Com-Pac International
Com-Pac International is a private, family-owned custom plastic packaging manufacturer in Carbondale, Illinois, producing medical, laboratory, food, and consumer packaging through integrated film extrusion, zipper extrusion, flexographic printing, and injection molding for B2B healthcare and emerging retail customers.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1989
- HeadquartersCarbondale, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What Com-Pac International does
Com-Pac International is a private, family-owned custom plastic packaging manufacturer headquartered in a 100,000 square-foot facility in Carbondale, Illinois. Founded in 1989 by Gregory S. Sprehe and co-owned with Don Wright, the company operates as a fully integrated single-site producer of flexible packaging products for medical, laboratory, food, and consumer retail applications. Com-Pac's technology stack spans film extrusion, zipper profile extrusion (under the ZipRight brand), flexographic printing, and injection molding, all housed in one facility that includes a 10,000 square-foot FDA-registered white room. The product portfolio is organized around several proprietary brands including SAF-T-ZIP, Inspex, Infecon, and Bitran for specimen handling and infectious substance shipping; Zip-N-Squeeze for patient feeding; and Titan Tote for consumer household storage. Founder Sprehe holds 14 patents, including the original 1970 leak-proof zipper patent and a 2023 child-resistant reclosable zipper patent, supported by a patent-pending Fresh-Zip zipper-tape for frozen food applications.
The company's business model combines contract manufacturing, private label production, branded product sales, and turn-key contract packaging services. Pricing is quote-based and not publicly disclosed, with sales conducted primarily through direct customer contact and industry trade shows (Pack Expo, AACC, ThermoFisher and Cardinal Health national sales meetings). Primary customer segments are medical and laboratory specimen handling (including diagnostic labs, hospitals, and research institutions), food and specialty packaging, and an emerging direct-to-consumer retail channel anchored by a 2023 Walmart Marketplace partnership. Notable customers and partners include LabCorp, Quest Diagnostics, ThermoFisher Scientific, Cardinal Health, and NASA/JPL. Com-Pac is FDA-registered as a medical device manufacturer, HUBZone certified by the U.S. Small Business Administration, and holds UN/DOT/IATA certifications for the transport of Category A and B biological substances.
Revenue is not publicly disclosed, and the company has remained independent with no venture capital, private equity investment, or disclosed funding rounds. The most recent strategic direction has emphasized three growth vectors: (1) expanding into direct-to-consumer retail through branded products at Walmart, Amazon, Target, Costco, and e-commerce platforms; (2) launching a new injection molding capability in April 2023 for medical, aerospace, and automotive components; and (3) developing patented and patent-pending product designs in child-resistant packaging and frozen-food zipper technology. The company employs approximately 250 workers at its single Carbondale facility, representing modest headcount growth over the prior several years and consistent with a self-funded, incremental growth posture.
Com-Pac International firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Com-Pac International
- Legal name
- Com-Pac International, Inc.
- Website
- https://com-pac.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1989
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Com-Pac International is a private, family-owned custom plastic packaging manufacturer in Carbondale, Illinois, producing medical, laboratory, food, and consumer packaging through integrated film extrusion, zipper extrusion, flexographic printing, and injection molding for B2B healthcare and emerging retail customers.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Com-Pac International is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Carbondale
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Com-Pac International business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Operations, Personnel, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Custom Plastic Packaging Manufacturing: Contract manufacturing and private label production of flexible packaging products for medical, laboratory, and food industries
- Branded Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of Com-Pac branded products including Titan Tote Slider Big Bags through retail partners and e-commerce platforms
- Contract Packaging Services: Turn-key contract packaging services including auto-bagging, shrink-wrapping, coupon inserting, sorting, kit assembly, and variety packing
- Private Label Manufacturing: Private label manufacturing for fresh-cut produce, frozen foods, stand-up pouch closures, and food storage bags
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Custom Quote-Based Pricing |
Go-to-market motion4 records
Distribution channels6 records
Marketing channels6 records
Com-Pac International product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Com-Pac International manufactures custom flexible plastic packaging products including specimen transport bags, reclosable zippers, film and roll stock for medical, laboratory, food, and consumer retail industries. The company operates fully integrated manufacturing (film extrusion, zipper extrusion, flexographic printing, injection molding) in a 100,000 sq ft FDA-registered facility in Carbondale, Illinois, serving as both a contract manufacturer and producer of branded product lines (Saf-T-Zip, Inspex, Infecon, Bitran, ZipRight, Zip-N-Squeeze, Titan Tote).
Product overview
Com-Pac International is a custom plastic packaging manufacturer offering a diversified portfolio of products across medical, laboratory, and food packaging industries. The company operates as a fully integrated manufacturer providing film extrusion, zipper extrusion (ZipRight brand), flexographic printing, and injection molding services all in one location. Key product lines include: SAF-T-ZIP specimen bags and Inspex 95 kPa specimen transport bags for laboratory applications; Infecon infectious substance shippers and Bitran leakproof specimen bags for medical/laboratory specimen handling; Zip-N-Squeeze feeding bags for post-operative patients; and food packaging products including frozen foods bags and fresh-cut produce bags. The company also offers re-sealable zipper extrusion under the ZipRight brand, injection molding services for medical components, and contract packaging services. Products are marketed under several Com-Pac brand names including ZipRight, SAF-T-ZIP, Inspex, Infecon, Bitran, and Zip-N-Squeeze, with additional branded products like Titan Tote for consumer storage applications.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- ZipRight: Standard and custom zipper profile extrusion brand for flexible packaging industry
- SAF-T-ZIP
- Bitran
- Infecon
- Inspex
- Zip-N-Squeeze
- Titan Tote
- Slide-Rite
- Speci-Freez
- Fresh-Zip
Products and services
- Laboratory Packaging Premium laboratory plastic packaging products including diagnostic packaging, Infecon infectious substance accessories, and Infecon infectious substance shippers for medical and laboratory specimen handling.
- Medical Packaging Medical plastic packaging including Bitran Liquid Tight Bags, Leak Proof Ice Bags, and Zip-N-Squeeze Bags designed to safeguard healthcare products.
- Specimen Packaging Innovative specimen packaging solutions including Bitran PE Series, Bitran S Series, and SAF-T-ZIP specimen bags engineered to preserve specimen integrity during transport and storage.
- Re-sealable Zipper Extrusion (ZipRight) Standard and custom zipper profile extrusion for the flexible packaging industry including liquid, air and vacuum-tight zippers, industrial super string zippers, and pre-molded zipper segments sold under the ZipRight brand.
- Food and Specialty Packaging Specialty flexible packaging for the food industry including frozen foods storage bags, cake decorating bags, and mushroom spawn bags; also includes Fresh-Zip zipper-tape for frozen poultry, fresh-cut vegetables, and IQF products.
- Injection Molding Services Precision injection molding services for medical, food grade, electronics, aerospace, and automotive applications with capabilities up to 10 inches, fractional to 100 oz shot size, up to 146 tons clamping force, prototype to 10+ cavities.
- Flexographic Printing Fully customized flexographic printing options including 6-color process printing, sequential barcode printing, and sophisticated web inspection system for all industries.
- Film Extrusion Specialty custom film extrusion services using polyethylene resin blending to produce high strength/heavy duty film and high clarity/high strength/high speed sealing film tailored to specific performance requirements.
- Contract Packaging Services Turn-key contract packaging services including auto-bagging, shrink-wrapping, coupon inserting, sorting, kit assembly, and variety packing for high volumes and tight deadlines.
- INTEGRA Zipper Application Equipment Brand for zipper application equipment including the RTR-1000 pre-applied zipper system that applies zipper to packaging rollstock, creates tamper-evident opening perforation, and rewinds zippered film for VFFS and HFFS baggers, plus the BP-I backpack zipper application system.
- Titan Tote Slider Big Bags Slider Big Bags for household storage including holiday decoration storage. Sold through Walmart Marketplace and physical store locations and on Amazon, Etsy, and eBay.
- Zip-N-Squeeze Feeding Bags Leak-proof resealable feeding bags for patients with facial and mouth surgeries, maxillofacial procedures, and those with swallowing difficulties. Includes feeding bags for liquids and pureed foods, patient discharge kits.
Quantifiable outcome
- 100% on-time delivery demonstrated during emergency capacity increase
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Com-Pac International
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Com-Pac International technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Com-Pac International partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and flagship.
- WalmartcoreCom-Pac products selected for Walmart Marketplace online and physical store locations. Titan Tote Slider Big Bags selected following Walmart's 9th annual Open Call for vendors of American-made products. Only 180 products were selected from over 15,000 applications.
- LabCorpcoreLabCorp requiring frozen shipping conditions for COVID-19 specimens using Com-Pac's INF-6200 and INF-6300 shipping kits designed around their specifications and CDC requirements.
- Quest DiagnosticscoreQuest Diagnostics requiring frozen shipping on dry ice at -70C for SARS-CoV-2 RNA testing specimens using Com-Pac shipping containers.
- NASA/JPLflagshipNASA utilizing BITRAN brand specimen bags in research project aboard International Space Station for growing protein crystals related to Parkinson's disease research sponsored by Michael J. Fox Foundation.
- Cardinal HealthcoreCom-Pac exhibiting specimen bags and shipping products at Cardinal Health national sales meetings for healthcare distribution channel.
- ThermoFisher ScientificcoreCom-Pac exhibiting specimen bags and shipping products at ThermoFisher Scientific national sales meetings, representing long-standing relationship for laboratory supply distribution.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Com-Pac International competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Printpack: Privately held U.S. manufacturer of flexible and specialty rigid packaging serving food, beverage, and consumer goods markets. Comparable to Com-Pac in custom flexible packaging, flexographic printing, and film extrusion for converters, though Printpack is significantly larger.
- Winpak Ltd. Manufacturer of high-quality flexible and rigid plastic packaging serving food, beverage, and healthcare end markets. Comparable to Com-Pac's specialty flexible packaging and medical packaging focus, with overlap in proprietary film structures and converting capabilities.
- Novolex: Major U.S. flexible plastic packaging manufacturer producing bags, pouches, and films for food, retail, and industrial customers. Directly comparable to Com-Pac in film extrusion, bag conversion, and custom flexible packaging, though Novolex is significantly larger and more diversified across geographies.
- Inteplast Group: Privately held manufacturer of flexible plastic products including bags, films, and healthcare packaging. Closely comparable to Com-Pac as a privately held integrated flexible plastic packaging manufacturer serving medical, food, and industrial customers.
Broad incumbents
- AptarGroup: Specialty packaging supplier focused on dispensing systems, pharma, and healthcare packaging. Comparable to Com-Pac's medical and laboratory packaging products, particularly in regulated pharmaceutical and specimen packaging, with overlapping regulatory expertise.
- Sealed Air Corporation: Global packaging company specializing in protective and food packaging films and bags. Comparable in flexible film and bag manufacturing capabilities to Com-Pac, especially for specialty and protective packaging, but Sealed Air is much larger and globally diversified.
- Pactiv Evergreen: Major North American food and beverage packaging manufacturer producing flexible and rigid plastic products. Comparable to Com-Pac's food and specialty flexible packaging lines, particularly frozen food and fresh produce bags, at substantially larger scale.
- Berry Global Group: Large public diversified plastic packaging manufacturer with deep presence in healthcare, food, and specialty flexible packaging. Comparable to Com-Pac's flexible plastic bag and film offering, particularly in medical and laboratory packaging segments, though it operates at vastly greater scale globally.
- Amcor: Global packaging giant with significant flexible packaging and healthcare packaging businesses (acquired Bemis in 2019). Directly comparable to Com-Pac in flexible plastic packaging for medical, food, and consumer applications, but at much greater scale and global footprint.
- Sonoco Products Company: Diversified global packaging manufacturer with healthcare and consumer flexible packaging operations. Comparable to Com-Pac's medical/laboratory specimen bag and healthcare distribution business, while operating across rigid and flexible packaging at much larger scale.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat6 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Com-Pac International social profiles
Digital presenceCom-Pac International financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Com-Pac International leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Com-Pac International funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Com-Pac International M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Com-Pac International
What does Com-Pac International do?
Com-Pac International manufactures custom flexible plastic packaging products including specimen transport bags, reclosable zippers, film and roll stock for medical, laboratory, food, and consumer retail industries. The company operates fully integrated manufacturing (film extrusion, zipper extrusion, flexographic printing, injection molding) in a 100,000 sq ft FDA-registered facility in Carbondale, Illinois, serving as both a contract manufacturer and producer of branded product lines (Saf-T-Zip, Inspex, Infecon, Bitran, ZipRight, Zip-N-Squeeze, Titan Tote).
Is Com-Pac International a public or private company?
Com-Pac International is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was Com-Pac International founded?
Com-Pac International was founded in 1989. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is Com-Pac International based?
Com-Pac International is headquartered in Carbondale, United States, in the North America region.
How does Com-Pac International make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Custom Plastic Packaging Manufacturing is the primary driver. The others are branded Product Sales, contract Packaging Services and private Label Manufacturing.
Who are Com-Pac International's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Printpack, Winpak Ltd., Novolex and Inteplast Group. Broad incumbents are AptarGroup, Sealed Air Corporation, Pactiv Evergreen, Berry Global Group, Amcor and Sonoco Products Company.
Does Com-Pac International have an API?
No public API is recorded for Com-Pac International.