DS Smith to Invest More Than €14 Million in Romanian Packaging Operations

DS Smith, an International Paper company, announced investments exceeding €14 million in its Romanian production infrastructure as the packaging producer expands operations and modernizes facilities in Timișoara and Ghimbav.

The largest investment, valued at €10.5 million, will be directed to the company’s Timișoara plant and is scheduled for completion by the first quarter of 2027. The project includes automation measures, a redesign of production flows, and an expansion of the finished goods warehouse aimed at improving logistics efficiency and reducing delivery lead times.

The investment will also include a new conversion-area production line designed to support growth with existing and new customers. According to the company, the line will introduce technologies focused on higher efficiency, real-time quality control, and the production of new packaging formats.

Alongside operational upgrades, DS Smith said it is continuing initiatives linked to employee wellbeing. Under its “Health and Wellbeing” program, the company implemented an advanced cooling system capable of lowering temperatures in the production hall by up to 5°C during periods of high heat.

Separately, the company’s Ghimbav facility will receive an additional €3.6 million investment in 2026 for infrastructure modernization and upgrades to corrugated board production equipment. The investment follows a €13 million program launched at the site in 2023.

Romania was designated as an Innovation Hub at the beginning of 2026, hosting multidisciplinary teams responsible for developing and testing packaging concepts for global brands. DS Smith said the local operations are focused on digital packaging design, specialty paper packaging, and technologies including 7-color HD Flexo printing and Ondula R packaging solutions.

Christian Schmidt of DS Smith Packaging Romania said the company remains focused on growth, competitiveness, and customer-oriented packaging solutions despite challenging economic conditions. He added that the company’s recent volume growth confirms the effectiveness of its strategy centered on innovation, customized design, and sustainability-focused solutions.