Smurfit WestRock (previously WestRock) developed a corrugated box plant in Longview, Washington, US.
The project was announced in February 2022, with the initial construction commencing in August 2022. A groundbreaking ceremony for the project was held in March 2023.
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The facility commenced operations in November 2023 and created approximately 40 jobs in Longview. It was inaugurated in May 2024.
In July 2024, WestRock merged with Smurfit Kappa to form Smurfit Westrock.
The Washington facility helps Smurfit WestRock meet the growing demand from regional customers in the Pacific Northwest and serve all industry segments and markets.
Smurfit WestRock corrugated box facility location and project details
Smurfit WestRock’s corrugated box manufacturing facility is located in Longview City in Cowlitz County, Vancouver, in the Washington metropolitan region.
The building is owned by ElmTree Funds, a private real estate investment company, and leased to Smurfit WestRock.
The facility was developed on a 23.5-acre site and covers an area of 410,000ft² (38,090m²). It is a single-storey concrete tilt-up production plant with a 44ft clearance height.
The plant replaced the company’s existing corrugated operations in Longview. It is co-located with the Longview paper mill operations, enabling its containerboard integration.
Smurfit WestRock became the owner of the Longview paper mill following the acquisition of KapStone Kraft Paper in 2018. The mill produces unbleached kraft pulp, kraft paper and other corrugated products.
Smurfit WestRock’s corrugated containers product portfolio
Smurfit WestRock offers a wide range of packaging containers and complete packaging solutions designed to protect, promote and display products.
The container types offered by the company include bulk bins, corrugated boxes, corrugated trays, crash lock boxes, double wall boxes, heavy-duty shipping boxes, retail-ready packaging and wraparound boxes.
The materials, liners and finished products meet the US Food and Drug Administration standards for food contact.
The corrugated boxes offered are available as single-wall, double-wall and tri-wall boxes, apart from large corrugated boxes. The boxes are available in a wide range of grades and flute combinations and are manufactured from responsibly sourced paper fibre.
The boxes offer the strength and resilience needed to safeguard goods such as delicate glassware or bulky industrial components and help reduce breakages and damage throughout the supply chain.
Each box can be supplied flat, helping cut down on warehouse footprint and optimise transport loads. They can be engineered to suit both hand-packing operations and high-speed automated lines and can also include die-cut elements and optional barrier coatings for added performance.
Contractors involved
Full-service design and architecture company Lamar Johnson Collaborative was responsible for the facility design.
Real estate design-build and construction company Clayco was selected as the general contractor for the project.
The company partnered with engineering and environmental consultancy Langan for civil engineering services.
Marketing commentary on Smurfit WestRock
Smurfit WestRock is a pioneer in sustainable, fibre-based packaging solutions. It operates more than 500 production facilities in 40 countries worldwide, with in excess of 100,000 team members.
The company serves a range of industries including personal care, food and beverage, foodservice, healthcare and retail, plus home and garden, and electronics.
It offers sustainable, fibre-based corrugated solutions, as well as consumer packaging solutions such as folding cartons and speciality printing and packaging services. It also offers containerboard, kraft paper, paperboard, pulp solutions and automated machinery solutions.
