Manufacturing


  • Paul Wiebel Sr., Bob Wiebel, and Paul Wiebel Jr. shovel dirt on the Milford, Pennsylvania, site of an Econo-Pak facility expansion ceremony.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Econo-Pak
    Image attribution tooltip

    8 US packaging manufacturing developments to know in the new year

    Nelipak, TerraSafe and Global Packaging Solutions all expanded in North Carolina. Catch up on growth news in Florida, Illinois, Maine, Pennsylvania and Texas.

    By Jan. 15, 2025
  • O-I glass bottles on the hot end of a line.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of O-I Glass
    Image attribution tooltip

    O-I Glass secures DOE funding as it begins Ohio decarbonization project

    The company will bring together energy efficiency technologies to upgrade furnace infrastructure, aiming to reduce carbon intensity by as much as 40%.

    By Jan. 13, 2025
  • A sign outside a building says Packaging Corporation of America.
    Image attribution tooltip
    JHVEPhoto via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    PCA to close Georgia corrugated plant, affecting 103 people

    Packaging Corporation of America determined it could better serve customers by moving the Atlanta-area full-line plant’s capacity to other locations, according to a spokesperson.

    By Jan. 13, 2025
  • rolls of cardboard
    Image attribution tooltip
    lucop via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    5 packaging industry trends to watch in 2025

    Donald Trump’s return to the White House, evolving conditions for M&A, more mature state policy negotiations and a reckoning around 2025 plastics reduction targets are some of the factors poised to affect the industry.

    By , , Jan. 8, 2025
  • person bends over and picks up a stack of packages from a porch step
    Image attribution tooltip
    SDI Productions via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip
    Deep Dive

    2024 packaging trends by the numbers

    These are some of the stats illustrating key storylines this year in policy and regulation, M&A activity, manufacturing, pricing, recycling, sustainability goals and more.

    By , Dec. 20, 2024
  • Bundled stacks of flat corrugated boxes.
    Image attribution tooltip
    samritk via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    2025 containerboard outlook: Price increases, index exits and tariff threats

    Trends such as price hikes are expected to carry over into the new year, along with the addition of new hot topics like tariffs, say analysts from RaboResearch and Bloomberg Intelligence.

    By Dec. 17, 2024
  • O-I Glass quality inspection.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of O-I Glass
    Image attribution tooltip
    Deep Dive

    The packaging workforce grew for a decade. Labor shortages and COVID-19 changed that.

    The top 12 publicly traded U.S. packaging manufacturers by revenue collectively have more employees than they did a decade ago. Mergers and acquisitions heavily influenced the numbers, but that’s not the only factor.

    By Dec. 11, 2024
  • Exterior of a building with the Novolex logo.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Permission granted by Novolex
    Image attribution tooltip

    Novolex to acquire Pactiv Evergreen in $6.7B deal

    The North American companies expect to finalize the all-cash deal in 2025, which would take Pactiv Evergreen private.

    By Dec. 9, 2024
  • A wide exterior shot of an industrial facility surrounded by green space.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Billerud
    Image attribution tooltip

    Billerud to invest $127M in Michigan plants amid transition to paperboard production

    Most of the upgrades will occur at a graphic paper mill in Escanaba, as Billerud strives to transition to paperboard production in North America.

    By Dec. 3, 2024
  • A large industrial facility with smokestacks and snow on the campus.
    Image attribution tooltip

    Alamy

    Image attribution tooltip

    Smurfit Westrock becomes latest to announce 2025 price increases

    The company is pursuing price increases for corrugating medium and multiple other categories. It’s now at least the fourth company to announce January price increases in recent weeks.

    By Nov. 27, 2024
  • Unassembled (flat) cardboard boxes.
    Image attribution tooltip
    dusanpetkovic via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    International Paper, Georgia-Pacific try for 2025 fiber price increases

    The news follows a recent announcement by Packaging Corporation of America and could mark a potential trend heading into the new year. The increases, which cover multiple categories, are set to take effect Jan. 1.

    By Nov. 25, 2024
  • Donald Trump in business attire stands in a stage with an U.S. flag in the background
    Image attribution tooltip
    Anna Moneymaker/Staff via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Trump’s tariffs: How manufacturers can prepare

    Front-loading commodity imports could be a temporary solution, but diversified sourcing will be critical for the long term, experts say.

    By Kate Magill • Nov. 14, 2024
  • Top view of multiple wine bottles
    Image attribution tooltip
    Rafa Jodar via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Ardagh permanently closing Seattle wine bottle facility, citing unfavorable ITC decision

    The closure of the previously halted glass facility impacts 245 workers. Curtailments can positively affect GHG emissions metrics, the company noted in a new sustainability road map on Thursday.

    By Nov. 14, 2024
  • An aerial view of exhibitors set up in a large convention hall.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Katie Pyzyk/Packaging Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    Automation, labor shortage discussions permeate largest-ever Pack Expo

    Sustainability also sat among the top themes at Pack Expo International in Chicago this week, including a focus on reusable and flexible packaging. PMMI says the event broke records for attendance and the number of exhibitors.

    By Nov. 7, 2024
  • Green glass bottles.
    Image attribution tooltip
    DeSid via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Layoffs tick up in October, led by International Paper and O-I Glass

    Companies such as Dart Container, PPC Flexible Packaging, Sonoco and Metsä Board also disclosed upcoming layoffs in multiple areas.

    By Nov. 5, 2024
  • Green glass bottles.
    Image attribution tooltip
    DeSid via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Packaging manufacturers share insights from Q3

    Recent earnings calls revealed some notable changes at packaging manufacturers. Follow the latest from Pactiv Evergreen, Clearwater Paper, Sonoco, Amcor, International Paper, Smurfit Westrock and more.

    By Packaging Dive Staff • Updated Nov. 12, 2024
  • stacks of white diapers
    Image attribution tooltip
    muchemistry via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    International Paper cuts 674 jobs amid strategic review of global cellulose fibers

    The news of a South Carolina pulp mill closure brings IP’s announced layoffs in October to more than 1,500. A potential sale of the broader GCF business is now under consideration.

    By Oct. 31, 2024
  • The commemorative placement of a final beam on the initial construction of O-I's glass packaging production facility in Bowling Green, Kentucky, in April 2024.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of O-I Glass
    Image attribution tooltip

    O-I considers cutting 7% of capacity by mid-2025

    The company reported a net loss in Q3 after curtailing an estimated 18% of production amid destocking trends. It also reported the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Kentucky, its first in decades.

    By Oct. 30, 2024
  • Stacks of cardboard boxes in a logistics center
    Image attribution tooltip
    Rost-9D via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Is the fiber packaging M&A surge done? Probably not.

    M&A activity is expected to influence companies’ commercial approaches for the next five to 10 years, according to conference speakers from Wells Fargo, Bloomberg and Hudson Windsor.

    By Oct. 28, 2024
  • Aerial shot of Suzano production site in Brazil
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Suzano
    Image attribution tooltip

    Suzano begins operating 2 US mills, talks bolt-on M&A

    Suzano executives shared more details about the ramp-up in Arkansas and North Carolina, and the Brazilian company’s broader aspirations for growth in the U.S., during an earnings call on Friday.

    By Oct. 28, 2024
  • O-I glass bottles on the hot end of a line.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of O-I Glass
    Image attribution tooltip

    O-I Glass shuttering Ohio innovation center, Illinois plant: reports

    The company has teased multiple closures since Gordon Hardie took over as CEO but previously had shared few specifics on locations.

    By Oct. 24, 2024
  • A manufacturing line with paper-based table ware coming off the conveyor.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Courtesy of Georgia-Pacific
    Image attribution tooltip

    10 of the latest packaging facility expansions in North America

    Elopak, Georgia-Pacific, Graham Packaging and RediBagUSA are among the companies that recently made investments in new facilities or upgrades.

    By Updated Oct. 25, 2024
  • Former President Donald Trump, left, and Vice President Kamala Harris, right, stand behind podiums at a debate.
    Image attribution tooltip
    Win McNamee via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Election 2024: The outlook for packaging and manufacturing policy

    Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump differ on environmental regulations, manufacturing, energy and ESG policies. What could a Trump or Harris presidency mean for the packaging industry?

    By , , Oct. 23, 2024
  • Close-up view of flat, stacked corrugated boxes.
    Image attribution tooltip
    SafakOguz via Getty Images
    Image attribution tooltip

    Fiber packaging pricing remains flat, Cascades’ 3rd increase doesn’t gain traction

    Industry price increases appear to be finished for the year. Meanwhile, analysts point to continued improvement in volumes while the industry pulls up from the post-pandemic “cardboard box recession.”

    By Oct. 22, 2024
  • A closeup of the bottom of a corrugated box with International Paper's
    Image attribution tooltip
    Rachel Pollack/Packaging Dive
    Image attribution tooltip

    International Paper to close facilities in 4 states, lay off hundreds

    The recently disclosed layoffs will occur in Illinois, Missouri, North Carolina and Tennessee in mid-December. These are in addition to 650 layoffs confirmed last week.

    By Updated Oct. 21, 2024