Sheets Sheets for creating individual compartments within packaging to protect delicate items from contacting one another during transit.
• Slip Sheets (Tirer-Pousser) Thin pallet-sized sheets designed to replace or supplement wooden pallets in shipping and storage applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• 50% increase in production speed after palletizer installation
• +2 more outcomes

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Sonoco Products Company: Global diversified packaging manufacturer with significant paperboard, tubes & cores, and protective packaging operations. Directly comparable to Northrich in tubes & cores and protective edge products, but operates at vastly larger scale across multiple packaging categories.
• Smurfit Kappa: One of the world's largest paper-based packaging producers, with corrugated, containerboard, and protective paper packaging offerings. Comparable to Northrich in paper-based protective and converting solutions, but operates a far broader global footprint.
• Mondi Group: European-headquartered paper and packaging group with corrugated, kraft paper, and protective packaging lines. Comparable in sustainable paper-based protective products and in serving industrial logistics customers, though at much larger international scale.
• Pratt Industries: U.S. corrugated and paperboard packaging manufacturer with vertically integrated recycled-content operations. Comparable to Northrich in recycled-fiber protective paperboard products, with deeper scale and U.S. manufacturing footprint.
• Packaging Corporation of America: Large U.S. producer of containerboard and corrugated packaging with a focus on converting operations. Comparable to Northrich in paperboard-based protective and converting products, though more focused on corrugated shipping containers.
• VPK Packaging Group: European paper-based packaging group with solid board, cores, and protective packaging divisions. Comparable to Northrich in paperboard cores/tubes and recycled-content protective packaging offerings, with a strong sustainability narrative.

Direct peers

• Cascades Inc. Quebec-based sustainable packaging manufacturer with tissue, containerboard, and specialty packaging products. The most direct Canadian peer to Northrich — both are Quebec-based, sustainability-focused, paper-based packaging manufacturers serving North American customers.
• Conitex Sonoco: Specialty manufacturer of paper tubes, cores, and edge protectors. Closest direct competitor in Northrich's tubes & cores and edge protector lines, with a similar product mix and industrial customer base.
• Atlantic Packaging: U.S. paper-based packaging manufacturer with corrugated, protective, and specialty paper products, including a sustainability focus. Comparable to Northrich in recycled-content protective paperboard products serving North American distribution customers.
• Great Northern Corporation: U.S.-based integrated protective packaging provider with paperboard edge protectors, custom protective packaging, and in-house paperboard converting. Closely comparable to Northrich in protective edge/corner product portfolio and industrial customer verticals.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/northrich-inc-

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Les Cartons Northrich inc