Kendall Packaging Nearly Complete with Kansas Addition
May 26, 2017
Kendall Packaging, recently announced as the “Employer of the Year” by the City of Pittsburg, is progressing as scheduled to complete a $9 million expansion started last fall. Hiring expectations, facility construction and equipment purchases are all on target for a fall 2017 finish.
Facility construction is nearing completion, and employees have moved into the designated office space within the new building. The company is using several methods to recruit and hire new employees, including the use of job fairs. This project will add 18 new family sustaining jobs in production, maintenance and quality control needed to support the newly extended capacity of the site. Some of the new production equipment has arrived and has been placed into operation, and arrival and start-up of the remaining equipment is on schedule for a fall 2017 completion.
While the purpose of the expansion is to increase the size of the facility and add new equipment and technology to its current manufacturing platform, the project will also benefit employees of Kendall Packaging on a personal level. An on-site wellness center is part of the project plan and will feature work-out facilities for employees and their families. “We want our employees to find a positive work/life balance. Giving them an opportunity to make healthy lifestyle choices, through working out in the new wellness center or participating in other company-sponsored wellness activities, is our way of giving back and demonstrating we value their efforts,” explained plant manager Jack Trostle. “They work hard; we want to help them have long and healthy careers at Kendall Packaging.”
The Wellness Center, a progressive element of the expansion, is expected to be complete and open to employees and their families by midsummer. The 1,200 square foot facility will be accessible from an external entrance for the families and will feature locker rooms, showers and over $38,000 worth of state-of-the-art exercise equipment.
A 30-year corporate resident of the Northeast Regional Industrial Park in Pittsburg, Kendall Packaging broke ground on September 21, 2016, to kick off the expansion that acts as a launching pad for the company’s ability to invest in new technology. By nearly tripling the existing square footage of the plant with this expansion, the project allows the company to continue to deliver on its customer-focused strategy which sets it apart from other companies in the flexible packaging industry.
A $6 million investment in new equipment, including a 10-color flexographic printing press, a solventless laminator, a slitter and other ancillary equipment will expand Kendall Packaging’s capacity and enable the Corporation to continue to execute its strategy of delivering excellent quality and service to its customers. Kendall Packaging’s commitment to customer service and willingness to go above and beyond to fulfill client requests makes them stand out from their competitors.
Kendall Packaging provides custom packaging solutions for a broad cross section of private label companies and specializes in products in the baked goods, cheese, confectionery, dry foods, frozen foods, meats, pasta, snack foods, personal care and pet food markets. The products featuring their packaging are offered in grocery stores and other retail locations throughout the United States.
The project includes financial incentives from both the State of Kansas and the City of Pittsburg, including an Industrial Revenue Bond issue sponsored by the City of Pittsburg and financed by BMO Harris Bank.
The expansion is projected to be completed and fully functional by late fall 2017, with a grand opening scheduled for December 2017.