Contract Packaging & Manufacturing Nov/Dec 2025

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How family-run Paket embraced change and growth in personal care, household, and cleaning product brands. p. 8

11 Find Solutions in the CM+P Resource Guide

Powerful Research to Move Your Business Forward

Trusted, actionable, expert. The PMMI Business Intelligence library offers complimentary access to White Papers and Executive Summaries such as: • State of the Industry - US Packaging Machinery • Embracing Operational Readiness • Aftermarket Parts & Services Visit pmmi.org/research for access to our extensive library.

6 Radienz Living Adopts Paperboard Carton for Laundry Pods

Co-man/co-packer partners with GPI to debut an all-paper, child-resistant carton for laundry pods, aiming to cut plastic, boost pallet efficiency, and meet safety standards in a club-store and e-commerce channels.

8 Paket: From Filling Shop to Full-Service CDMO

How a family business grew supporting personal care, household, and cleaning brands by balancing business strategy and navigating change.

11 Contract Manufacturing and Packaging Resource Guide

Special section featuring supplier solutions for growing co-man/co-pack operations.

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Keep It Moving

Welcome to the Winter issue of Contract Manufacturing and Packaging! What keeps co-mans moving forward? Be sure to check out our Packer Profile on Chicago-based Paket (p. 8), to find out. This CDMO specializing in beauty and personal care has recently expanded with a new lab dedicated to quality control and R&D—another smart move for a company that always seems to be in the right place at the right time. The family business shares some success stories about how they have stayed flexible and ready to pivot, a strategy that has fueled their success from the start.

We also feature a great story of partnership: co-man Radienz Living and Graphic Packaging International joined forces to create the CleanClose paperboard carton for laundry pods (p. 6). The new package cuts plastic use, boosts durability, and is fully recyclable—all while improving pallet density by about 10% compared to flexible pouches. It’s clubstore ready and shows how sustainability and practicality can work together.

Our resident expert Robby Martin (p. 3) also shares some valuable takeaways from the brand perspective of lessons learned during COVID—especially how manufacturers can use slower periods to think strategically and prepare for what’s next.

With this issue, you’ll notice a few updates. We’ve added The Roundup (p. 4)

a new section featuring recent industry news, who’s on the move, updates from the CPA , and insights from your fellow co-packers and co-mans. We’re also expanding our coverage of CDMOs, a vital and growing part of the external manufacturing community.

And don’t forget to follow us online at packworld.com/cmp for more stories, insights, and expanded coverage in 2026.

Is there something you’d like to see in these pages? Please drop me a line at jderr@pmmi.org.

Happy reading,

• Accumulation

• Horizontal motion conveying

• Incline, belt and bucket conveyors

• Filling and multihead weighing

• Bagmaking and casepacking

• Checkweighing and seal checking

• Foreign object and defect inspection

• Controls and information systems

We are successful when you are successful. That’s why we apply creativity, engineering excellence, and determined perseverance to every project to help our customers get the performance their business demands—whether measured by flavor, efficiencies, sustainability, improvement, or innovation.

What Are You Waiting For?

2025 has been a cautious year. Following the political uncertainty of the 2024 U.S. elections, we shifted almost immediately into tariff discussions, which many have blamed for the economic slowdown, but actual tariff hikes— particularly on Chinese imports, now up to 30%—have been less severe than feared.

Meanwhile, the fear surrounding tariff talk caused a shrinking economy to emerge. Many OEMs and materials suppliers reported slow sales in 2025, at least compared to expectations from the end of Q3 in 2024. Friends in packagingrelated and contract manufacturing/ contract packaging businesses have shared frustrations about how clients and potential customers are not committing to business opportunities or projects.

Perhaps most notably, friends who offer products and services to improve businesses and operations—like foundational ERP systems or packaging automation projects—are reflecting this same tone.

Remember 2020?

As I consider this slowdown in 2025, I can’t help but think back to 2020 through 2022 and who succeeded—and who didn’t—throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. I remember the opportunities that some companies seized and others simply lost.

My question to you is: what are you waiting for?

Let me back up a bit. Companies that thrived during and after COVID shared several key characteristics that enabled

them to adapt, remain resilient, and capitalize on new opportunities, such as:

• Rapid shift to digital platforms

• Investment in automation and AI

• Flexible business models

• Supply chain resilience

• Innovation under pressure

• Enhanced communication

• Upskilling and reskilling

Nowhere on the list do we find phrases like”sat tight until,” “held up on projects until,” or”waited to see.”

Could it be that so many have forgotten that two key things defined winners during the pandemic?

Remember who succeeded during COVID? Take advantage of your time during slowdowns to seize opportunities that others may also be taking.

First, essential industries succeeded— sometimes wildly. Much of their success came from the permission to reduce SKU complexity and focus on volume by running the most popular products in their portfolios. Financial success was amplified by the opportunities these popular products presented because those were the processes where sound investments had been previously justified.

The other successful group could be categorized by several keywords on the list, including “rapid shift,” “investment,” and “upskilling.”

Fast forward to 2025

So what’s that got to do with today?

If COVID provided companies with opportunities to improve their businesses through foundational improvements like investment, or gave them opportunities to learn new ways of doing business, then why wouldn’t the current slower climate also provide that opportunity?

Why wouldn’t a conscientious business

leader be deciding where they can invest in automation, something they’ve never had time for before? Why wouldn’t a business that has operated with a piecemeal or outdated ERP system be trying to use this slower time to correct that issue?

To be fair, some of you would say, “But, Robby, you don’t understand! We’re owned by private equity, and all they care about is cash flow!” Or, “We struggle to make ends meet during high-volume times. How are we going to justify spending on things like you’re talking about?”

Identify the opportunities now

Let me offer a different perspective. What if you could identify opportunities that would not only make things better now but would help improve KPIs when demand volumes increase in the future?

The same people tracking the current downturn are predicting we may not be through the worst of it yet. Some in my network have even suggested we’ll likely dip into the dreaded ”R” word—recession! But they also told me it will likely be one of the shortest recessions and fastest recoveries we’ve ever seen.

My heart grows heavy thinking of how many operations are foregoing this golden opportunity to prepare for the future by improving foundational and fundamental business processes.

Now seems like the time to act while lower demand affords you an opportunity. It will be a sad day should you realize in a year or so that you’re as busy as you were pre-COVID, but you’re not really any more efficient, effective, or profitable than you were back then. If that turns out to be true, will it be because you allowed not one but two opportunities to pass you by when you could have created a new and improved version of your organization and operation?

Please read the headline of this column again and give it some thought. CM+P

Eco-friendly packaging supplier

JBM Packaging is constructing a 52,500-square-foot facility in Lebanon, Ohio, to house its growing packing and kitting operations. The first phase features a prefabricated concrete structure with 28-foot clear heights, divided into two units—one for JBM’s use and one available for lease—with completion targeted for February 2026.

The expansion addresses rising customer demand and capacity constraints while enabling faster lead times and workforce growth through JBM’s Fair Chance Program. The original land purchase preserves options for a future 52,000-square-foot phase-two building.

ON THE MOVE

Glacial Freeze Dry has acquired Wisconsin-based co-packer Foodynamics to strengthen its freeze-dried product manufacturing capabilities. The combination pairs Foodynamics’ reputation for customer flexibility with Glacial Freeze Dry’s expanded capacity and technology resources.

“Foodynamics built tremendous trust by saying ‘yes’ when other co-packers said ‘no,’” said Blake Burwell, owner of Glacial Freeze Dry. “By bringing that spirit under the Glacial Freeze Dry banner, backed by fresh investment and state-of-the-art technology, we’re giving customers the best of both worlds: the flexibility of a personalized partner and the resources of a full-scale manufacturer while keeping the commitment to quality.”

The integrated operation delivers flexible minimum order quantities, accelerated pilot runs, and products featuring up to 98% nutrient retention with 25+ year shelf life—all without preservatives. Existing Foodynamics customers will continue to work with their existing team while accessing expanded services through Glacial Freeze Dry’s infrastructure.

Farmer-owned processor Cayuga

partner. The expansion supported over 350 construction jobs and added 150 permanent positions when full operations commenced in late 2025.

Minnesota-based Seven Sundays, known for its upcycled cereals, has acquired its longtime manufacturing partner, Birch Packaging (formerly Chippewa Packaging). The facility, a partner for over ten years, will now operate in-house, handling blend, pack, and kitting operations. The move supports Seven Sundays’ expansion into 10,000 new retail doors this year, including Target, Walmart, and Kroger, plus launches of Little Crispies and Oat Granola lines. Birch’s added packing and kitting capabilities will increase Seven Sundays’s flexibility to offer more snackable, on-the-go formats.

and Dan Puthoff,

break new ground.

Milk Ingredients has opened a new 235,000-square-foot consumer goods facility in New York’s Finger Lakes region as part of a $270 million expansion, partnering with Tetra Pak on state-of-theart UHT/aseptic packaging and processing equipment. The facility positions CMI as a vertically integrated contract manufacturer for premium, shelf-stable dairy products. Processing 1.5 billion pounds of milk annually from 22 farm families, CMI now offers contract manufacturers a reliable, quality-focused dairy ingredient

Third-party logistics provider Kenco has established a dedicated contract packaging division offering secondary packaging services including retailready packaging, e-commerce assembly, promotional packaging, and labeling support. The offering extends Kenco’s supply chain portfolio to include integrated logistics and packaging solutions through process optimization and real-time data analytics. The division enables customers to consolidate packaging and logistics services with a single provider, and Kenco says it will focus on smart packaging solutions and continuous improvement capabilities.

UPDATES FROM CPA

CPA Expands with F4SS Integration

CPA, the Association for Contract Packagers and Manufacturers has completed a strategic integration with The Foundation for Supply Chain Solutions (F4SS), expanding industry resources for food and CPG contract manufacturers navigating private label growth, emerging brand proliferation, and evolving regulatory requirements.

The expanded organization consolidates industry intelligence and network access, with current F4SS members automatically receiving full CPA membership benefits and CPA members gaining access to F4SS’s strategic sourcing tools and benchmarking resources.

With contract packagers facing increasingly complex demands,

the integration of the two groups is expected to boost greater collaboration, with a reciprocal benefit structure that strengthens the industry’s capability to address supply chain complexity and regulatory challenges. Learn more at contractpackaging.org

Register now for Engage 2026

CPA invites industry professionals to attend Engage 2026, slated for February 24-26 at Green Valley Ranch resort hotel and casino in Henderson, Nev. Engage is the premier external manufacturing conference, uniting contract packagers, brand owners, and supply chain partners to explore relationships, regulatory compliance, technology advancement, and more. Registration information and details are at contractpackaging.org

CDMO UPDATE

Celonic and CARBOGEN AMCIS Form ADC Alliance

Leading biologics CDMO Celonic Group and pharmaceutical manufacturer CARBOGEN AMCIS have announced a strategic partnership for fully integrated antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) development and manufacturing. The alliance combines Celonic’s biologics capabilities with CARBOGEN AMCIS’s expertise in payload synthesis, conjugation, and sterile fill-finish, addressing the complexity that typically requires coordination across multiple vendors.

The integrated offering streamlines the entire pathway from cell line development through commercial fillfinish, with recent facility expansions at both organizations enabling

commercial-scale production across all clinical phases and volume ranges.

U.S.

CDMO Market Accelerates

According to a recent report by Grand View Research, the U.S. healthcare CDMO market is projected to reach $144.2 billion by 2033—more than doubling from $65.3 billion in 2024— driven by 9.41% compound annual growth. Surging demand for biologics, biosimilars, and advanced therapies including cell and gene treatments fuels expansion, while tariff-driven reshoring trends position U.S.-based CDMOs as strategic partners in global supply strategies. Medical device outsourcing represents an emerging growth segment.

This unique portable drum and tote filling machine is built on a special fork-truck-able base designed for batch filling operations at multiple filling stations. As a top and sub-surface filler it handles a pallet of drums or a single IBC/tote ranging from 5 to 550 gallons.

» Increase Production & Maximize Uptime » Heavy-Duty & Long Lasting » User Friendly Benefits

» Improved Efficiencies & Accuracy

Case Study

Radienz Living Adopts Paperboard Carton for Laundry Pods

Co-man/co-packer partners with GPI to debut an all-paper, child-resistant carton for laundry pods, aiming to cut plastic, boost pallet efficiency, and meet safety standards in club-store and e-commerce channels.

Laundry detergent pods impose a handful of unique requirements from their packaging systems. They require structural strength through the supply chain and distribution, to protect sometimes fragile pod product often containing viscous liquids or gels. They need certified child resistance for the home since the colorful pods can resemble candy to youngsters. At the same time, seniors—perhaps arthritic or with a similar condition—still need to be able to easily open the package to access the pods. And of course, recyclability at end of life is becoming both a consumer and a retailer demand.

Plastic (PET and HDPE) tubs and multilayer flexible pouches have been the standard way to check many of those boxes. Radienz Living, a North American contract manufacturer and packager and private-label supplier of pods, is pursuing a recyclable paperboard alternative developed with Graphic Packaging International (GPI).

The two companies developed CleanClose, a paperboard carton incorporating GPI’s ChildBlock closure. The package is certified child-resistant under U.S. 16 CFR 1700.20 and designed to be recyclable in curbside paper streams. For launch, the format targets club-store counts—roughly 70 to 150 pods—and is intended to merchandise directly from pallets with minimal added protective material.

Radienz splits its production between private-label and contract manufacturing/ packaging customers and does not sell its own house brands.

Self-palletizing CleanClose format eliminates the need for extra slip sheets or corner boards, improving cube efficiency in club-store distribution.

“This particular box was designed mostly with the club store size retail market in mind,” Pascanik says. “There are some brands and retail customers in other channels that might use something close to that, but the first priority was those club customers.”

He adds that distribution testing and palletization were central from the start. “We beat this box up any way you can imagine, to ensure that, yes, it can survive even the most challenging supply chains.”

Material, printing, and closure

According to GPI, the structure is based on its PaceSetter recycled paperboard in a litho-laminated construction with a recycled-fiber top sheet. Box compression testing indicates the finished pack withstands more than 500 lb of top-load force; earlier public materials described it

as designed to withstand 400 lb. Together, those points frame the strength platform used for clubstore handling.

The pack uses offset lithography on the laminated top sheet, with aqueous inks and top coatings to maintain curbside recyclability. Building on prior experience with liquid pods in Europe, GPI notes, it eliminated specialty barrier treatments; the standard aqueous coating on the litho-laminated structure was used instead, deemed sufficient for the laundry pod use case. Press materials indicate the format is pre-qualified as “Widely Recyclable” under How2Recycle.

GPI characterizes the childresistant feature as a specialty fold-and-glue sequence in the die-cut blank. More than 40 versions were developed before the certified design was finalized; the audible “click” on closure is inherent to the geometry rather than to atypical scoring tolerances.

“We’re multi-sensory beings,” Pascanik says. “The audible click is another point of reinforcement that you’ve closed the box. It’s a secondary reminder that you’ve used it the right way and you can feel good about walking away from the box.”

GPI also reports a specific behavior under leak scenarios—tests with increasing numbers of ruptured pods were used to observe liquid management. The paperboard’s absorptive properties sequestered leakage rather than allowing pooling typical of rigid plastic, which was part of the company’s argument for paperboard in this application.

IMAGE COURTESY OF GRAPHIC PACKAGING INTERNATIONAL

Machinery and distribution

Because of the fold-and-glue sequence, forming is handled on custom equipment that provides a system solution—carton blanks are printed and die cut, shipped flat, then formed/filled at the customer site on the dedicated machine.

At Radienz, “there will be a carton erector installed on the end of the line to build this box,” Pascanik says. “We’re hoping to have that up and running sometime in the beginning of 2026.”

For line performance, GPI indicates intended forming/filling speeds meet or exceed current pod packaging capabilities. Pascanik emphasized the downstream focus on cube and materials in distribution.

“This box actually self-palletizes, so we can take unnecessary packaging out of today’s current pallet construction. It ships without added boards or corner protection and still merchandises in a clean and tidy fashion.”

On pallet density, GPI cites ≥10% more filled packs per pallet vs. flexible pouches; that claim appears both in the company’s answers and in earlier public materials. For distribution testing, GPI reports ISTA 3E performance after 72 hours of tropical conditioning, with no special challenges called out during certification.

The format has also been evaluated for e-commerce, perhaps even Amazon’s SIOC (ships in own container) or wider

Interior view of the CleanClose carton showing the specialty fold-and-glue structure and audible “click” closure for child resistance.

SIPP (ships in product packaging) programs. GPI describes internal ISTA 6 results as successful and currently considers the pack prep-free.

“There really should be no reason you couldn’t slap a shipping label on any one side of this thing and send it on its way,” Pascanik says.

Scale, channels, and use cases

Radienz says the club-store count range (roughly 70–150 pods) fits the initial target

but does not define the platform’s limits.

“We’ve started to seek certification on a smaller box as well that could be applicable in the liquid laundry category, in grocery or smaller format retailers,” Pascanik says. Separate child-resistance certification is required for each size.

Radienz sees potential category extensions in the packaging format, too.

“The carton can absolutely be used for the auto dish category as well,” Pascanik says. “We manufacture pods in that space too. Most of those tend to be powder-based and don’t come with the same child safety requirements, but this box could be used there if a customer wanted that feature.”

GPI notes the company aims to avoid over-packaging and reserves childresistant paperboard formats only for products that require them. On the commercial side, Pascanik says he’s able to make a strong case to big box stores who might want to sell their private label laundry pods in these formats.

“There is a very quantifiable and measurable benefit from moving to this carton versus the plastic that’s on the shelf today,” he says. “Moving from a pouch to this carton eliminates plastic almost entirely. There’s a 10% efficiency in what you can get on a pallet by moving to this box. That’s real savings that can be passed on to the consumer or used to fuel initiatives within a business model.” CM+P

Paket: From Filling Shop to Full-Service CDMO

How a family business grew supporting personal care, household, and cleaning brands by balancing business strategy and navigating change.

Paket Corporation, based in Chicago, is a full-service contract development and manufacturing organization (CDMO) serving major beauty, personal care, household, and cleaning brands.

Founded in 1957 as a tube filling operation, Paket was purchased by Mark O’Malley in 1996 when it occupied just 15,000 square feet. Under O’Malley’s vision for expansion, the company relocated to its current 105,000-squarefoot facility, a former chemical plant that provided the infrastructure needed to grow into full manufacturing.

Today, Paket operates as a true familyowned enterprise, with Mark O’Malley as CEO; his son, Brian O’Malley, as President; and his other son, Kevin O’Malley, as EVP.

What distinguishes Paket is its ability to be nimble and responsive in ways larger competitors cannot—dedicating significant resources, pivoting quickly when needed, and maintaining flexible minimum order quantities and lead times. By offering brands the ability to manufacture and fill products in multiple

Paket’s 105,000 sq-ft facility is located on the southside of Chicago near Lake Michigan. Photo courtesy of Paket Corp.

container formats at a single facility, Paket serves as a true “one-stop shop.”

Paket’s success mirrors what was happening across the broader contract manufacturing sector, driven by both business strategy and regulatory change.

From filling to manufacturing

“In 1996 when I bought Paket, contract packagers were primarily used for seasonal surges, startup products, or ancillary products,” says CEO Mark O’Malley. “Around 2000, the whole paradigm shifted because brands started saying they didn’t want to do manufacturing so they could focus on marketing, developing products, and distribution.”

When Paket moved to its new location in 2001, the company had 14 filling lines and limited manufacturing capabilities. But the facility’s former life as a chemical plant was perfectly suited to O’Malley’s strategy—the infrastructure was tailormade for a growing CDMO.

One of Paket’s first major contracts was manufacturing products for Namaste Laboratories’ ORS Haircare brand, using the facility’s existing tanks.

Paket expanded incrementally, adding nine additional tanks while removing others to make room for a full-scale filling and secondary packaging operation. The transformation wasn’t complete until 2021-2022, but when it happened, it was dramatic.

“From around 2010 to 2014, approximately 80–85% of products filled here were manufactured elsewhere,” explains President Brian O’Malley. “Today, 80–90% of product filled at this plant is made at the plant, so we’ve gone from less than 5% in-house manufacturing to 85–90% or more.”

Navigating the evolving certification landscape

Paket was well-positioned when a transformational trend emerged: standardization and quality control. “Previously, a brand wasn’t sure if a contract manufacturer was using the right materials or following the right procedures,” Mark notes. “The landscape has changed significantly—nowadays you have to be certified in certain areas and go through rigorous audits.”

The CDMO can manufacture and package beauty, personal care, and other non-food products in sample packs, tubes, pouches, and other formats.

This professionalization accelerated with modernization mandates and the rise of third-party certifications. Today, working in the cosmetics industry requires compliance with MOCRA (the Modernization of Cosmetics Act). In addition, all personal care products must now be registered with the FDA, whereas previously only over-the-counter drugs were registered.

QC lab begins a new chapter

To navigate this evolving landscape and maintain the trust of brand partners, Paket embarked on a major new chapter in 2021: a dedicated R&D and quality control lab. Completed in 2024, the project represented the largest capital investment in the company’s history, with immediate strategic benefits.

“We were trying to tell everyone that we were no longer just a sampling company,” Brian explains. “When brands came on site and saw a full-scale R&D and QC lab with experienced people, it reinforced that we actually have these capabilities.”

The lab is fully equipped for comprehensive testing and development. The QC department handles testing for quality of compounding and package materials, with specialized equipment for FTIR analysis (raw material identification), microscopy, viscosity testing, color and odor analysis, moisture analyzers, pH meters, and penetrometers, among others. The team tests everything from raw materials to finished products— pomades, lotions, and more—to ensure each meets strict quality specifications.

The lab is staffed by talented formulators who brought years of experience at major brands with them. “We have two really strong formulators— one who worked at Helene Curtis and Stepan, and another who worked at L’Oreal and other leading companies,” Mark notes. With skilled talent and advanced equipment, Paket goes beyond mere manufacturing to create genuine development partnerships.

“Our R&D department works with brands to understand what they want, so we can design and offer a turnkey solution where we design, manufacture, and package everything for them,” says Mark.

From samples to comprehensive solutions

One household product brand—whose name Paket could not divulge due to nondisclosure agreements—shows Paket’s evolution from sampling specialist to comprehensive manufacturing partner.

The brand initially contracted Paket for the company’s sampling services. For about ten years, Paket handled their sampling program, which eventually ended up at retailers like Target.

“But in 2019, we talked to them about expanding beyond sampling,” Brian explains. “We now do all their retail and sampling formats—we fill their bottles, their jars, and their pre-made pouches.”

This relationship demonstrates Paket’s flexibility in approaching new ideas with brands. “Most of the ideas come directly from the brands,” says Mark. “But we help them develop the format and we ask how

much they want to give away and help them develop the size for the sample.”

One signature Paket innovation goes beyond the typical card-and-sample format: a coupon card with a built-in perforation that allows consumers to easily detach the coupon from the sample pouch—driving off-the-shelf sales from promotional samples while letting brands tell their story right on the package.

The machines behind the mission

Paket’s facility includes specialized equipment: Bartelt and Prodo-Pak Corp. form/fill/seal machines for pouches, Norden/Citus Kalix tube fillers, and liquid fillers from Packaging Dynamics , REB, and MRM/Elgin (owned by Cozzoli Machine Co.) for bottles and jars. Compounding tanks range from 40 gallons to 3,200 gallons, with 7,000-gallon holding tanks for additional storage.

The blending area processes deionized (DI) water through carbon filters and UV radiation, enabling seamless scaling from pilot to commercial production.

For filled jars and bottles, Paket offers top, bottom, wrap, as well as front and back labeling. “We can run 2-ounce jars, 4.6-ounce jars, 10-ounce jars, and 17-ounce bottles across a wide array of sizes,” Brian notes. “We’ve added numerous features to enable this flexibility.”

While full automation across all packaging formats remains impractical for flexible contract manufacturing, Paket automates strategically—particularly in end-of-line operations, where the company has recently invested.

Finding the sweet spot

Mark describes Paket’s position in the contract manufacturing landscape using an hourglass analogy: many large manufacturers at the top, few players in the middle market, and many small operators at the bottom.

“Where we sit is probably a little bit above the mid-range,” he says. “When I bought the company in 1996, we did less than a million dollars annually but have grown considerably over the last 30 years.”

Paket Corporation

Paket deliberately targets brands that prioritize flexibility, handling projects from pilot runs to major campaigns for them. That kind of flexibility has become a defining advantage as the landscape around Paket continues to shift.

“There’s been rapid consolidation in the contract manufacturing space,” Brian notes. “We’ve heard stories of co-manufacturers reducing SKU count from 4,000 SKUs down to 1,000. When a competitor divests 3,000 SKUs and brands need to find a new manufacturing home for those SKUs, that’s a tremendous opportunity for us.”

Ready for what’s next

Paket has invested in successive capital projects every two years since 2018—in mixing tanks, in filling lines, and most recently the R&D/QC lab. With expanded capacity, the company is actively pursuing new partnerships and working with brands on product launches scheduled for

shelves in 2026.

“We’re really excited about what’s in the pipeline right now,” Mark says. “Many

Contact us for more information. 269-637-1121 / 1-800-426-4822

sa les@do-it.com

co-manufacturers have struggled with capacity and haven’t had the ability to dive headfirst into opportunities, but we have significant available capacity and the agility to move business or volume quickly.”

Brian sums up what makes Paket unique.

“Our goal is to deliver best-in-class manufacturing and packaging services through quality, innovation, and sustainability to brands worldwide. We can change course quickly and we’re nimble in ways that larger organizations can’t be. We’re a flat organization by design, and I think that dynamic, combined with being family-owned and operated, really sets us apart.” CM+P

www.do-it.com

Leading Paket are (left to right): Kevin O’Malley as EVP, Mark O’Malley as CEO, and Brian O’Malley as president.

Do-It Corporation

Phone: 269-637-1121

www.do-it.com

Email: sales@do-it.com

Since 1973, Do-It Corporation has been designing and making hang tabs for the packaging and merchandising display industries. Do-It also manufacturers merchandising display strips, printed hang tabs, carry handles, on-product instantly redeemable coupons (IRCs), shelf wobblers, and promotional bottle neck hang tabs. All Do-It products are designed to get your products noticed in the retail environment and increase sales. Do-It Corporation is a certified Walmart Impulse Strip Supplier.

Do-It Hang Tabs can be provided in clear plastic or can be printed. All products can be produced in several plastic and adhesive choices, depending on the performance requirement and customer preference. Do-It Products are safe and FDA approved for non-food contact.

Heat and Control, Inc.

21121 Cabot Boulevard, Hayward, CA 94545

Phone: 800/227-5980

www.heatandcontrol.com

Email: info@heatandcontrol.com

Heat and Control®, a world-leading equipment manufacturer, offers the latest technology and the highest quality equipment for packaging, processing, coating and seasoning, conveying, weighing, inspection, and controls/ information systems. Established in 1950, our brands include FastBack® (horizontal motion conveyors and on-machine seasoning), Mastermatic (fryers), and Spray Dynamics® (coating and seasoning application systems), and we partner with other global manufacturing leaders, including Ishida (weighing, packaging and inspection) and CEIA® (metal detection).

Packaging–From tray and container filling to fully automated and integrated Ishida snack food packaging systems, we provide end-of-line solutions, including the industry’s best performing VFFS snack bagmaker, Inspira.

Food Processing–Choose from our vast range of integrated processing solutions including fryers, oil management, ovens, and coating systems.

Seasoning Application–Our comprehensive range of seasoning solutions for on-machine or process area deliver top performance, efficiency, application accuracy, and flavor.

Conveying and Product Handling–We provide a wide variety of conveying and product handling systems to move product through the line efficiently.

Weighing/Combination Scales–Ishida has revolutionized the industry with the ultra-precise computer combination weigher (CCW).

Inspection and Quality Assurance–Protect your consumer and your equipment with detection technology, including Ishida x-ray machines and checkweighers, and CEIA metal detection equipment.

McKernan Packaging Clearing

P.O. Box 7281 Reno, NV 89510

Phone: 775-356-6111

www.McKernan.com

Email: Sales@McKernan.com

A trusted source for high-quality packaging components, McKernan carries a consistent stock of over 1,200-line items and more than 100 million packaging units in stock, including bottles, caps, jars, sprayers, pumps and much more— all ready to ship.

MCKERNAN’S HISTORY—Founded in 1959, McKernan was an innovator by buying and selling unused surplus packaging, laying the foundation for their “Best Value” line. This was later joined by a growing wholesale line, leading to the selection and variety for which McKernan is known. Today, McKernan continues to serve businesses of any size, with in-stock packaging designed to complement any brand.

A NEW WAY TO BUY—McKernan’s new ecommerce platform offers a faster, more flexible way to buy packaging. Customers can browse select packaging components, check real-time inventory, view pricing and place orders at any time. McKernan’s online ordering is designed to offer businesses a simpler option when needing quick turnarounds or smaller volumes—for more information, email ecommerce@mckernan.com.

“WE BUY PACKAGING!”—Turn unused packaging into opportunity with McKernan’s We Buy Packaging program, which offers businesses a smart, sustainable solution for clearing excess inventory. In 1992, McKernan coined the term “Precycle,” becoming a pioneer in the green movement by giving packaging components a second chance while helping companies recover value—McKernan even covers the shipping. To learn more, visit WeBuyPackaging.com or email surplus@mckernan.com.

THE MCKERNAN EXPERIENCE—Whether you are buying or selling packaging with McKernan, you’ll receive the same high-quality service that has been available for over 66 years. Order in-stock packaging at McKernan.com or call 1-800-787-7587 or 775-356-6111 and the front desk will connect you with a sales representative or surplus specialist for further assistance.

Phone: 417-673-6542

ProSys is a premier manufacturer of semiautomatic and fully automatic equipment for filling, Squeeze Tubes, Syringes, Airless Pumps, Cartridges, Jars, Custom Containers & Hot Melt applications for the Cosmetic, Pharmaceutical, Chemical, Sealant, Adhesive and Lubricant industries. A global supplier of filling equipment since 1985 with U.S. sales, manufacturing and customer service facilities located in Southwest Missouri.

FLEXIBLE COMBINATION FILLING SYSTEMS

• Plastic & Metal Tube Filling Systems

• Tube & Airless Pump Filling Systems

• Tube & Cartridge Filling Systems

• 10, 14 & 30 oz. Cartridge Filling Systems

FEATURES & BENEFITS

• Fill Accuracy of +/- 0.1% by Volume

• Turnkey & Custom Designs

• Air-Free Vertical Bottom-Up Filling

• Custom Mix Solutions (Eliminates Batching)

• SERVO Solutions

• Drum & Pail Presses

• Explosion Proof Controls (Class 1 Division 1&2, ATEX 0&1)

• Tool-free Release System for Simple Changeovers

• “Digital Readout Indicators” for Fast & Accurate Adjustments

• Multiple Service Technicians for Less Down Time & Preventive Maintenance

• On-line Service & Support

• Recipe Storage & Recall

• Creams, Lotions & Viscous Pastes to 3 Million Centipoise

• Designed & Built in the U.S.A.

Specialty Equipment

www.specialtyequipment.com

Since 1969, at Specialty Equipment Corporation, we have positioned ourselves as the leading manufacturer and provider of liquid filling systems in North America. Headquartered in Houston, Texas we have built our reputation on manufacturing and providing high-end packaging machinery and material handling systems including:

• Liquid fillers for Pails, Drums, Totes and Bottles

• Drum and Pallet Conveyors

• Palletizers for Boxes, Pails and Drums

• Solids fillers for Pails, Drums and Supersacks

• IIoT Software

Over our 50-plus years in business, we have developed a full product offering of automatic and semi-automatic filling machines, conveyors, and packaging machines for drums, pails, IBCs, bottles, jugs, rubber bales, and pallets. We serve a wide range of industries including lubricants, sealants, agriculture, chemical, cleaners, coatings, flavors, and food additives manufacturers.

Contact us now for more information.

Contract Manufacturing + Packaging™ is a supplement to Packaging World® (ISSN # 1073-7367). Packaging World® is a registered trademark of PMMI, The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies. Packaging World® is published seven times annually by PMMI with its publishing office, PMMI Media Group, located at 500 W. Madison, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60661; 312.222.1010. Periodicals postage paid at Chicago, IL, and additional mailing offices. Copyright 2025 by PMMI. All rights reserved. Materials in this publication must not be reproduced in any form without written permission of the publisher. Applications for a free subscription may be made online at www.packworld.com/subscribe. To subscribe or manage your subscription to Packaging World®, visit Packworld. com/subscribe. Free digital edition available to qualified individuals outside the United States. POSTMASTER; Send address changes to Packaging World®, 500 W. Madison, Suite 1000, Chicago, IL 60661. PRINTED IN USA by Quad. The opinions expressed in articles are those of the authors and not necessarily those of PMMI. Comments, questions and letters to the editor are welcome and can be sent to: editors@packworld.com. Mailing List: We make a portion of our mailing list available to reputable firms. If you would prefer that we don’t include your name, please write us at the Chicago, IL address.

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Contract Packaging & Manufacturing Nov/Dec 2025 by PMMIMediaGroup - Issuu