What Airlite Plastics does

Airlite Plastics Co. is a privately-held, family-owned injection-molded plastic packaging manufacturer founded in 1946 in Omaha, Nebraska, and now led by third-generation CEO Brad Crosby. The company produces over 2 billion molded units annually across six North American locations and 1,100+ employees, with a primary focus on consumer food and beverage brands. Its core product lines include nearly 50 in-mold labeled (IML) containers across eight shape families, traditional round containers (2 oz to 172 oz), custom containers, lids, and a broad drink cup portfolio (reusable, souvenir, fountain, kids, lemonade). Decoration is offered across three tiers — premium IML, the proprietary mid-tier The Look hybrid flexographic printing, and economy dry offset — providing customers a price/quality spectrum within a single supplier relationship.

The technology base centers on injection molding with proprietary four-level stack mold capability (pioneered in 1989), IML fusion of pre-printed polypropylene labels during molding, EVOH oxygen-barrier containers for shelf-life extension, and HPP-compatible packaging for cold pasteurization. Modular small-batch production lines enable new SKUs by reusing existing cores and cavities without new tooling. Airlite operates Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) programs, in-house mold building and tool shop capabilities, and a direct e-commerce storefront for SMB customers, with standard NET 30 payment terms.

Revenue is generated primarily through hardware sales of packaging products to enterprise F&B customers via a direct sales motion, supplemented by professional services (custom design, engineering, 3D-printed prototypes) and managed VMI services. Multiple acquired and wholly-owned divisions extend the addressable market beyond packaging into cold-chain shipping (KODIAKOOLER), insulated concrete forms (Fox Blocks), permeable paving (TRUEGRID), measuring scoops (Measurex), and reusable drinkware (Again! Cup). The company holds SQF food-safety and ISCC PLUS sustainability certifications, sells 100% recyclable products, and operates without any disclosed external institutional investors or public listing.

Name

Airlite Plastics

Legal name

Airlite Plastics Co.

Website

https://airliteplastics.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1946

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Airlite Plastics is a family-owned injection-molded plastic packaging manufacturer founded in 1946, producing over 2 billion units annually across six North American locations for consumer food and beverage brands. It offers IML containers, lids, drink cups, and adjacent sustainability-focused divisions including cold-chain, ICF, and paving products.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Plastic Packaging

NAICS

Plastics Product Manufacturing (3261), All Other Plastics Product Manufacturing (326199)

SIC

Plastics Products, Nec (3089), Miscellaneous Plastics Products (3080)

akta.pro primary industry

Packaging Injection Molding (Caps, Closures, Thin-Wall, IML) (IMANAFAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

In-Mold Labels (IML) (IMALAKAC), Consumer Products Injection Molding (Housewares, Toys, Personal Care) (IMANAFAE)

Keywords

• Injection molded packaging
• Food beverage containers
• In-mold labeling
• Plastic drink cups
• Custom packaging solutions

Headquarters

HQ city

Omaha

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Plastic Packaging Products: Manufacturing and sale of injection-molded plastic containers, lids, and drink cups. Products include IML containers, traditional round containers, custom containers, and various lid styles. Revenue generated through product sales with standard NET 30 payment terms.
2. Custom Design & Engineering Services: Custom graphics, package design, engineering, and marketing services provided to help customers create distinctive packaging. Includes 3D printing for prototypes and engineering drawings.
3. Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI): Min-max inventory management program monitoring customer inventory and automating reordering, committed to ensuring in-demand goods are in stock.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Airlite Plastics manufactures injection-molded plastic packaging including in-mold labeled (IML) containers, traditional round containers, lids, and drink cups for consumer food and beverage brands. The company offers proprietary decoration services (IML, The Look flexographic printing, dry offset printing), custom package design and engineering, and operates acquired brands in cold chain packaging, insulated concrete forms, permeable paving, and measuring scoops. It produces over 2 billion molded units annually across six North American locations.

Product overview

Airlite Plastics is a plastic packaging manufacturer offering a comprehensive portfolio of injection-molded containers and drink cups, primarily serving consumer food and beverage industries. The core product lines include nearly 50 IML (in-mold labeled) containers across eight product families (J, E, B, M, N, P, Q, U Lines), traditional round containers, custom containers, lids, and drink cups. Decoration options span three tiers: premium In-Mold Labeling (IML), mid-tier The Look flexographic hybrid printing, and economical Dry Offset printing. The company operates multiple divisions including Fox Blocks (insulated concrete forms), KODIAKOOLER (cold chain packaging), TRUEGRID (permeable paving), and Measurex (measuring scoops), all acquired through strategic acquisitions. All products are 100% recyclable, with sustainability initiatives including the reusable Again! Cup and oxygen barrier containers extending product shelf life.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Measurex Scoops: Plastic scoops for dry-mixes, protein powder, pharmaceutical use, and many other industries, out of FDA approved post-consumer plastic.
• KODIAKOTTON
• Fox Blocks
• TRUEGRID
• Again Cup
• KODIAKOOLER

Products and services

• IML Containers In-mold labeled plastic containers with vivid, scratch-resistant graphics fused during injection molding. Portfolio of nearly 50 IML containers across eight families, suitable for HPP and other pasteurization applications, targeted at food and beverage brands.
• Traditional Round Containers Versatile round plastic containers available in sizes from 2 oz to 172 oz, suitable for deli, dairy, ice cream and foodservice applications. Decorated via dry offset or The Look printing.
• Custom Containers Proprietary custom package designs developed through collaboration with clients. Features modular production lines enabling small-batch capabilities for faster, more affordable custom solutions.
• IML Lids and Lid Overcaps Premium IML lids in eleven sizes (short and long skirt) complementing IML containers. Lid overcaps fit metal or composite containers with tamper-resistant seals. Stock sizes include 211, 307, 401, 502 and 603 diameters.
• Drink Cups Reusable, hot and cold drink cups including IML Souvenir Cups, Reusable Cups, Fountain Drink Cups, Mugs, Again! Cups, Adult Beverage cups, Lemonade Cups, and Kids Cups. Available in 3.5-52oz sizes, injection molded or thermoformed.
• In-Mold Labeling (IML) Decoration Service Premium decoration service where pre-printed polypropylene labels are fused with containers during injection molding, creating vivid, scratch-resistant, seamless graphics with easy one-step recycling.
• The Look Printing Service Flexographic hybrid printing process that produces picture-quality graphics at an economical price point, positioned between standard dry-offset and premium IML decoration.
• Dry Offset Printing Service Traditional high-speed printing using eight-color process for round containers and lids. The most economical decoration option with in-house plate production.
• Again! Cup Reusable injection molded coffee cup with insulated grip, designed for in-store reusability programs. Available in 16oz and 20oz sizes, can be branded with IML and refilled repeatedly.
• Fox Blocks Insulated Concrete Forms Insulated concrete forms (ICF) manufactured from recycled post-consumer Polypropylene (PP) regrind resin for green building solutions. Expanded through 2014 acquisitions of select assets from ARXX Building Products and Reward Wall Systems.
• KODIAKOOLER Cold Chain Packaging Temperature-controlled shipping solutions including EPS foam coolers, gel ice packs, and KODIAKOTTON biodegradable insulated packaging inserts made from post-industrial cotton fibers.
• Measurex Scoops Plastic scoops for dry-mixes, protein powder, pharmaceutical use, and other industries, manufactured from FDA-approved post-consumer plastic.

Quantifiable outcome

• 2 billion+ molded units produced annually, each 100% recyclable
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature5 records

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Berry Global Group: Large-cap US injection-molded and blow-molded rigid plastic packaging manufacturer serving food, beverage, and consumer products. Directly comparable as a competing supplier of plastic containers, lids, and cups to the same enterprise customer base.
• Pactiv Evergreen: Major North American food and beverage packaging manufacturer with portfolios in cartons, containers, cups, and foodservice products. Direct competitor in drink cups, food containers, and EPS/insulated packaging that overlap with Airlite's core and KODIAKOOLER lines.
• Silgan Holdings: Leading North American manufacturer of rigid containers, closures, and dispensing solutions for food, beverage, and personal care. Direct competitor in plastic containers, lids, and overcap systems serving similar consumer brand customers.
• Plastipak Holdings: Privately held, family-owned manufacturer of injection and blow-molded rigid plastic packaging for food, beverage, and consumer products. Highly comparable on ownership structure, manufacturing process mix, and end-market focus.
• AptarGroup: Global leader in dispensing systems, closures, and consumer packaging components for food, beverage, personal care, and pharma. Direct competitor in lidding and closure systems and adjacent in custom plastic packaging solutions.
• Verstraete IML: Belgian in-mold labeling specialist and the European IML market leader, now part of Multi-Color Corporation. The most direct global competitor to Airlite's IML technology and a key reference point for IML market sizing and growth.
• TricorBraun: Large North American distributor and value-added converter of rigid packaging (plastic, glass, metal) for food, beverage, and personal care. Comparable customer base and product categories though distribution-led rather than manufacturing-led.

Broad incumbents

• Sonoco Products: Global diversified packaging manufacturer offering rigid paper, plastic, and metal containers across food, beverage, and industrial. Overlaps with Airlite in rigid plastic containers and lids but operates as a multi-substrate, multi-region incumbent.
• Sealed Air Corporation: Global food packaging and protective packaging manufacturer known for Cryovac and Bubble Wrap. Comparable in food packaging innovation and food-safety positioning, though broader portfolio and different end-market mix.
• Coveris Holdings: European-based rigid and flexible plastic packaging manufacturer serving food and consumer products globally. Overlaps with Airlite in rigid plastic containers and IML/direct-printed food packaging decoration.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/airliteplasticsco
• Xx.com/airliteplastics

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Subsidiaries7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Airlite Plastics