This year’s Top 25 Converters list has changed just a bit. FP determined that we needed to tweak the list ever so slightly, to make sure the focus remained strictly on flexible packaging converting, and not on flexible packaging manufacturing. This year’s Top 25 Converters list reflects those changes. 

As you might remember, fiscal year 2011’s Top 25 Converters list saw numerous major changes, including mergers, acquisitions, capacity expansions, facility restructuring, and new leadership appointments. Coming off of the heels of those major changes, fiscal year 2012 brought slow and steady minor changes. 

Click here to view the 2013 Top 25 listing.

To view the list as a PDF, click here.

 
2012 Sales (in millions): $5.5B (global)
Elmwood Park, New Jersey
 
In 2012, Sealed Air announced that its CEO William V. Hickey would be retiring in March 2013, and that a business succession plan was in place. In a statement from the company, the succession plan is explained: “Hickey will continue to serve as CEO of the Company but will no longer hold the title of president. The Board simultaneously elected Jerome A. Peribere president and COO of Sealed Air and appointed him as a director of the Company effective September 1, 2012.” 
Sealed Air Corporation 
 
(201) 791-7600; www.sealedair.com 
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): $5.1B (global)
Neenah, Wisconsin
 
“We accomplished our key goals for 2012 and generated record earnings per share,” says Henry Theisen, Bemis Company's president and CEO, in a letter to its shareholders. “We right-sized our operations and consolidated our production facilities. In addition, our World Class Operations Management improved production efficiencies and expanded our capacity for value added products while our facility consolidation program reduced capacity in other areas.”
Bemis Company
 
(920) 727-4100; www.bemis.com
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): $2.4B
Lyndhurst, New Jersey
 
ISO Poly Films, Inc., a member of the Sigma Plastics Group and a leading manufacturer of multi-layer plastic films, announced in 2012 that it was adding a facility in Vancouver, Wash., and installing additional lines in its Gray Court, S.C., facility. This double expansion expected to bring ISO Poly Films’ total film capacity close to 130 million pounds per year and anticipated growth to 200 million pounds in the next few years. 
Sigma Plastics Group
 
(201) 933-6000; www.alpha-industries.com
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): $1.4B
Atlanta, Georgia
 
Mid-year, Printpack announced its plans to begin construction of a new plant in Rhinelander, Wisc., in the fall of 2012 as part of its strategy of aggressive reinvestment to improve production efficiency. With the additional capacity created by the new Rhinelander plant, the Company decided that it will be necessary to close Printpack’s Hendersonville, N.C., plant and transition that business to the new facility in Rhinelander. 
Printpack Inc. 
 
(404) 460-7000; www.printpack.com 
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): ~$1.3B
Evansville, Indiana 
 
Berry Plastics Corporation announced in November, 2012, that it had plans to reopen its Madisonville, Ky., facility to increase production. “I am very pleased to announce that we will soon begin reconfiguring our Madisonville, Kentucky, facility which is slated to begin production in 2013,” says Jon Rich, chairman and CEO of Berry Plastics.
Berry Plastics Corporation
 
(812) 424-2904; www.berryplastics.com
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): $750 
Chicago, Illinois
 
In November 2012, Exopack established a Pet Food "Center of Excellence" at its Spartanburg, S.C., manufacturing location. Completion of this nearly $6.5 million project provides the Spartanburg facility with increased printing and converting capacity and broadens its substrate diversity.
Exopack
 
(877) 447-3539; www.exopack.com
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): $679
Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
 
In its Fourth Quarter Revenue Overview, Winpak’s president and CEO Bruce Berry writes, “The ever-growing positive trend prevails! Coming off a strong year in 2012 and with the various Board approved long-term projects in play, Winpak has a firm foundation for future growth, both in sales and profitability. The fact that the population demographics favor health-care and food products that lend themselves to convenient packages, using materials of the types manufactured by Winpak, also adds further credence to the Company’s strategic aspirations.”
Winpak Ltd. 
 
(204) 889-1015; www.winpak.com
 
 
2012 Net Sales (in millions): $596
Sandy Springs, Georgia
 
Graphic Packaging International, Inc. announced in early 2012 that it would be relocating its corporate headquarters to Sandy Springs, Ga., from Marietta, Ga. GPI's new Sandy Springs headquarters enabled the company to consolidate its existing four building campus into a single location. “The consolidation of our workforce will enhance the impact of our ‘one culture’ message, which makes the Sandy Springs office complex an excellent location for a major corporate headquarters,” says David Scheible, president and CEO. 
Graphic Packaging International, Inc
 
(770) 240-7200; www.graphicpkg.com
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): $564
Florence, Kentucky
 
Jim Huffmyer, VP of HR for Duro Bag, tells FP, “Duro continues to lead with innovate packaging solutions for retail packaging customers. Our newest valu shopping bag line offers customers new sizes that meet their needs for foodservice carryout solutions.”
Duro Bag Manufacturing Co.
 
(800) 879-3876; www.durobag.com
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): $500
Madison, Mississippi and Burlington, Ontario, Canada
 
According to the company website, “Service. Quality. Graphics. Innovative products. Visit any of our seventeen North American plants and you will see the distinct Hood Packaging difference. Hood Packaging is built around our customers. We are constantly looking for new trends in the industry. Our wide variety of paper, plastic and woven products bring a one-stop-shop advantage to your business. We are committed to bringing the best and newest innovations to our customers.”
Hood Packaging Corp. 
 
(800) 321-8115; www.hoodpkg.com 
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): $500
Hartsville, South Carolina 
 
Hilex Poly Co. was recognized by the FPA in February 2012 for its recycling efforts, specifically for its Bag-2-Bag recycling program, a plastic bag and films recycling infrastructure that makes it easier for consumers to recycle used plastic bags, wraps and films. “Hilex Poly is proud to be recognized for our efforts in recycling. Our tremendous investment in recycling and sustainability has truly paid off, and we hope to make it even better in the future,” says Mark Daniels, VP of sustainability and environmental policy for Hilex Poly. 
Hilex Poly Co., Inc. 
 
(843) 857-4800; www.hilexpoly.com
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): $450
Chicago, Illinois
 
Packaging Dynamics Corp. announced the acquisition of Groupe De Luxe in November 2012. De Luxe is a North American manufacturer of flexible packaging products for food service, bakery, supermarket, confectionery, dairy and other specialty applications. De Luxe is headquartered at its Montreal manufacturing facility and also has facilities in Toronto, Chicago and Saugerties, N.Y.  
Packaging Dynamics Corp.
 
(773) 843-8000; www.pkdy.com
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): $376 
Hartsville, South Carolina
 
Sonoco successfully integrated the largest acquisition in their 114 year history with the purchase of Tegrant, making Sonoco the leading provider of custom-engineered protective packaging in North America. 2012 was also a record year for sales. Sonoco continues their commitment to environmental sustainability and will bring a new biomass boiler online in 2013 that will help reduce their carbon footprint and greatly minimize their use of coal. In addition, seven of Sonoco’s North American plants reached landfill free status in 2012 and another 17 have been able to divert at least 95 percent of their waste from landfills. For the second consecutive year, Sonoco was ranked the top global packaging company for sustainability and corporate responsibility on the Dow Jones Sustainability World Index, was also only one of five packaging companies listed in Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Corporations, and won 5 awards from various associations.
Sonoco Products Co.
 
(800) 377-2692; www.sonoco.com
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): $353
Rochester, New York
 
American Packaging Corp., (APC) and The Wegman Family Charitable Foundation funded the creation of the RIT Center for Sustainable Packaging in 2012, which will help to create an education and research center dedicated to the development and use of sustainable packaging.
 
American Packaging Corp., has won so many awards in 2012, it’s impressive. These include: Nine printing awards; one environmental award; and two best-company awards.
American Packaging Corp. 
 
(800) 551-8801; www.ampkcorp.com 
 
 
15/16. Bryce Corp.
2012 Sales (in millions): $350
Memphis, Tennessee
 
According to the company’s website, “Bryce Corporation's products service a variety of markets, with some of its most innovative customers operating in the food, household, label, graphic arts, photographic, and consumer products industries. While Bryce sells most of its products as roll stock, it also supplies finished stand-up pouches and bags to fit the exacting needs of its customers.”
Bryce Corp.
 
(800) 238-7277; www.brycecorp.com
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): $350
Cincinnati, Ohio
 
Two new packaging options from Ampac: Using renewable materials sourced responsibly from Forestry Stewardship Council (FSC) or similar management programs, the BioPouch is designed to provide the same functionality of a pouch produced with conventional resins, including moisture and oxygen barrier, reclosing and aesthetic appeal.
 
The Pull Tab beverage pouch by Ampac is an alternative format to the traditional straw-punch through beverage pouch. 
Ampac
(800) 543-7030; www.ampaconline.com
 
 
17. Pregis Corp. 
2012 Sales (in millions): $334
Deerfield, Illinois
 
Pregis Protective Packaging Europe has confirmed that it has sold its UK distributor Ambassador Packaging to Antalis, a global provider of advanced packaging solutions, for an undisclosed sum. Pregis also completed the sale of its Kobusch-Sengewald business to an affiliate of Sun European Partners, LLP for €160 million. Pregis also acquired Inter-Pac, Inc., based in Tupelo, Miss., for an undisclosed amount. The acquisition makes Pregis the largest producer of polyethylene sheet foam in the United States.
Pregis Corp.
 
(800) 834-9441; www.pregis.com
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): ~$273
Mundelein, Illinois 
 
Amcor Flexibles received two awards from Flexible Packaging Association (FPA), a Gold Award in the “Packaging Excellence” category for Amcor PushPop portion control package, serving the snack food market; and a Silver Award in the “Technical Innovation” category for Amcor Dent Resistant, Compact Formpack serving the prescription and OTC blister pack markets. 
Amcor Flexibles
 
(847) 362-9000; www.amcor.com
 
 
19. cei
2012 Sales (in millions): $250
Wrightstown, Wisconsin 
 
cei (Coating Excellence International) was honored for its innovation by the World Packaging Organisation (WPO). The Worldstar Competition had 243 entries from 32 countries, and is a competition that recognizes packaging excellence in both design and technology. Next generation pinch bottom woven poly bags secured this award for cei in the food packaging category.  
Coating Excellence International 
 
(920) 996-1900; www.coatingexcellence.com
 
 
20. Prolamina 
2012 Sales (in millions): $210
Westfield, Massachusetts 
 
In 2012, Prolamina named Tim French, COO, as new head executive of the company. It also relocated its headquarters from Lake Forest, Illinois to Westfield, Massachusetts.  
Prolamina Corporation 
 
(413) 562-2315; www.prolamina.com
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): ~$164
Irvine, California
 
According to president and CEO Leon Gianneschi, “Scholle Packaging provides bag-in-box packaging in a variety of formats to meet all of these challenges.”
Scholle Packaging Inc. 
 
(949) 955-1750; www.scholle.com
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): $160
Yakima, Washington
 
Shields Bag & Printing Company tells FP that, “Major growth and capacity expansion is underway in all facets of our company: extrusion, printing and conversion.” 
Shields Bag & Printing Company  
 
(800) 541-8630; www.shieldsbag.com
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): ~$150
Jackson, Missouri
 
In the fourth quarter of 2012, Mondi Group completed the acquisition of 99.93 percent of Nordenia International AG. 
Mondi
 
(573) 335-4900; www.mondigroup.com
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): $119
Winston-Salem, North Carolina
 
Centre Lane Partners, a private investment firm based in New York City, New York, announced in August 2012 that it had acquired Oracle Flexible Packaging, Inc., which will be combined with Centre Lane’s existing portfolio company, LLFlex, LLC. “Both LLFlex and Oracle have earned well-established reputations for providing innovative, high-quality products with outstanding service to customers within their respective markets,” comments Nathan Richey, managing director at Centre Lane. 
Oracle Packaging, Inc.
 
336) 777-5000; www.oraclepackaging.com 
 
 
2012 Sales (in millions): $115
Streetsboro, Ohio 
 
In 2012, the company celebrated its 50th Anniversary and company founders, Hershey Lerner and Bernie Lerner were inducted into the PMMI Packaging Hall of Fame. It expanded its line of EarthAware biodegradable and recycled films with a wide range of bag packaging, mailbag, void-fill and protective packaging materials. 
Automated Packaging Systems
 
(800) 527-0733; www.autobag.com