Elopak, the Norwegian carton maker that opened its first U.S. factory in Arkansas in April this year, plans to further grow that site to supply more milk cartons.
A newly announced third line, which Elopak projects will cost $30 million to get up and running, is due to start production sometime in 2027, said Senior Communications Manager Yannick Vanderveeren in an email. A previously announced second line is currently being installed, with production expected to start in the first half of 2026.
The second and third lines will both produce Elopak’s Pure-Pak cartons. The second line will make Elopak’s “usual range of cartons, up to a half-gallon,” with the third line focusing primarily on smaller sizes, including cartons for school milk, Vanderveeren explained. Elopak reportedly supplied some additional milk cartons to the U.S. market to aid the 2023 shortage that plagued American schools, which in part stemmed from a site closure by competitor Pactiv Evergreen.
“We continue to experience strong demand as dairies focus on securing their supply through dual sourcing,” Elopak stated in its Q3 report.
The site currently employs around 100 people and manufactures cartons for liquid eggs, dairy, juice and other drinks. The Little Rock, Arkansas, plant was profitable as of Q3, according to CEO Thomas Körmendi on an earnings call this week, although customer onboarding has taken a bit longer than the company anticipated. In Q3, Elopak saw 18% organic revenue growth in the Americas, totaling about 88 million euros, the company reported.
Despite Elopak’s recent operational scale-up in the U.S., the company has been supplying North American customers for years from sites in Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean. The demand in the region is clear, Körmendi said, saying the company has been growing an average of 15% a year since 2020.
Körmendi said the third line in Arkansas will help Elopak grow market share and offer a broader portfolio than before. This helps Elopak become a more valuable supplier and “get a higher share of wallet” with customers, particularly larger ones with mixed portfolios.
Under its 2030 strategy, Elopak aims to generate 2 billion euros in revenue globally. Elopak’s Q3 results showed the company’s year-to-date revenues totaled about $890 million euros, up 1.9% year over year. For full-year 2025, the company expects to meet its targeted 4% to 6% organic revenue growth.
