Metsä Board has announced that it will open a new Packaging Design Studio in Milan, Italy, with operations scheduled to commence in mid-2026. The initiative is aimed at strengthening collaboration with European brand owners, converters, and packaging developers.
The planned facility will consolidate packaging design, product development, and technical expertise within a single location. According to the company, bringing these functions together is expected to streamline customer engagement and facilitate more cohesive project execution.
The Milan studio will feature advanced tools and technology, including AI-based design and simulation systems. These capabilities are intended to enhance the efficiency of workshops, sprints, and joint development sessions. Particular emphasis will be placed on projects aligned with sustainability objectives, regulatory updates, and defined performance criteria.
By integrating materials expertise, customer insights, and manufacturing considerations into a unified setting, Metsä Board believes the studio will enable more comprehensive development of packaging solutions. The company indicated that this structure is designed to promote a more coordinated approach when working with customers.
The new site will complement Metsä Board’s existing innovation infrastructure. Its current network includes the Excellence Centre in Äänekoski, Finland, which focuses on material research and packaging testing, as well as the Packaging Design Studio in Norwalk, US, which serves North American clients.
Once operational, the Milan Packaging Design Studio will be accessible to customers, partners, and other industry participants seeking to collaborate on new packaging approaches.
Metsä Board commercial operations SVP Erja Hyrsky said: “Located in one of Europe’s leading design capitals, the Milan studio gives us a perfect setting to work even more closely with our customers. The studio makes it easy to connect, test ideas and move towards solutions that keep pace with the fast-evolving packaging landscape.”
Metsä Board produces lightweight folding boxboards, foodservice boards, and white kraftliners. In 2025, the company recorded sales of €1.8bn ($2.1bn) and employed approximately 1,900 people.
The company operates as part of Metsä Group, which is owned by around 90,000 Finnish forest owners through its parent company, Metsäliitto Cooperative. In 2025, Metsä Group reported total sales of €5.8bn.