VPK Group strengthens Eastern European footprint with €4m Salonta expansion

Strategic Expansion in Bihor County

The packaging map of Central and Eastern Europe continues to densify. VPK Group has confirmed a €4 million capital injection to construct a new 6,000-square-meter manufacturing facility in Salonta, Romania. This move directly expands the operational bandwidth for both VPK Packaging Romania and its core-winding division, Corex Romania, reinforcing the company's footprint in a highly competitive region.

As an observer of VPK’s steady march across the continent, this latest development in Bihor County represents a logical progression rather than a speculative leap. The Belgian group, which operates over 70 factories across 20 countries, first planted its flag in the Romanian market in 2007, initiating production in Salonta by 2009. Today, the existing corrugated operations there already churn out over 75 million square meters of board annually. Adding a dedicated, purpose-built site for Corex alongside the corrugated business creates a highly integrated manufacturing hub.

Regionalizing the Supply Chain

The choice of Salonta is dictated by undeniable geographic logic. Located near the Hungarian border, the site offers a logistical sweet spot to serve multinational FMCG and industrial clients across Romania, Hungary, and the broader CEE region. In 2026, as supply chains remain hyper-focused on regional resilience and shorter transit times, having localized, high-capacity packaging nodes is a non-negotiable asset for any major supplier.

Romania’s packaging landscape is currently fiercely competitive. With global giants like the newly merged Smurfit Westrock and established local players like Romcarton vying for market share, VPK’s decision to deepen its roots in Salonta demonstrates a clear commitment to leveraging its existing local expertise. Rather than seeking a greenfield site in an untested area, the company is building on a proven foundation.

Elevating Corex and Circularity

The €4 million investment goes beyond mere square footage; it signals a necessary technological upgrade. The new facility on Iosif Vulcan Street will house advanced production lines designed to elevate the technological sophistication of Corex's paper core and tube offerings. Corex plays a critical but often underappreciated role in the broader industrial supply chain, providing the essential winding components for tissue paper, flexible packaging films, and textiles.

This dual-pronged approach—strengthening both transport packaging and industrial cores—reflects a mature market strategy. Corex, which relies heavily on recycled fibers, feeds directly into the circular economy loop that major brands now mandate. By co-locating these capabilities, VPK Group optimizes its internal logistics and significantly reduces the carbon footprint associated with inter-company material transfers.

Furthermore, the integration of advanced automation within the new 6,000-square-meter footprint will likely set a new benchmark for operational efficiency in the region. As labor markets in Eastern Europe continue to tighten in 2026, packaging manufacturers are increasingly reliant on automated material handling and digitized quality control systems. VPK’s proactive investment ensures that both its corrugated board and paper core divisions can scale output without being bottlenecked by regional workforce shortages. This forward-thinking approach to capacity building is precisely what separates resilient market leaders from reactive competitors.

VPK’s calculated expansion in Salonta exemplifies the kind of smart, localized investment that builds long-term market dominance without overleveraging. Will other mid-tier European packaging groups follow suit and consolidate their specialized divisions into unified regional mega-hubs? Follow The Paper for daily news, market signals and key updates from the global paper, corrugated and packaging industry. — Sigue toda la actualidad del sector en www.thepaper.ai