Overview & Challenge

SOMIC Packaging Inc., a subsidiary of Amerang, Germany-based SOMIC, is highly respected in the packaging industry for its automated, end-of-line retail ready machines. The company began operations in the USA in 2014 and ultimately relocated from the Chicago area to the Twin Cities in 2018, leasing a 14,000 square foot office warehouse space in Gateway Business Park in Eagan. After experiencing tremendous growth over the past five years, the company looked to relocate several Germany based work functions to the United States and simultaneously expand US operations in a new headquarters location in the Twin Cities.

Strategy

Phil Simonet, principal at Forte Real Estate Partners, provided advisory and site selection services for SOMIC, conducting a comprehensive cost analysis of ownership versus leasing. Nonfinancial criteria included proximity to the airport and SOMIC’s existing Eagan location and a high image facility. The analysis concluded that purchasing was more beneficial than a long-term lease. Forte negotiated a successful purchase agreement with the developer, and managed substantial tenant improvements, guiding SOMIC through design, pricing, and construction oversight to meet their specialized operational needs.

Results

SOMIC Packaging, Inc. selected InverPoint 5 within the InverPoint Business Park for its strategic location near their existing Eagan facility, with convenient access to I-494, Highway 55, and MSP International Airport. The company acquired the 48,000 sq. ft. Class A warehouse from United Properties, the developer behind the 475,000 sq. ft. five-building master-planned project, and began occupying the space on October 14, 2024.

Forte Real Estate Partners played a central role in managing the project from acquisition through occupancy. Wally Tufvander, Vice President of Project Management at Forte, led the interior build-out, collaborating closely with SOMIC to design, budget, and oversee the extensive improvements required to tailor the space to their operational needs. His leadership ensured the project stayed on schedule and aligned with SOMIC’s specifications. Key partners included Pope Architects and Jorgenson Construction, who worked alongside Forte to deliver a high-performance facility that supports SOMIC’s continued growth.