Nefab Group has expanded its North American manufacturing footprint with the opening of a new integrated packaging and engineering campus in Wixom, Michigan, aimed at supporting growing demand for returnable plastic packaging and protective solutions across automotive and advanced manufacturing sectors.
The new PolyFlex campus, part of the Nefab Group, combines injection molding operations and engineered protective packaging production across approximately 137,600 square feet in two facilities. The site will serve as a regional Center of Excellence for returnable and protective packaging solutions, integrating design, tooling, injection molding, and packaging engineering capabilities on a single campus.
According to the company, the investment reflects increasing demand for reusable transport packaging systems as manufacturers seek to improve transport efficiency, reduce expendable packaging, and strengthen regional supply chain resilience.
“Having design, tooling, and injection molding all on one campus means we can offer genuinely end-to-end service,” said Brian Finkel, Director of Operations at PolyFlex, part of the Nefab Group. “With press capacities up to 2,600 tons, we have the range to handle precision components and large-format systems while keeping quality high and lead times short.”
Injection molding capabilities at the site range from 125-ton to 2,600-ton presses, allowing production of both smaller precision packaging components and large-format returnable packaging systems and material handling products.
Demand for Returnable Packaging Continues to Grow
The Michigan investment comes as manufacturers across automotive, battery, electronics, and industrial sectors continue shifting toward reusable transport packaging systems designed to reduce waste, improve packaging durability, and support automation.
Nefab said the expanded operation strengthens its ability to scale reusable packaging production across North America while supporting customers seeking more localized manufacturing and shorter supply chains.
“The expanded operation strengthens our ability to scale reusable packaging solutions across North America,” said Darrell Tiedeman, Vice President of Plastics Solutions Americas at Nefab. “As manufacturers move away from single-use packaging, increasing local production of returnable systems is key to improving both efficiency and sustainability across the supply chain.”
Located in one of Michigan’s major manufacturing corridors, the new campus positions Nefab close to automotive and industrial customers increasingly investing in automation, electrification, and more resilient regional sourcing strategies.
The company noted that local production can also reduce transportation requirements and help customers improve packaging availability and responsiveness.
Broader North American Expansion Strategy
The Wixom opening follows several recent North American expansion initiatives by Nefab focused on reusable and engineered packaging.
Earlier this year, the company expanded its Guadalajara, Mexico campus with a new packaging engineering center integrating design, testing, prototyping, and production capabilities aimed at supporting high-tech manufacturing sectors including semiconductors, electronics, healthcare equipment, and automotive production.
In 2025, Nefab also opened a 137,000-square-foot thermoforming and recycling hub in McMinnville, Tennessee, designed to support heavy-gauge thermoforming, in-house sheet extrusion, and closed-loop recycling for reusable plastic packaging systems.
Founded more than 75 years ago, Nefab operates in more than 39 countries and serves industries including telecom, datacom, semiconductors, energy, healthcare equipment, mining, construction, and lithium battery and e-mobility sectors.
Rick LeBlanc, EMBA, is the founder and editor of Reusable Packaging News (subscribe to the free newsletter) and editor of Western Pallet Magazine. A supply chain journalist with more than 30 years of experience, he specializes in pallets, reusable packaging, material handling and related operations. Rick is co-author of Pallets: A North American Perspective and Pallets & Progress: A Collected History of Pallets and Palletized Handling 1922–1945. He is also an advisory board member of the Virginia Tech Center for Packaging and Unit Load Design. Read Rick’s full bio.
