DS Smith, now part of International Paper, is investing more than EUR 14 million in its Romanian packaging operations, as the company continues to upgrade production infrastructure and expand local manufacturing capabilities.
The largest project will take place at the company’s Timișoara plant, where DS Smith plans to invest EUR 10.5 million by the first quarter of 2027. The investment will cover automation, a full transformation of production flow and an expansion of the finished goods warehouse, with the company aiming to reduce delivery lead times and adapt the site to new logistics requirements.
The Timișoara project will also include a new production line in the conversion area. According to the company, the line will support growth with both existing and new customers by adding state-of-the-art technologies, improving efficiency, enabling real-time data-based quality control and allowing the production of new types of packaging.
Alongside operational upgrades, DS Smith said it is also investing in working conditions. Under its “Health and Wellbeing” program, the company has installed an advanced cooling system designed to reduce temperatures in the production hall by up to 5°C. The system was tested during its first summer of operation, which the company said was marked by record-high temperatures.
At the Ghimbav plant, DS Smith will invest a further EUR 3.6 million in 2026. The funding will be used for infrastructure modernization and upgrades to corrugated board production equipment, with the aim of increasing operational performance and production capacity. The program follows a EUR 13 million investment launched at the same facility in 2023.
Romania was designated an Innovation Hub at the beginning of 2026 and hosts specialized multidisciplinary teams that develop concepts, test large-scale feasibility and implement validated projects for global brands. DS Smith said the proximity of its two Romanian innovation centers gives local partners faster access to advanced packaging technologies from its portfolio.
“In 2026, DS Smith Packaging Romania continues to accelerate its investments and business transformation, with a clear growth direction and ambitious objectives for the coming period. Despite a challenging economic environment, we remain focused on development, competitiveness, and delivering concrete responses to the constantly changing needs of our customers. The strong volume growth for the second consecutive year confirms that our strategy meets market demands and motivates us to further strengthen the organization’s performance and profitability. We are focused on growth through innovation, customized design, and solutions tailored both to customers’ cost pressures and to increasingly ambitious sustainability objectives,” said Christian Schmidt.
The company said its Romanian teams are using digital tools in packaging design and have introduced 7-color HD Flexo technology at Ghimbav. DS Smith also cited the local launch of Ondula R and the development of packaging made from specialty papers as part of its wider focus on sustainable and visually appealing packaging.
The investments are intended to strengthen DS Smith’s position in Romania as demand grows for packaging that combines operational efficiency, cost competitiveness, customized design and sustainability performance.
