Elopak expands with third production line at Arkansas plant

NORWAY – Norway-based packaging firm Elopak is ramping up its presence in the American market through a fresh investment in its Little Rock, Arkansas facility. 

The company plans to install a third production line at the site, located at the Port of Little Rock, to handle surging orders for its renewable cartons. 

This move comes just six months after the plant’s April 2025 opening and builds on an earlier decision last September to add a second line.

Initial plans for the factory, revealed in June 2023, called for a US$70 million outlay on land, construction, and machinery to manufacture Pure-Pak cartons for dairy, juices, plant-based beverages, and liquid eggs. 

The total investment has since climbed to US$100 million, incorporating upgrades for automated folding, scoring, and packing processes that enhance worker safety and output efficiency. 

Production on the first line began in early 2025, generating over 100 permanent positions in the area.

According to a recent company earnings update, the Little Rock operation posted its initial profitable quarter in the third period of 2025, with overall organic revenue climbing 1.2% year-over-year to about US$318 million. 

Sales in the Americas jumped 18% on a constant-currency basis, driven by demand for fiber-based alternatives to plastic. 

Elopak, which operates 12 plants worldwide and sells more than 16 billion cartons annually across 70 countries, now employs 2,850 people globally.

Thomas Körmendi, Elopak’s CEO, highlighted the facility’s role in the firm’s strategy during the third-quarter report. 

“The U.S. plant in Little Rock delivered its first profitable quarter, an important milestone as we continue to ramp up production throughout the rest of 2025,” he stated. 

Körmendi added that solid demand across the U.S. prompted the early addition of the third line, roughly a year ahead of prior schedules.

Lionel Ettedgui, president of Elopak Americas, noted in September 2024 that the first line’s capacity had fully sold out even before operations started, prompting the second-line addition to support current and emerging clients. 

Construction remains on track, with the extra line set to boost output for sustainable packaging solutions amid a global shift away from single-use plastics.

In a statement from the April ribbon-cutting, Körmendi described the plant as a key element in Elopak’s aim to double revenues to US$2.2 billion by 2030. 

Local leaders, including Little Rock Mayor Frank Scott Jr. and Arkansas Governor Sarah Huckabee Sanders, attended the event, praising the project’s rapid timeline, from groundbreaking in March 2024 to opening in under a year. 

The site’s rail, road, and airport links aid efficient distribution to North American buyers.

Elopak’s focus on paperboard innovations continues, as seen with its May 2025 launch of Natural White Board, a material suited for chilled fresh liquids. 

These cartons, made from renewable sources, help food producers cut carbon footprints while meeting consumer preferences for eco-friendly options. 

The third-line expansion, with no specific timeline announced, will further equip the company to supply high-volume orders in a competitive landscape.

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