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Packaging manufacturers continue to invest in greenfield sites as well as expansion projects. In the past month, numerous companies have announced growth plans for film production, paper packaging and more:
- Charter Next Generation announced a $106 million investment in facilities and advanced equipment to expand its operations in Northeast Ohio, adding 125 new jobs across sites in Lexington and Ontario that already staffed more than 1,200 people. CNG will add 12 new film packaging lines in Lexington as part of a 157,000-square-foot expansion, while also adding four extrusion lines in Ontario “to meet growing demand in the consumer goods space.” The project will receive state tax credit assistance.
- Elopak opened its first U.S. carton converting plant in Little Rock, Arkansas. The $100 million factory will make Pure-Pak cartons for liquid dairy products, juices, plant-based drinks and liquid eggs, the Norwegian company said. A second production line, which Elopak projects will contribute an additional $110 million in annual revenue, is expected to be up and running in 2026.
- Hotpack, a food packaging company based in Dubai, announced plans to expand manufacturing and distribution in the U.S. with a $100 million investment in Edison, New Jersey. This will be the company’s initial North American production base. The 70,000-square-foot facility is expected to begin operations in June, bringing 200 jobs over the next five years.
- International Paper broke ground in May on a box plant in Waterloo, Iowa, that’s expected to become operational in Q4 2026. “Located in the heart of the Midwest, the new facility will primarily focus on serving the protein segment, providing tailored packaging solutions and meeting the growing demand for high-quality, sustainable packaging,” the company said. The expansion is projected to add 65 jobs. Elsewhere, IP is adding 40 jobs at a container plant in McAllen, Texas, as it consolidates its manufacturing footprint along the U.S.-Mexico border.
- Malnove, a paperboard packaging solutions company, received a local permit to expand its plant in Jacksonville, Florida, the Jacksonville Daily Record reported. The project cost is about $12.2 million.
- Nelipak, a Rhode Island-based thermoformed packaging company specializing in healthcare and medical device packaging, announced it will open a new production site in Grecia, Alajuela, Costa Rica, in mid-2026. Nelipak has operated in the country since 2012.
- Pregis is expanding its blown film operations at its Anderson, South Carolina, facility. Specifically, it’s adding capacity for ethylene vinyl alcohol — or EVOH — barrier film options. “As brands seek packaging that delivers both barrier properties and recyclability, Pregis is investing in the infrastructure needed to stay ahead of that demand,” Bob Gargione, president of Pregis Performance Flexibles, said in a statement.
- UFP Industries previewed plans for a new corrugated facility in the western United States. “This is the third corrugated facility for UFP Packaging’s protective packaging business unit and second announced within the last 12 months,” intended to serve e-commerce and retail customers, the Michigan-based company said.
