DS Smith to invest £100m in two new facilities

DS Smith has announced a £100 million investment in two new packaging sites to meet increased customer demand.

The planned facilities in Belchatov, Poland and Castelfranco Emilia, Italy are expected to begin operations within the next two or three years.

DS Smith says that the sustainable paper-based packaging market is expected to grow significantly due to increased adoption of e-commerce and continued expansion in traditional food and drink markets. The new facilities will therefore provide “much-needed” capacity, according to the company.

The sites will incorporate new manufacturing technology, as well as a focus on sustainable performance, and are expected to provide a boost to the local economy.

Last year, Olympus Partners portfolio company Liqui-Box acquired DS Smith’s plastic packaging division in a transaction valued at approximately £400 million.