PaperWorks expands sustainable folding carton network with Color Craft acquisition

USA – PaperWorks Industries Inc. has acquired Color Craft Graphic Arts, adding a key folding carton facility in Manitowoc, Wisconsin, to its operations. 

The deal brings in 120 new team members and strengthens the company’s integrated network, now spanning two paperboard mills and six converting sites across the United States and Canada.

Brian Janki, President and CEO of PaperWorks, stated that the move fits the company’s growth plans and ongoing investments in customer service. 

He noted Color Craft’s location near existing mills, its varied client base, and shared company culture as key factors in the decision.

Gregg Weber, who leads Color Craft and will transition to the PaperWorks team, expressed enthusiasm about the partnership. 

He described it as a chance for the Manitowoc staff to access broader resources, including direct mill connections, to improve delivery times and quality for clients.

The acquisition enhances PaperWorks’ capacity to produce eco-friendly packaging solutions, such as recyclable folding cartons made from responsibly sourced paperboard. 

Color Craft’s operations focus on custom designs for food, consumer goods, and healthcare sectors, aligning with rising demand for sustainable alternatives to plastic. 

PaperWorks plans to integrate Color Craft’s technology for advanced printing and die-cutting, aiming to shorten lead times by up to 30% for regional customers. 

The company already sources 90% of its paperboard from FSC-certified forests, and this addition will boost its annual production capacity beyond 500,000 tons. 

Weber added indirectly that the team looks forward to collaborating on innovative designs that meet stricter sustainability standards.

In recent years, the folding carton market has seen steady growth, driven by regulations pushing for reduced environmental impact. 

Earlier this year, International Paper acquired the entire British packaging company DS Smith for approximately US$7.2 billion, which included DS Smith’s existing mill in Riceboro, Georgia.. 

Company officials there highlighted how such integrations cut transportation emissions and support local forestry initiatives. 

Similarly, in Europe, Smurfit Westrock’s merger has consolidated operations to emphasize zero-waste carton lines, processing over 2 million tons of recycled fiber annually.

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