A Norwegian packaging company built its first manufacturing facility in the United States, a major milestone for the company as it embarks on domestic production.
Elopak chose to locate in Little Rock, Arkansas, after a nationwide search. The company cited the city's mix of transportation access, available infrastructure and industrial readiness for the move.
A newly built 300,000‑square‑foot facility will help the 100‑year‑old packaging company produce sustainably sourced paper‑based cartons for goods and beverage packaging.
The development is also a big win for Little Rock. Not only does it bring new jobs and bolster the U.S. supply chain, but it helps solidify the region’s reputation as a growing hub for advanced manufacturing, a set of contributions that earned the project a CoStar Impact Award as judged by real estate professionals familiar with the market.
About the project: Elopak’s manufacturing facility at 6101 Zeuber Road was constructed by ARCO National Construction in partnership with Isom Co. and completed within one year.
What the judges said: “To have this building completed in the time frame that it was is truly a remarkable accomplishment,” said Jason Parker, brokerage director at Cushman & Wakefield | Sage Partners.
“This build-to-suit for Elopak demonstrates the cooperation of the Little Rock Port, the City of Little Rock, Pulaski County and the private sector working together to grow the industrial community in the Little Rock Port,” said Henry Kelley Jr., CEO, partner and executive broker at Kelley Commercial Partners.
Matthew Beachboard, brokerage director at Moses Tucker Partners, said the project adds a “significant impact to growing and developing the Port of Little Rock, highlighting it as a premier multimodal destination for national and international companies.”
They made it happen: A team at ARCO National Construction that included Sam Stahnke, vice president and operating partner, Scott Brown and Chris Patterson, directors of operations, and Adam Chesser, superintendent, spearheaded the construction of the project. James Isom, founder and partner at Isom Co., was the developer. Sebastien Prud’Homme, project manager, and Reinard Dreesman, vice president of operations for the Americas at Elopak, represented the tenant.