iPB Printing Picks Charlotte for First U.S. Plant
The Dutch packaging manufacturer is opening its first production facility outside Europe in Charlotte, bringing supply closer to customers across the Americas.
Dutch packaging manufacturer iPB Printing is opening its first production facility in the United States, choosing the Charlotte, North Carolina area for the next stage of its international expansion.
The company says production at the new facility is scheduled to begin in mid-2027. From Charlotte, iPB plans to serve customers across the Americas while improving delivery reliability and security of supply.
The move marks iPB's first production expansion outside Europe after more than 25 years of manufacturing in the region.
Why Charlotte
iPB says Charlotte was selected because of its strong economic growth and strategic position within the United States.
The location gives the company access to customers across the Americas while placing manufacturing closer to the businesses it already serves in the region.
For a packaging supplier, that proximity can matter. Shorter supply chains can improve lead times, communication and delivery reliability, particularly for customers that depend on a steady flow of packaging components.
“Having our own production facility in the United States will bring us closer to our existing customers while also creating opportunities to serve new customers throughout the Americas.”
From European production to American manufacturing
iPB Printing specializes in in-mould labels and flexible packaging used across food packaging, reusable products and durable applications.
The company has historically served customers from its production base in the Netherlands. The Charlotte project changes that model by adding local U.S. manufacturing rather than continuing to rely entirely on exports from Europe.
CEO Ton Lavrijsen described the facility as an important milestone in the company's international growth and said iPB intends to bring the same focus on quality, innovation and long-term partnerships to the U.S. market.
Building the operation locally
iPB has appointed Max Uyttebrouck to lead the international expansion. He will work with the Dutch team and future U.S. employees to develop and launch the new facility.
The company has not yet disclosed the size of the investment, expected employment numbers or the exact Charlotte-area site.
That means the next important milestones will be the location announcement, hiring plans and details on production capacity.
Why local production matters
For European manufacturers, entering America often begins with sales or distribution. Building local production is a much larger commitment.
A factory ties the company more closely to the U.S. market through employees, suppliers, infrastructure and long-term capital investment.
It can also reduce dependence on transatlantic shipping and make it easier to respond quickly to local customer demand.
What this means for European companies
iPB Printing is a useful example of a European industrial company moving beyond exporting and establishing an American production base.
For businesses with enough U.S. demand, local manufacturing can strengthen service levels and reduce supply-chain friction, but it also creates significantly higher fixed costs and operational complexity.
The Charlotte project shows the kind of decision companies face when America becomes large enough to justify production on the ground rather than continued supply from Europe.
For iPB, the answer is now clear: the next stage of growth in the Americas will be manufactured in America.
