New North American headquarters helping packaging company expand footprint
SOMIC Packaging Inc. has opened its new North American headquarters in Inver Grove Heights, Minnesota. The 48,000-square-foot facility provides the space and infrastructure needed to assemble and test end-of-line packaging machines locally.
The company’s aim was to reduce its reliance on overseas production and improve delivery timelines. The new facility is a major move in terms of the company’s growth in the U.S.
The company, a subsidiary of Germany-based SOMIC, moved into the new location in late 2024 after two years of planning and renovation. The new site triples SOMIC’s previous capacity in nearby Eagan, where it had relocated from the Chicago area in 2018.
SOMIC currently serves a range of industries across the U.S. and Canada, including cheese, dairy, meat, snacks, confectionery and pet food processing.
Peter Fox, CEO of SOMIC Packaging, said the new headquarters enables the company to centralize its assembly, commissioning and testing operations. By bringing these functions together under one roof, the company has improved production speed, shortened lead times and strengthened quality control.
“This added capacity means we can bring innovations like the soon-to-be launched, next-generation SuperFlex 434 system to market faster and with greater operational efficiency,” Fox said.
Building machines in Minnesota also eliminates the need to ship fully assembled systems from Europe, reducing transportation time and cost. Fox said it gives SOMIC’s U.S. team more control over final assembly and quality assurance, helping ensure systems are built to customer specifications and ready to perform upon delivery.
FACTORY TESTING BOOST
The new facility includes a dedicated commissioning hall where SOMIC machines are assembled and tested before shipment. That space also plays a key role in factory acceptance testing (FAT), giving customers the chance to observe their equipment in operation and confirm performance prior to installation.
“The dedicated FAT space has been a game changer for customer trust and speed,” Fox said. “Customers can now witness their machines being assembled, tested and fine- tuned locally, which boosts confidence and shortens final delivery timelines.”
In addition to supporting FATs, the facility includes a larger inventory area for storing critical parts and consumables, as well as more than 10,000 square feet of administrative offices. Another 8,000 square feet is available on the second floor to accommodate future growth.
A formal grand opening event is planned for September.
NEW WAVE OF LOCAL PRODUCTION
One of the newest products now being assembled in Minnesota is the SOMIC 434 case packing system. The 434 is a next-generation, modular platform designed for retail- ready packaging formats. It can process up to 34 cases per minute during a single cycle and includes upgrades that reduce noise and improve ergonomics. Format changeovers are 70% faster than in earlier models, due in part to the QuickChange adjustment system.
The 434 system is built around standardized mechatronic modules that support faster configuration and less engineering time. It is also designed to be adaptable across industries, with the ability to handle a variety of formats including open trays, wraparound cases, trays with covers or lid inserts and paperboard cartons.
Fox said the new headquarters supports more collaborative development of systems like the 434.
“Our new Minnesota headquarters provides the needed floor space and commissioning hall to develop and showcase the 434 platform’s modular design,” he said. “This environment supports collaborative engineering by giving the U.S. team more control over configuring, testing and modifying standard modules to address real customer packaging challenges.”
DESIGN SHIFT REDUCES LEAD TIMES
The move to local assembly supports SOMIC’s broader shift from custom-built systems to a configure-to-order model based on standardized components. This strategy allows for faster turnaround and reduced dependence on project-specific engineering.
“It supports our approach to ‘configure-to-order’ rather than ‘design-to-order,’ which significantly cuts project-specific engineering time and improves delivery predictability,” Fox said.
The business model also makes it easier to respond to changing demands in packaging, such as growth of stand-up pouch, mixed-format tray and custom shelf-ready case usage.
WORKFORCE DOUBLES TO SUPPORT DEMAND
To keep pace with growth, SOMIC has also expanded its staff across departments. The company planned to hire 10 more employees following last year’s PACK Expo, and the new facilities are equipped to support up to 80 employees as operations continue to scale.
New hires will support assembly, service, spare parts, sales support and human resources. Fox said the increase in staffing is already improving the company’s ability to respond to customer needs and provide long-term service.
“By doubling the team, especially in parts, service and sales support, it allows us to deliver faster, more personalized after-sales care,” he said. “More service techs and local parts availability mean quicker response times for maintenance or upgrades, which directly addresses common customer concerns about lead times and technical support.”
POSITIONED FOR GROWTH
The new facility is set to play an important role in how SOMIC develops its products moving forward. With the packaging industry shifting toward more automation, flexibility and sustainable solutions, the company plans to grow its in-house research and development efforts and bring new systems to market more quickly.
“The Inver Grove Heights site is purpose-built to serve as a North American innovation hub,” said Fox. “By handling more engineering, assembly and FAT work in-house, we can prototype flexible new systems like the SuperFlex faster and adapt to evolving packaging demands such as retail-ready formats and stand-up pouches.”
SOMIC Packaging’s North American operations serve customers throughout the U.S. and Canada. Its systems are used for collating, grouping and case packing.
The company has more than 50 years of experience in packaging system development and is part of SOMIC Holding GmbH in Amerang, Germany.
