Field Packaging Solutions Makes Long-Term Acquisitions and Investments

OUR HISTORY

Back in 1923, 13-year-old Eli Field boarded a ship on his own in Liverpool, England to sail to Ellis Island and meet up with his father who had earlier immigrated to Chicago. After laboring in his father’s house-painting business, Eli sought a future in box manufacturing, beginning as a salesman.

With a life savings of a mere $500, a drive to succeed and a deep desire to fulfill the American dream, he started Field Container Corp. in Elk Grove Village, Illinois in 1942. It began with a single employee and Eli went door to door peddling “set up boxes” to make a living.

Eli’s children, having learned a strong work ethic from their father, also poured their hearts into the business to grow it well beyond its humble beginnings. The family nurtured and cared for the business as if it were a member of the family. In time, his family-owned-and-operated manufacturing business of folding cartons, recycled paperboard, and printing ink became one of the largest and most esteemed companies in the industry.

In 2006, Field Container merged with several divisions of Smurfit Stone and together they became Altivity Packaging. After overseeing the transition, Eli’s son, Larry Field, and his son-in-law Joe Kaplan left Altivity to form a family office, Field Holdings. Jim O’Brien, formerly a comptroller with Field Container, joined Field Holdings in a key financial role. Together they created Field Packaging Solutions (FPS) as their vehicle to acquire select businesses. The newly formed Field Holdings also engages in other business ventures, including real estate investments.

With a dedication rooted in family values and a passion inspired by Eli’s drive for success, FPS is strongly committed to investing and nurturing businesses in the packaging industry. We continue to search for related packaging companies to build our platform. Unlike private equity firms that swoop in, fire employees, consolidate or close the business, FPS is a self-funded private family office that listens to company stakeholders to learn what’s important and makes a company unique. Our intention is to add value with our years of management expertise in the packaging industry.

Emphasizing flexibility, customer satisfaction, innovation, and investment in human capital and technology, the third and fourth generations of the Field family have positioned FPS as the first choice for business owners who desire to sell all or part of their packaging businesses with a desire for continuity going forward. Any a business owner who wants to keep his/her legacy, as well as their employees, management team and physical plant in place, FPS offers the best solution to lead their businesses forward for generations to come.

FPS currently owns Primary Packaging, Inc., a polyethylene extruder and convertor of large industrial bags; Bag Supply Company, a manufacturer and distributor of heavy duty paper and polyethylene bags; Momar Industries, a flexible packaging manufacturer specializing in adhesive laminations and lidding; Label Arts, a specialty label manufacturer primarily serving the healthcare industry; and Labelmart, a full-service label manufacturer supplying commercial pressure-sensitive labels to companies throughout many different industries; and Alert Security Products, formerly Packaging Horizons Corporation, an industry leading manufacturer of tamper evident security bags with a variety of bags thoughtfully designed for applications in banking, healthcare, law enforcement and other organizations that handle sensitive assets. As a Primary Packaging Inc product, Alert Security Products can also offer robust custom printed security bag capabilities.