Tripack (tripack.net) founder Thomas Linz announced that Tripack LLC will move all of its operations from Northern Kentucky to Creek Road in Blue Ash, completing its consolidation of North American Operations. Late last year Tripack returned its West Coast sales force to Kentucky. That move allowed second-generation, minority owner Nick Linz to return to the Midwest and take a more active role in the day-to-day operations as vice-president of after-market services. The new location is located next to Kroger’s recently announced distribution facility in Blue Ash.
“Partnerships with the City of Blue Ash and JobsOhio were instrumental in providing Tripack the needed support to complete this move,” says Thomas Linz. “We were pleased to work with HCDC and Reddi to select a location that can provide support for Tripack for many years to come.” Total estimated tax credits from the city and state are expected to be near $300,000 over a seven year period.
Tripack is a 12 year-old, family-owned leader in the shrink sleeve labeling and tamper evident banding segment of the packaging industry. The new location will provide space to continue expanding their equipment manufacturing, contract packaging and third party logistics operations when it opens in 4th quarter 2015. Customers for various Tripack operations already include household names such as Morton Salt, 3M, L’Oreal, Gorilla Glue, and Nestle.
“Tripack has grown 44% in the last two years and expects to double its revenues in the next three,” says Dave Bimschleger, Tripack’s new president. “We will add 60 to 75 jobs as a result of more than $6 million in capital investment during that period. We have already expanded our reach into Canada and South America and expect to continue to penetrate those markets as well as Europe.” Bimschleger expects 25 more jobs will relocate from the current Kentucky location.
Some name changes will come with the consolidation of operations. Tripack Holdings LLC will become the parent company for Tripack Ohio LLC. Tripack Ohio will be the successor of Tripack LLC, a Kentucky corporation. Tripack Ontario Leasing LLC is also under the Tripack Holdings umbrella. Tripack Ontario leases packaging systems in Canada that provide shrink sleeve applications to a growing craft beer market. Tripack Ohio will continue to work with craft brewers in the United States. They already provide brewers with turn-key sleeving operations as an alternative to traditional painted cans. Using shrink sleeves provides brewers with greater flexibility for their smaller production lots. Tripack expects significant growth to come from a craft beer market that continues to expand rapidly, adding more than one new brewer every day.