Morrisette invests in corrugated manufacturing

Morrisette Packaging is investing $25 million in plant and equipment as the North Carolina-based company expands from its traditional role as a packaging distributor into high-end corrugated manufacturing.

At the centre of the investment are two Koenig & Bauer systems designed to give the company in-house capabilities across high-graphics flexographic printing, rotary die-cutting and specialty folding and gluing.

Eight-colour ChromaCUT anchors new operation

The company has installed a Koenig & Bauer Celmacch ChromaCUT High Tech eight-colour flexographic rotary die-cutter as one of the key machines supporting its new corrugated manufacturing division.

The platform is intended to combine high-quality graphics with high-speed converting, allowing Morrisette to produce more sophisticated corrugated packaging for customers seeking stronger branding and shelf impact.

Omega Magnus adds specialty folding and gluing

The second major machine is a Koenig & Bauer Duran Omega Magnus 230 specialty folder gluer. Together with the ChromaCUT, the system gives Morrisette broader control over converting operations that were previously dependent on external manufacturing partners.

Bringing these capabilities in-house can reduce lead times, improve quality control and give the company greater flexibility when developing customised packaging structures.

First installations of their kind in North America

Koenig & Bauer previously said both machines would be the first installations of their respective configurations in North America, underlining the scale and technical ambition of the project.

The Omega Magnus arrived in late 2025, while the ChromaCUT was scheduled for commissioning in 2026 as Morrisette completed development of its new high-graphics corrugated operation.

Company moves beyond distribution

Morrisette Packaging was founded in 1962 and historically operated primarily as a distributor of packaging materials. Over time, the company expanded into packaging design, automation, foam fabrication and other value-added services.

The latest investment marks a more significant shift towards direct manufacturing, allowing the company to combine design, digital and flexographic printing, cutting, gluing and fulfilment within a more integrated production model.

High-graphics corrugated becomes strategic

Corrugated packaging is increasingly expected to deliver both transport protection and strong visual communication, particularly across e-commerce, retail-ready packaging and premium consumer goods.

High-quality flexographic printing can allow corrugated packs to compete more effectively with other secondary packaging formats while retaining the structural and recycling advantages associated with fibre-based materials.

Automation supports greater production control

Morrisette’s wider pressroom also includes digital printing, digital die-cutting, flatbed die-cutting and autonomous material-handling systems, creating a production environment designed around flexibility and automation.

Combining digital and conventional technologies can help manufacturers handle both shorter customised runs and larger-volume corrugated programmes without relying on a single production process.

Investment positions company for North American growth

The project reflects the wider trend of packaging distributors and converters investing in manufacturing capacity as customers seek fewer suppliers capable of managing design, production and automation under one roof.

For Morrisette, the Koenig & Bauer investment strengthens its ability to serve the North American high-graphics corrugated market while giving the company greater control over quality, production schedules and packaging innovation.