Skip to main content
Sister Publication Links
  • Sustainable Plastics
  • Rubber News
Subscribe
  • Login
  • Register
  • Subscribe
  • News
    • Processor News
    • Suppliers
    • More News
    • Digital Edition
    • End Markets
    • Special Reports
    • Newsletters
    • Resin pricing news
    • Videos
    • Injection Molding
    • Blow Molding
    • Film & Sheet
    • Pipe/Profile/Tubing
    • Rotomolding
    • Thermoforming
    • Recycling
    • Machinery
    • Materials
    • Molds/Tooling
    • Product news
    • Design
    • Mergers & Acquisitions
    • Sustainability
    • Public Policy
    • Material Insights Videos
    • Numbers that Matter
    • Automotive
    • Packaging
    • Medical
    • Consumer Products
    • Construction
    • CEO Issue
    • Diversity
    • Best Places to Work
      • 2022 winners
    • Processor of the Year
    • Rising Stars
    • Women Breaking the Mold
  • Opinion
    • The Plastics Blog
    • Kickstart
    • One Good Resin
    • BRICS and Plastics
    • All Things Data
    • Viewpoint
    • From Pillar to Post
    • Perspective
    • Mailbag
    • Fake Plastic Trees
  • Shop Floor
    • Blending
    • Compounding
    • Drying
    • Injection Molding
    • Purging
    • Robotics
    • Size Reduction
    • Structural Foam
    • Tooling
    • Training
  • Events
    • Plastics News Events
    • Industry Events
    • Injection Molding & Design Expo
    • Livestreams/Webinars
    • Editorial Livestreams
    • Ask the Expert
    • Plastics News Events Library
    • Processor of the Year submissions
    • Plastics News Executive Forum
    • Injection Molding & Design Expo
    • Plastics News Caps & Closures
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
    • Plastics in Automotive
    • Injection Molding & Design Expo
    • Reuters Responsible Business Europe 2022
    • Reifenhäuser Technologies Livestreams
    • Polymer Points Live
    • Numbers that Matter Live
    • Plastics in Politics Live
    • Sustainable Plastics Live
    • Plastics Caps & Closures Library
    • Plastics in Healthcare Library
    • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum Library
  • Resin Prices
    • All Resins
    • Commodity TPs
    • High Temp TPs
    • ETPs
    • Thermosets
    • Recycled Plastics
    • Historic Commodity Thermoplastics
    • Historic High Temp Thermoplastics
    • Historic Engineering Thermoplastics
    • Historic Thermosets
    • Historic Recycled Plastics
  • Rankings & Data
    • Injection Molders
    • Blow Molders
    • Film Sheet
    • Thermoformers
    • Pipe Profile Tubing
    • Rotomolders
    • Mold/Toolmakers
    • LSR Processors
    • Recyclers
    • Compounders - List
    • Association - List
    • Plastic Lumber - List
    • All
  • Directory
  • Custom
    • Sponsored Content
    • Conair Sponsored Content
    • KraussMaffei Sponsored Content
    • ENGEL Sponsored Content
    • White Papers
    • Classifieds
    • Place an Ad
    • Sign up for Early Classified
MENU
Breadcrumb
  1. Home
  2. News
December 07, 2017 01:00 AM

Emerald Packaging adds equipment and staff

Roger Renstrom
  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Share
  • Email
  • More
    Print
    Erin Jaeb photo
    Emerald Packaging Inc. CEO Kevin Kelly. The company has invested $5 million for equipment and a facility improvement.

    Norwalk, Calif. ― Flexible packaging manufacturer Emerald Packaging Inc. of Union City, Calif., has invested $5 million for equipment and a facility improvement, and further additions are planned.

    During 2018, “we expect to order two printing presses to replace the last two older presses we have,” said CEO Kevin Kelly. “One will be eight colors and 65 inches and the other 10 colors and 37 inches. We are going narrow because of a large increase in very short run business that makes no sense to run on our 60-inch W&H Miraflex.”

    Emerald has not selected the new equipment, but is in discussions with the Lincoln, R.I., North American unit of Windmöller & Hölscher KG and the Kennesaw, Ga., North American unit of Uteco Converting SpA.

    This year, Emerald purchased a used eight-color W&H Miraflex from W&H for $2.5 million. A second pouch-making machine was procured from Totani Corp. of Kyoto, Japan, for $320,000.

    Emerald also obtained a $250,000 bag machine in its first purchase from Mamata Machinery Pvt. Ltd. of Ahmedabad, India.

    2016 also was a busy year for Emerald. The company added its fourth system for laser perforation of films to increase their breathability for produce packaging. Again, Preco Corp. of Somerset, Wis., supplied the laser system. The cost was $590,000.

    In addition, Emerald spend $730,000 for two high-speed wicketers from Hudson-Sharp Machinery Co. of Green Bay, Wis.

    Also this year, Emerald installed a forklift ramp across a vacated railroad spur to connect its two adjacent buildings at a cost of $500,000.

    “We were trucking product around the block between buildings for about $500,000 a year, so the payback is pretty quick,” Kelly said.

    Emerald's original building is being used for printing, laminating and slitting functions. The second building, acquired in July 2013, has finished goods, raw materials and bag-making equipment.

    Collaboration with ePac

    Emerald collaborates with digital printing specialist ePac LLC in providing services with an Emerald-owned Indigo WS20000 printing press from Hewlett Packard Co.

    Emerald acquired the press in mid-2014 and moved it to an ePac facility in Middleton, Wis., in mid-2016. The ePac team sells the digital printing and, after a startup production period, the venture is now profitable.

    Emerald also has added talent.

    James Rodriquez joined Emerald as director of printing and lamination. Previously, he was with an Amcor Ltd. unit.

    Dean Enslein is now an Emerald senior sales person after working at Bemis Co. Inc.

    Emerald employs 243, operates seven color flexographic printing presses and 30 bag making lines and had sales of $80.1 million for the fiscal year ended Aug. 31.

    “We shed some unprofitable business over six months,” Kelly said. Emerald assisted at least one customer in finding a new supplier.

    Kelly projects sales ranging from $78 million to $82 million during the current fiscal year.

    Kelly was interviewed in conjunction with the Dec. 5 dinner meeting of the Western Plastics Association in Norwalk.

    RECOMMENDED FOR YOU
    Plastics adapt to a rapidly changing auto market
    Letter
    to the
    Editor

    Do you have an opinion about this story? Do you have some thoughts you'd like to share with our readers? Plastics News would love to hear from you. Email your letter to Editor at [email protected]

    Most Popular
    1
    OSHA says IPL ‘ignored' reports before fatal accident
    2
    Ford to use 20% recycled, renewable plastics by 2025
    3
    Pipe maker Springfield Plastics expanding in Illinois
    4
    Most resin buyers saw higher prices through the spring
    5
    California plastics investigation ‘appalling and unacceptable'
    SIGN UP FOR TO RECEIVE THESE EMAILS AND ENEWSLETTERS
    EMAIL ADDRESS

    Please enter a valid email address.

    Please enter your email address.

    Please verify captcha.

    Please select at least one newsletter to subscribe.

    Get our newsletters

    Staying current is easy with Plastics News delivered straight to your inbox, free of charge.

    Subscribe today

    Subscribe to Plastics News

    Subscribe now
    Connect with Us
    • LinkedIn
    • Facebook
    • Twitter
    • Instagram

    Plastics News covers the business of the global plastics industry. We report news, gather data and deliver timely information that provides our readers with a competitive advantage.

    Contact Us

    1155 Gratiot Avenue
    Detroit MI 48207-2997

    Customer Service:
    877-320-1723

    Resources
    • About
    • Staff
    • Editorial Calendar
    • Media Kit
    • Data Store
    • Digital Edition
    • Custom Content
    • People
    • Contact
    • Careers
    • Sitemap
    Related Crain Publications
    • Sustainable Plastics
    • Rubber News
    • Urethanes Technology
    • European Rubber Journal
    • Tire Business
    Legal
    • Terms and Conditions
    • Privacy Policy
    • Privacy Request
    Copyright © 1996-2022. Crain Communications, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
    • News
      • Processor News
        • Injection Molding
        • Blow Molding
        • Film & Sheet
        • Pipe/Profile/Tubing
        • Rotomolding
        • Thermoforming
        • Recycling
      • Suppliers
        • Machinery
        • Materials
        • Molds/Tooling
        • Product news
        • Design
      • More News
        • Mergers & Acquisitions
        • Sustainability
        • Public Policy
        • Material Insights Videos
        • Numbers that Matter
      • Digital Edition
      • End Markets
        • Automotive
        • Packaging
        • Medical
        • Consumer Products
        • Construction
      • Special Reports
        • CEO Issue
        • Diversity
        • Best Places to Work
          • 2022 winners
        • Processor of the Year
        • Rising Stars
        • Women Breaking the Mold
      • Newsletters
      • Resin pricing news
      • Videos
    • Opinion
      • The Plastics Blog
      • Kickstart
      • One Good Resin
      • BRICS and Plastics
      • All Things Data
      • Viewpoint
      • From Pillar to Post
      • Perspective
      • Mailbag
      • Fake Plastic Trees
    • Shop Floor
      • Blending
      • Compounding
      • Drying
      • Injection Molding
      • Purging
      • Robotics
      • Size Reduction
      • Structural Foam
      • Tooling
      • Training
    • Events
      • Plastics News Events
        • Plastics News Executive Forum
        • Injection Molding & Design Expo
        • Plastics News Caps & Closures
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum
        • Plastics in Automotive
      • Industry Events
        • Injection Molding & Design Expo
      • Injection Molding & Design Expo
      • Livestreams/Webinars
        • Reuters Responsible Business Europe 2022
        • Reifenhäuser Technologies Livestreams
      • Editorial Livestreams
        • Polymer Points Live
        • Numbers that Matter Live
        • Plastics in Politics Live
        • Sustainable Plastics Live
      • Ask the Expert
      • Plastics News Events Library
        • Plastics Caps & Closures Library
        • Plastics in Healthcare Library
        • Women Breaking the Mold Networking Forum Library
      • Processor of the Year submissions
    • Resin Prices
      • All Resins
      • Commodity TPs
        • Historic Commodity Thermoplastics
      • High Temp TPs
        • Historic High Temp Thermoplastics
      • ETPs
        • Historic Engineering Thermoplastics
      • Thermosets
        • Historic Thermosets
      • Recycled Plastics
        • Historic Recycled Plastics
    • Rankings & Data
      • Injection Molders
      • Blow Molders
      • Film Sheet
      • Thermoformers
      • Pipe Profile Tubing
      • Rotomolders
      • Mold/Toolmakers
      • LSR Processors
      • Recyclers
      • Compounders - List
      • Association - List
      • Plastic Lumber - List
      • All
    • Directory
    • Custom
      • Sponsored Content
      • Conair Sponsored Content
      • KraussMaffei Sponsored Content
      • ENGEL Sponsored Content
      • White Papers
      • Classifieds
        • Place an Ad
        • Sign up for Early Classified