The recent growth of e-commerce, partly driven by COVID-19, has accelerated the development of new product delivery and packaging solutions across most industries. Large big box stores approach leading packaging providers to support their sizeable orders from platforms like Amazon and Walmart, pushing packaging partners to overlook the needs of mom-and-pop stores and mid-size businesses. This emphasis on supporting clients that mass-produce goods hinders the development of packaging solutions for small-scale and specialty business applications.

For American Containers Inc. (ACI) this shift in attention creates an opportunity for the group to provide their customer-driven and service-focused strategy to packaging delivery. ACI offers tailored solutions that align with client needs through a fundamental belief that bigger is not necessarily a better choice and that successful businesses constantly work to increase their appeal to customers by ensuring the customer comes first…each and every day.

Founded in 1965 by Leonard Isban, American Containers has continued to grow from a modest endeavor producing honeycomb fillers for hollow core doors to one of the leading packaging partners in the U.S.

Today, American Containers operates three manufacturing facilities in Indiana, Georgia, and California. Each facility produces high-quality, bespoke corrugated paper and plastic boxes, custom load securement solutions that eliminate expensive credits and product rework caused by shipping damage, and corrugated honeycomb fillers for interior residential doors. Led by Michael Isban, Leonard’s son, the family business is now in its third generation with the addition of Cole Isban, Michael’s son.

A Niche Packaging Partner

“We know who we are and realize that while we can’t always compete on price with the global integrated companies, our success lies in our ability to support and partner with our customers to deliver unique solutions with best-in-class lead times and quality standards,” says Cole Isban.

He adds, “Our entire philosophy as a project-and niche-based company is creating specific solutions, designing impactful products, and developing closer connections with clients.”

Unlike many packaging vendors that provide standard boxes in bulk, American Containers creates distinctive solutions with multifold benefits that retain its current clientele and attract new ones. According to Isban, American Containers is not a factory that produces stock-type cartons or packaging. Every item that passes through its facilities is distinctive.

When a customer presents a challenge, American Containers goes to the drawing board and develops a solution based on their requirements. The sales team, packaging designers, and production management work together to ensure the product not only meets the customer’s requirements but creates additional value through enhanced quality and/or efficiency improvements.

“Since we are a small business without the economies of scale that larger organizations enjoy, we don’t operate at the same cost basis or levels as our rivals. Our value comes from our ability to provide high-quality goods with unparalleled customer service in a timely fashion,” says Tad Hepler, VP of sales, at American Containers.

Our entire philosophy as a project- and niche-based company is creating specific solutions, designing impactful products, and developing closer connections with clients

American Containers leverages an agile strategy to expand inventory levels and help clients navigate difficulties like product unavailability, supply chain issues, and fluctuating costs. Maintaining solid relationships with its suppliers (domestic and international), ACI acquires materials in a timely fashion and ensures goods delivery without interruption. This was especially apparent during the pandemic when competitors struggled to supply their customers without greatly extending lead times. ACI maintained most pre-pandemic lead times to their current customer base while also supporting new clients when their vendors were unable to.

A Customer-Centric Approach to Packaging

At the heart of American Containers’ success is its customer-centricity, which it instills across its workforce to ensure development and nurture long-term customer relationships. Isban and his team understand that customers are free to choose who they partner with. This motivates the entire team, from top management to factory-floor personnel, to go the extra mile and ensure the development of personalized packaging and on-time delivery. Even when there is a shortage of steady labor, its management executives participate in weekend equipment maintenance and facility work as a sign of their commitment to meeting client demands.

Following a customer-centric mindset, American Containers focuses on meeting its customers’ long-term goals, not simply addressing their immediate needs, setting them up for sustainable success.

“One commonality between all the segments of American Containers is the passion that helps us deliver quality products, offer end-to-end support, and ensure customers are always taken care of,” says Clayton Keith, Vice President of Sales. Substantial value is delivered through its ability to flexibly manage shifting inventories and ensure shorter lead times for any need. Over the years, ACI has developed and designed many of its own manufacturing equipment that perfectly aligns with the unique needs of its customers, making American Containers a valuable partner for businesses with complex packaging requirements.

End-to-End Packaging Capabilities

American Containers specializes in insulated packaging, ensuring the requirements for specific applications are incorporated in orders of all sizes. Unlike standard boxes that consumers receive in the mail, ACI provides corrugated plastic packaging for items that need protection from moisture, humidity, and dust, be it for returnable use or one-way shipping across a wide array of industries.

The corrugated boxes are lightweight and recyclable, and ACI’s printing capabilities deliver high-impact graphics providing multi-colored display packaging incorporating detailed graphics.

Team- and Expertise-Backed Success

Consistently recognizing the need to change and keep up with the latest market developments, American Containers has significantly invested in the development of state-of-the-art products and the augmentation of its manufacturing facilities and machinery. A key example of its tech-driven investment strategy is the deployment of a cutting-edge EMBA Machine in its California plant. The EMBA is capable of running 600 die cut boxes a minute with an unmatched quality record. This investment in addition to the recent expansion of the Georgia facility guarantees ACI will continue to exceed clients changing requirements and expectations.

“We bring our sales force into the manufacturing processes to help them have a complete understanding of our capabilities, which allows them to precisely showcase what we can bring to the table,” says Robert Calverley, Vice President of manufacturing.

By enhancing the caliber of its sales representatives and employees, American Containers delivers unrivaled flexibility and customizability.

“We are determined to support our workforce and maintain the family environment that my grandfather created nearly 60 years ago. Every Employee is valued personally and is honestly viewed as part of our American Containers’ family,” says, Isban.

This philosophy has allowed ACI to maintain a longstanding team of professionals ready to deal with prevalent and emerging labor challenges and other difficult situations. This coupled with a focus on long-term success over short-term returns allows the team to be flexible with the capital resources required to tailor services for each client.

A Forward-Looking Vision of Transformative Packaging

American Containers is currently focused on making significant improvements and transformational changes encompassing business assets and organizational culture. Modernizing and enhancing its capabilities to provide better customer satisfaction, and updating internal procedures and machinery to improve interaction with client software and integration requirements. In addition to expanding the Georgia facility ACI has plans to add a fourth manufacturing plant in the years to come.

All this said, American Containers has no interest in wavering from the customer-centric focus they have had for more than 50 years.

Leveraging its seasoned team with an average of 25 years of experience in packaging design, American Containers aims to continue treating its people and customers as the number one priority and help businesses effectively grow their bottom line through reliable and value-generating solutions.