DS Smith is accelerating its transformation strategy in Romania with more than €14 million in new investments aimed at automation, production modernization and packaging innovation.

The investments follow strong volume growth recorded in both 2024 and 2025, reinforcing Romania’s growing role inside DS Smith’s European packaging network.

Major Expansion at Timișoara Plant

The largest investment — €10.5 million — will go to the company’s Timișoara facility by the first quarter of 2027.

The project includes:

• production flow transformation
• expanded finished goods warehousing
• automation upgrades
• faster logistics handling
• reduced delivery lead times

A major addition will be a new conversion-area production line designed to support:

• new packaging formats
• higher efficiency
• real-time quality monitoring
• advanced packaging technologies

Ghimbav Plant Continues Expansion

At the same time, the Ghimbav plant will receive an additional €3.6 million in 2026 for:

• corrugated board equipment upgrades
• infrastructure modernization
• production capacity expansion

This builds on the company’s earlier €13 million investment launched in 2023.

Romania Becomes Innovation Hub

DS Smith says Romania was designated an Innovation Hub at the beginning of 2026.

The local operations now support multidisciplinary teams focused on:

• packaging design
• large-scale testing
• rapid implementation of packaging concepts
• development of new sustainable packaging technologies

This gives Romanian customers faster access to advanced packaging solutions across DS Smith’s global portfolio.

Digital Packaging Transformation Accelerates

The company highlighted several technologies already implemented locally, including:

• 7-color HD Flexo printing
• digital packaging design tools
• Ondula R packaging solutions
• specialty paper packaging development

Future innovation efforts will focus not only on sustainability but also on improving price competitiveness in a difficult economic environment.

Employee Wellbeing Included in Modernization Strategy

Part of the investment also targets working conditions.

Through the company’s “Health and Wellbeing” program, DS Smith introduced a cooling system capable of reducing production hall temperatures by up to 5°C, improving employee comfort while maintaining energy efficiency.

Industry Insight

DS Smith’s Romania investments reflect a broader packaging industry trend:

Eastern Europe is becoming increasingly important for:

• automated corrugated packaging production
• innovation deployment
• regional supply chain resilience
• sustainable packaging development

At the same time, packaging manufacturers are balancing three priorities simultaneously:

• operational efficiency
• sustainability targets
• customer cost pressure

Final Thought

DS Smith’s expansion in Romania shows how packaging companies are increasingly using automation, digitalization and localized innovation hubs to strengthen competitiveness in a more demanding European packaging market.

The strategy is no longer just about producing corrugated packaging.

It is about building integrated packaging systems that combine:

• speed
• customization
• sustainability
• logistics efficiency
• and advanced manufacturing capability.

Last Updated on 12/05/2026 by Jota Machinery