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Paranova Print and Packaging is set to invest £20 million over the next five years to expand its fibre-based packaging operations with a new purpose-built facility in Godmanchester, Cambridge.

The packaging manufacturer will initially invest £6 million in the 98,000 sq ft site, which is scheduled to become operational in November 2026.

The facility will increase Paranova’s paperboard capacity and is designed to support growing demand for fibre-based packaging across the fresh produce, convenience and food-to-go sectors.

Godmanchester will become the company’s fourth and largest fibre-based facility in the UK. The site has been designed around automation, faster production and flexibility, with Paranova targeting shorter lead times and greater responsiveness as food and beverage companies continue to adapt their packaging formats.

The facility will include manufacturing space, warehousing, offices and research and development functions. Around one-third of the operational footprint will be dedicated to warehousing, providing additional capacity to manage seasonal demand and future growth.

Paranova has developed the site in collaboration with machinery partner Koenig and Bauer. A new print and finishing machine suite will support automated production, with a new-generation Koenig & Bauer press at the centre of the initial investment.

The press has been designed to handle shorter production runs and faster turnaround times, while helping to reduce stockholding and respond to increasingly complex customer requirements. The site will manufacture a range of carton and sleeve products.

Following the initial £6 million investment, Paranova plans to spend a further £14 million on additional press and finishing equipment, alongside fully automated logistics systems.

The investment is intended to increase production capacity and efficiency while giving the company greater flexibility to respond to demand or paperboard packaging.

The new facility will complement Paranova’s existing dual flexo and litho flagship site in Wisbech, adding further capacity to its UK manufacturing network.

The company said it has experienced year-on-year growth in its paperboard business over the past five years, with the Godmanchester investment representing the next stage of its expansion.

The first machines are due to arrive at the site in early September, with operations expected to begin in early November. Once fully operational, the facility is expected to employ around 150 people.

Jo Ormrod, CEO at Paranova Print and Packaging, said: “Godmanchester has been purpose-built to help us meet the increasing pace and complexity our customers require, particularly across fresh produce, convenience and food-to-go.”

The announcement follows Paranova’s recent £5 million transformation of its St Neots fibre-based food-to-go packaging facility.