MDI

What MDI does

MDI (Minnesota Diversified Industries) is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit social enterprise founded in 1964 that manufactures corrugated standard and custom plastic packaging solutions and delivers contract production assembly, packaging, and environmental services. The company operates two integrated business divisions: a corrugated plastics line (totes, bins, boxes, trays, sheets, rolls, and custom-fabricated solutions) and a contract manufacturing line (kitting, assembly, packaging, labeling, medical device assembly, precision cutting, and rework services). Production runs across four Minnesota facilities — Minneapolis (headquarters), Hibbing, Grand Rapids, and Cohasset — using in-house polyethylene and polypropylene extrusion, die cutting, welding, and assembly capabilities, with ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 quality systems and an FDA-registered white room environment for non-sterile medical device assembly.

MDI serves enterprise customers across manufacturing, logistics, medical, agriculture, and industrial distribution, with a named customer base that includes UPS, 3M (since the 1970s), Amazon, USPS (since the 1970s, producing 75 million flat tubs in 2012), Caribou Coffee, Frito-Lay, Uline, Andersen Windows, Neogen, and Veritiv. Revenue is generated through direct quote-based sales with a 250-unit minimum on custom orders, a Quick Ship program for standard in-stock products, and a global Channel Partner & Distributor Program with co-marketing resources and channel incentives. Approximately 60-70% of the 440+ employees are people with disabilities, supported by dedicated employment services, VR training through the Unified Work Academy, and CARF and MN DEED certifications — making inclusive employment the company's central value proposition alongside its quality and regulatory certifications.

Name

MDI

Legal name

Minnesota Diversified Industries

Website

https://mdi.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

MDI is a Minneapolis-based nonprofit social enterprise that manufactures corrugated plastic packaging and provides contract manufacturing services including medical device assembly, kitting, and packaging, serving enterprise customers in logistics, manufacturing, healthcare, and agriculture while employing ~440 people, with 60-70% of its workforce being people with disabilities.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Plastic Packaging Manufacturing

NAICS

Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261), Plastics Packaging Materials and Unlaminated Film and Sheet Manufacturing (32611), Other Plastics Product Manufacturing (32619)

SIC

Plastics Products, Nec (3089), Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550)

akta.pro primary industry

Returnable/Reusable Plastic Packaging (RPCs, Crates, Totes) Manufacturing (IMANAEAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Industrial & Protective Thermoformed Packaging (Dunnage, Trays, Clamshells) (IMANAHAC), Thermoformed Packaging (Food, Beverage & Consumer Goods) (IMANAHAA)

Keywords

• Corrugated plastic packaging
• Contract manufacturing services
• Medical device assembly
• Reusable industrial containers
• Kitting and packaging

Headquarters

HQ city

Minneapolis

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Contract Manufacturing Services: Scalable contract manufacturing including kitting, assembly, packaging, labeling, and production support. Revenue generated from labor-intensive work outsourcing by manufacturers.
2. Corrugated Plastic Products: Sale of standard and custom corrugated plastic containers, totes, bins, boxes, trays, sheets, and rolls. Includes quick-ship products and custom fabrication services.
3. Channel Partner/Distributor Program: Distribution of industrial packaging products through resellers worldwide with marketing support and incentives.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

MDI manufactures and sells standard and custom corrugated plastic packaging products (containers, totes, bins, boxes, trays, sheets, rolls) and operates a contract manufacturing division that delivers kitting, assembly, packaging, labeling, medical device assembly, precision cutting, and rework services to manufacturers, distributors, and healthcare organizations. Production is performed in four Minnesota facilities under ISO 9001:2015 and ISO 13485:2016 quality systems with FDA-registered white room environments, combining commercial scale with an inclusive employment mission.

Product overview

MDI operates as a manufacturing enterprise offering two integrated divisions: corrugated plastic products and contract manufacturing services. The plastic products division provides standard Quick Ship Containers (totes, bins, boxes, trays, sheets, rolls, tree wraps, waterjet bricks) alongside fully custom fabrication capabilities, sold directly to end users and through a distributor/reseller channel program. The contract manufacturing division delivers kitting and assembly, contract packaging and sealing, product labeling, medical device assembly, precision cutting, and rework services, operating across ISO-certified production facilities including white room controlled environments for regulated industries. The two divisions share manufacturing infrastructure and a mission-driven workforce model focused on inclusive employment for people with disabilities.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Quick Ship Containers Standard corrugated plastic containers including totes, bins, boxes, trays, sheets and rolls manufactured from existing die-cuts for fast turnaround; built from high-density polyethylene or polypropylene for warehouse picking, assembly line storage, and general material handling. Designed for manufacturers, distributors, and warehouse operators needing shorter lead times than custom tooling allows.
• Custom Corrugated Plastic Products Custom-fabricated corrugated plastic solutions engineered to exact specifications, including custom fabrication, design support, CNC and die cutting, custom dividers, dunnage, hardware and handles, branding and colors, and structural modifications. Requires a minimum of 250 units and is targeted at manufacturers and distributors needing tailored containers.
• USPS Stamp Packaging and Postal Containers Long-running corrugated plastic flat tubs and packaging produced for the U.S. Postal Service; durable containers supporting mailroom operations and closed-loop shipping.
• Kitting & Assembly Services Contract assembly and kitting services that combine individual components into complete, ready-to-ship products or kits for retail, medical, and industrial customers including Caribou Coffee, Andersen Windows, Neogen and Veritiv. Scalable capacity without adding customer headcount.
• Contract Packaging & Sealing Secondary packaging solutions including shrink wrapping, blister packaging, co-packing, and custom corrugated boxing that prepare products for retail distribution. Targeted at manufacturers seeking outsourced final packaging with flexible capacity.
• Product Labeling & Collating High-accuracy private labeling, barcoding, document collation, and product labeling services that support regulatory compliance and reduce human error for manufacturers and medical device customers.
• Medical Device Assembly & Kitting ISO 13485:2016 certified and FDA registered assembly and packaging for medical devices and healthcare supplies in controlled white room environments with full traceability. Customers include Extremity Care, Vet Surgical Resources, and Neogen.
• Precision Cutting Services Custom CNC and die cutting for surgical drapes, industrial components, and corrugated plastics with tight tolerances and fast turnarounds for specialized materials. Serves medical device and industrial buyers.
• Rework & Repackaging Services Rework and repackaging services that fix labeling errors, sort mixed inventory, and repackage products to recover shipments and protect brand reputation for manufacturers and distributors.
• White Room Controlled Environment Manufacturing ISO-certified controlled white room environments for non-sterile assembly and kitting that reduce fully loaded cost and lead time by 15–25% compared to classified cleanroom builds while maintaining ISO 13485 documentation rigor. Targeted at medical device and healthcare OEMs.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nestable design cuts storage footprint by up to 60% when empty
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers13 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Unified WorkcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFostering inclusive workplaces across the country. Partners directly with employers and individuals with disabilities to bridge employment gap through specialized training, consulting, and direct placement services. Part of Powered By MDI initiative.
• RepoweredcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSocial enterprise providing IT asset disposition (ITAD) and electronics recycling in Twin Cities. Creates employment opportunities for adults facing barriers including post-release individuals. Part of Powered By MDI initiative.
• Special Olympics MinnesotacoreGTM or Marketing PartnerLong-standing partnership supporting athletes, sponsoring events, and encouraging team and community involvement. MDI is a proud partner with ongoing community engagement.
• Special Olympics USA Games 2026coreGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial partner of the 2026 Special Olympics USA Games. Front and center presence at games with tens of thousands of athletes, families, and fans. Showcasing Unified Work program innovations.
• Cares CouncilcoreOthersEmployee-led initiative directing MDI's charitable giving and volunteer efforts. Employees nominate and vote on organizations to support, focusing on inclusion, empowerment, and community health.
• Care CouncilminorOthersPartnership to support individuals with disabilities in navigating employment, housing, and community resources.
• Unified Work AcademycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerExpanding training opportunities across Minnesota and beyond. Immersive tools like VR training, leadership development, and workforce readiness programs building pathways to meaningful employment.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves11 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Inteplast Group: Inteplast is a large diversified plastics manufacturer producing films, sheets, and rigid plastic packaging including corrugated plastic products—overlapping with MDI but at significantly greater scale and breadth across multiple plastic product categories.

Direct peers

• Coroplast: Coroplast manufactures corrugated plastic sheets, totes, and custom fabricated packaging using polypropylene and polyethylene—directly comparable raw materials and product formats to MDI's corrugated plastic container and sheet business.
• Rehrig Pacific Company: Rehrig Pacific is a major producer of reusable plastic containers, recycling bins, and supply chain packaging serving logistics, grocery, and manufacturing customers—directly comparable to MDI's corrugated plastic containers for UPS, Amazon, and similar enterprise accounts.
• Foxwood Industries: Foxwood Industries produces custom and standard corrugated plastic containers, totes, and trays from polypropylene and polyethylene—smaller direct competitor with comparable product focus to MDI's custom corrugated plastic offering.
• Polymer Logistics: Polymer Logistics specializes in returnable plastic packaging (RPCs), pooling services, and supply chain solutions for retail and consumer goods—directly competing with MDI's corrugated plastic totes and reusable container offerings.
• Schoeller Allibert: Schoeller Allibert is a European-headquartered leader in reusable plastic returnable transit packaging (totes, stackable containers, pallets) for automotive, food, and industrial supply chains—comparable offering and customer profile to MDI's corrugated plastic packaging business.
• Orbis Corporation: Orbis is one of the largest North American manufacturers of returnable/reusable plastic containers, totes, bulk containers, and pallets for supply chain and material handling—directly overlapping with MDI's corrugated plastic totes, bins, and boxes product line.
• Buckhorn (Myers Industries): Buckhorn, a Myers Industries business, manufactures reusable plastic containers, bulk boxes, pallets, and material handling solutions for industrial and agricultural customers—comparable corrugated plastic product range and customer verticals to MDI.

Emerging players

• SourceAmerica: SourceAmerica is a national nonprofit agency that connects federal customers with contract manufacturing and packaging services performed by people with disabilities—overlaps with MDI's mission-driven employment model and contract manufacturing capabilities, particularly for USPS and government-adjacent work.
• Goodwill Industries Contract Services: Goodwill operates mission-driven contract packaging, kitting, and assembly services employing people with disabilities—directly comparable social enterprise model to MDI's contract manufacturing division, though typically more focused on basic packaging than regulated medical assembly.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/mdiorg
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/mdi-minnesota-diversified-industries

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about MDI