Independent Colbert Packaging Thrives Amid Industrywide Consolidation
illi News/10341903

ELKHART, Ind. & KENOSHA, Wis. - illiNews -- As the field of independent paper-based secondary packaging converters continues to shrink amidst ongoing private-equity-backed consolidation, Colbert Packaging Corporation, https://colbertpkg.com, an independent, family and women-owned business, has experienced steady growth since 1959. Growth projections for the paperboard packaging industry continue to attract investors eager to streamline operations and focus on specific core competencies. While many of its competitors have been, and continue to be, acquired and swallowed into larger business models, Colbert Packaging remains uniquely committed to its independence.

Growth by Agility and Customer Support

Though Colbert Packaging serves customers across multiple industries — commercial and consumer — its primary concentration is secondary paperboard packaging for the pharmaceutical, medical device and OTC healthcare sectors.

Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Ryan Hart states, "Our strategy positions Colbert to serve our customers with strength, loyalty and individualized service, while remaining a top competitor in products like packaging customizations and combinations, and specialty features." He continues, "We have the agility to support our customers' needs for speed-to-market, clinical trials, product launches, etc. Plus we provide 100% vision inspection, and a manufacturing environment that mirrors that of the pharmaceutical industry."

Projected Industrywide Growth Values Trusted, Nimble Suppliers Over the Mighty

In light of solid growth projections for Colbert's customers in pharma, medical device and OTC healthcare, its strategic vision to grow alongside its customers remains intact. Colbert Senior Vice President of Sales, Lon Johnson says, "Our experience has shown that our customers value relationships with independent suppliers. Regarding our growth strategy and capital investments: our independence and management structure provide for swift decision making and we remain fully focused on supporting our customers' needs, now and into the future."

With this vision for the future, Colbert Packaging recently invested in its human capital by welcoming Senior Account Executive Danielle Douros to the Sales team. With a career in pharmaceutical packaging spanning more than 30 years, Douros chose Colbert over other opportunities, stating, "What drew me to Colbert was its outstanding reputation, its 67-year history as a privately held, women-owned company, and its unwavering commitment to quality and customer service." She added, "In today's environment, our customers need more than a packaging supplier. They need a trusted partner who understands their business, anticipates challenges, delivers innovative solutions, and keeps their production lines running efficiently."

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Growth Through Capital Investment
Colbert Packaging's strategic business plan also includes a perpetual focus on growth through capital investment. Colbert President and COO John Lackner states, "We continually invest in converting equipment and technology. Our commitment to 100% vision inspection capabilities across our manufacturing facilities and across all phases of production is clear and steady."

Vision inspection is an essential component in pharmaceutical manufacturing and Colbert mirrors this level of quality control in its production of secondary packaging. Lackner continues, "From state-of-the-art printing presses and QA systems to our die cutting and finishing equipment, Colbert Packaging's dedication to implementing the latest technology in packaging converting is unyielding, yet always in alignment with our strategic goals balanced with our customer requirements. With each investment we carefully consider how we can extend our product offerings and overall capabilities, while surfacing cost savings."

One recent example of this is Colbert's installation of a 10-color printing press. This press accommodates specialty colors and coatings, cold foil metallic enhancements, backside printing, and vision inspection in a high-speed, one-pass format.

Of particular relevance today is the fate of the packaging insert, or Instructions for Use (IFU). At a time when many packaging converters are exiting the category, Colbert continues to ramp up production of this critical element of healthcare packaging. These packaging components provide end users and consumers with critical information regarding user safety, intended use, instructions, warnings, and product end-of-life and recycling information. In recent years, there has been an industry assumption that, due to increasing electronic access to information, the need for printed informational inserts would be on the decline. However, aging population and regulatory requirements command an ongoing need for printed inserts. Colbert Packaging recognizes this growth opportunity and its alignment with the company's strategic plans.

Top Dog vs. Underdog
Having the capabilities and talent to continue innovating through ongoing capital investment and technical advancements, while maintaining a focus on sustainability, truly allows the company to differentiate. Johnson puts it this way, "At Colbert, we see ourselves as the underdog, as it were. At times, it's easy to feel envious of the industry big dogs — those that have deep pockets, endless resources, and strong brands with big ads and guerilla marketing everywhere. But then, I look at what else they have — bloat, appearances to maintain, entitlement, and shareholder expectations. They can be too slow, conservative and cautious. They rest on their laurels, glide on their reputation, and play defense. What they really have is a lot to lose."

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Johnson continues, " Then I think about what we have at Colbert — hunger, drive and grit. Our independence keeps us on the offense. We can move quickly and adjust on the fly. We're producing while they're still deciding what to do. We purchase and implement new assets while they wait for a long chain of command to get approvals. We see being small, not as a stepping stone or 'less than.' We see our size as greater than, faster, more focused and agile. We savor our position, and the benefits that provides to our customers and our employees."

Hart agrees, "I have been screaming from the mountain tops about how good the Colbert story resonates in the current packaging landscape. We continue to be in the right industry focused on the right markets at the right time." He continues, "Paperboard packaging demand is projected to continue growing over the next decade. The pharma/healthcare industry is the fastest growing segment in paperboard packaging, and our commitment to remaining independent during rampant packaging industry consolidation offers our customers better transparency, agility and service levels that healthcare companies require in a supplier."

Colbert Packaging's strength as an independent small business is summed up best by its Chairman and CEO, Nancy Colbert MacDougall. She states, "We recognize that our success rests on the contributions made daily by our talented and capable employees. Colbert associates routinely give us a sense of pride in who we are as an organization. It's with that pride that we carry on my father Charles Colbert's legacy."

Colbert Packaging is a women-owned business with extensive R&D capabilities and a solid reputation for excellence. Founded in 1959, Colbert Packaging has grown its repertoire of paperboard packaging solutions into one of the most comprehensive, diverse and inventive portfolios in the industry. Colbert's Kenosha, Wisconsin, facility produces offset and flexographic printed folding cartons, pressure-sensitive roll labels and package inserts; the Elkhart, Indiana, operation includes folding carton production and paper tray forming. Learn more at www.colbertpkg.com.