Fabri-Kal - History

Fabri-Kal was incorporated in 1950 by 7 equal shareholders and purchased the Kalamazoo Paper Box plastic segment with $35,000 in cash. The original facility was former A&P grocery store located at 242 East Kalamazoo Avenue. The original lease was for the entire bottom floor of 10,000 square feet with half of that sub-leased to another entity; Five years later Fabri-Kal purchased the remaining area. Among the first products manufactured were package nests and lids for Sears Roebuck cutlery.

As the 1960's decade began, Fabri-Kal diversified into proprietary 'stock' products and moved into the Cork Street Facility, which today holds the XP Division and Technical Center. Introduced into this original 25,000 square foot space was a 2.5 inch extruder, Fabri-Kal's first. Polystyrene cups, lids and acrylic chair mats were some of the first stock products sold. Yearly sales exceeded one million dollars for the first time in 1961.

During the 1960's Fabri-Kal maintained its growth pattern and introduced two lines in a rented manufacturing facility across the street from our present location in Hazleton, PA. The Kalamazoo facility was doubled and the Fabri-Kal foundation was formed in 1968 and '69 respectively.

In the 1970's Fabri-Kal purchased bottle-blowing facilities in New Jersey and California, which were sold 10 years later, and entered the local bedding plant industry with a 'flats and planter' program. An outside sales network comprised mainly of manufacturer representatives was established. Sales in 1973 surpassed one million dollars per month for the first time; there were 417 employees.

In 1981, a third plant was proposed, authorized and built in Piedmont, SC along with a new headquarters building. A mission statement was adopted in 1984; a 401(k) plan was introduced in 1985.

Today, with nearly 800 employees, Fabri-Kal is the eighth largest thermoformer by sales in North America and still privately held. Our steady and profitable growth has been achieved through exceptional service, innovative new products, and a determined sales representative network. As Fabri-Kal celebrates its 60th year of operation in 2010, we appreciate the contribution each of our employees, representatives and suppliers have made to our success.