What Kwik Lok does

Kwik Lok Corporation is a family-owned, women-led US manufacturer of bag closure systems and related packaging equipment, founded in 1954 in Yakima, Washington by engineer Floyd Paxton. The company designs and produces metal-free bag closures (J-NRP, K-NRP, Z-NRP, R, RL, S, A, F, W, Y series), closure labels, automatic and semi-automatic closing machines, and thermal inkjet printers that operate at up to 120 closures per minute. Kwik Lok serves the bakery, produce, and specialty packaging industries with customers including Wonderful Company, Conagra, Quaker Oats, Pepperidge Farm, King's Hawaiian, Bimbo, Flowers Foods, Grimmway Farms, Stemilt, and Hansen Fruit.

The company's product platform centers on integrated closure, labeling, and traceability solutions. Its 60 patents cover closure geometries, machine design, and sustainable materials such as Enviro-Lok (34% less plastic, 44% less carbon) and Fibre-Lok (100% post-consumer natural fibers, home compostable), as well as tamper-evident technology. Kwik Lok's Scan Trace Trust solution uses 2D barcodes and GS1 standards to enable item-level traceability and FSMA-204 compliance. All six production facilities hold FSSC 22000 certification, and the company maintains memberships in multiple regional Plastics Pacts and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition to help customers meet EPR and PPWR mandates.

Kwik Lok monetizes through direct sales of consumable closures (sold in rolls with minimum order quantities from 4M to 200M units), closure labels, capital equipment, replacement parts, and service contracts, supplemented by a preventive maintenance program. The company employs 300+ people across six wholly-owned manufacturing sites in the US, Canada, Australia, Japan, and Ireland, and distributes in 100+ countries via regional sales managers. In 2025 it acquired full ownership of Kwik Lok Australia and launched the 872 Plus closing machine and an item-level traceability solution; the company is led by President and CEO Eric Hill, with third-generation co-owners Stephanie Paxton-Jackson, Kimberly Paxton-Hagner, and Melissa Steiner on the board.

Name

Kwik Lok

Legal name

Kwik Lok Corporation

Website

https://kwiklok.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1954

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

251–500 employees

Short description

Kwik Lok is a family-owned US manufacturer of metal-free bag closures, labels, and closing machines for the global bakery, produce, and specialty packaging industries, operating six factories and serving customers in 100+ countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Bag Closure Manufacturing

NAICS

Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993), Printing and Related Support Activities (323)

SIC

Special Industry Machinery (No Metalworking Machinery) (3550), Printing Trades Machinery & Equipment (3555)

akta.pro primary industry

Capping, Sealing & Closing Machines (IMAHAOAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Closure Components & Inserts (Orifices, Plugs, Gaskets, Balls) (IMALALAN), Labeling, Coding & Marking Systems (IMAHAOAE)

Keywords

• Bag closure systems
• Packaging equipment
• Closure labels
• Food packaging solutions
• Sustainable closures

Headquarters

HQ city

Yakima

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices6 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Bag Closures (Consumables): Metal-free bag closure products sold in various series (J, K, Z, R, RL, S, A, F, W, Y) with sustainable options including Enviro-Lok and Fibre-Lok. Sold in rolls with minimum order quantities ranging from 4M to 200M units depending on product type and region.
2. Closure Labels: Labels affixed to closures for branding, promotions, and traceability. Includes small, medium, and large label formats with sustainable options.
3. Closure Machines and Equipment: Automatic and semiautomatic bag closing machines including models 865B, 872 Plus, 893C, 910A, 086B, 088A, 1002F. Also includes accessories like conveyors, bag tensioners, and tamper-evident devices.
4. Parts and Service: Replacement parts, preventive maintenance programs, and technical support services. Offers discounts on parts for maintenance program participants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Kwik Lok designs, manufactures, and supplies bag closure systems, closure labels, automatic and semi-automatic closing machines, and thermal-inkjet printers for the bakery, produce, and specialty packaging industries. Its product portfolio includes metal-free NRP-style closures, sustainable Enviro-Lok and Fibre-Lok variants, and GS1-aligned traceability labels, complemented by replacement parts and preventive-maintenance services delivered through six global manufacturing facilities.

Product overview

Kwik Lok provides a comprehensive portfolio of bag closure solutions for the food packaging industry, comprising metal-free closures (available in automatic, semi-automatic, and hand-applied variants across multiple series including J-NRP, K-NRP, Z-NRP, R, RL, S, SL, A, F, W, and Y), closure labels for branding and traceability, automatic and semi-automatic closing machines (models 086B through 910A), and thermal ink jet printers. The company also offers sustainable product lines including ENVIRO-LOK (34% less plastic) and FIBRE-LOK (100% natural fiber, home compostable), along with parts, service, and a Product Finder tool for matching solutions to packaging requirements. All products serve bakery, produce, and specialty industry segments with a focus on food safety, traceability, and sustainability compliance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Enviro-Lok: Sustainable metal-free bag closure made with less plastic, using 34% less plastic than standard closures with reduced carbon emissions and water usage.
• Fibre-Lok
• ENVIRO-LOK
• FIBRE-LOK

Products and services

• Bag Closures (J-NRP, JM-NRP, K-NRP, KM-NRP, Z-NRP, R, RL, S, SL, A, F, W, Y series) Metal-free bag closures available in automatic, semi-automatic, and hand-applied variants, covering weight ratings from 5 lbs to 50 lbs, supplied in rolls to bakery, produce, and specialty packaging customers.
• Closure Labels (P-200, PFM, PM-200, PF, TF, T-220, TFM, TM-220, TFZ, CFJ, CR, L, U, U34, MS, PS, PSRC-FIBRE series) Labels attached to closures for branding, promotions, product traceability, and GS1 Sunrise 2027 / FSMA-204 compliance, available in small, medium, and large sizes including a sustainable PSRC-FIBRE fiber variant.
• Closure Machines (086B, 088A, 093C, 1002F, 865B, 893C, 872 Plus, 910A) Automatic and semi-automatic bag closing machines engineered for durability and reliability, with documented machine lifespans of up to 40 years on customer production lines.
• Printers (883, 884, 904, 905, 915, 915G) Automatic and semi-automatic printers that print barcodes, QR codes, prices, dates, traceability information, and graphics on closures at line speeds up to 120 closures per minute.
• Parts & Service Preventive maintenance programs, genuine replacement parts, and certified service technicians providing 24/7 technical support to maximize machine uptime and packaging-line efficiency.
• Enviro-Lok Sustainable Closures Sustainable metal-free bag closures made with 34% less plastic than standard closures and producing 67% less water usage and 44% less carbon emissions, designed for improved recycling potential.
• Fibre-Lok Fiber Closures Sustainable bag closures made from 100% natural fibers sourced from post-consumer waste, certified home-compostable (OK Compost HOME / TUV Austria S-3003) and recyclable depending on variant.
• Eco-Lok Japan Plant-Based Closures Sustainable bag closures for the Japanese market using 10%+ plant-based biomass materials, reducing plastic use by 10%+ compared to standard closures.
• Machine Accessories (909A Tamper-Evident Device, 092A Kwik Link, 1082 Bag Tensioner, 1083 Conveyor) Accessories sold for Kwik Lok closing machines, including the 909A tamper-evident closure device, 092A Kwik Link components, 1082 bag tensioner, and 1083 conveyor for complete packaging-line solutions.

Quantifiable outcome

• Enviro-Lok reduces plastic usage by 34%, water usage by 67%, and carbon emissions by 44% compared to standard closures
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers19 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability3 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• GS1coreTechnology or IntegrationStrategic partner for barcode standards enabling Kwik Lok's Scan Trace Trust traceability solution. Supports GS1 Sunrise 2027 requirements through 2D barcode implementation on closure labels for item-level traceability, consumer engagement, and FSMA-204 compliance.
• ANZPAC Plastics PactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Australia, New Zealand & Pacific Islands Plastics Pact, contributing to sustainable packaging initiatives and helping customers meet regional sustainability requirements.
• US Plastics PactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the US Plastics Pact, collaborating with industry stakeholders to advance sustainable packaging solutions and meet Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) mandates.
• Canada Plastics PactcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Canada Plastics Pact (CPP), supporting sustainable packaging initiatives in the Canadian market where Kwik Lok operates a manufacturing facility.
• Sustainable Packaging CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of the Sustainable Packaging Coalition (SPC), contributing to industry sustainability standards and helping customers navigate evolving packaging regulations.
• How2RecycleminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMember of How2Recycle program, providing clear recycling instructions for Kwik Lok products to help consumers properly dispose of packaging materials.
• FSSC 22000 Certification BodiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAll Kwik Lok production facilities are certified to FSSC 22000 via third-party certification bodies including SGS. Select locations also hold ISO 9001/14001 certifications.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Broad incumbents

• SIG Group: Global packaging solutions provider, primarily aseptic carton packaging, with growing interest in bag and pouch systems. Adjacent competitor in food packaging machinery with much larger scale and product breadth than Kwik Lok.
• ProMach: Large, PE-backed packaging machinery consolidator serving food, beverage, and consumer goods with filling, closing, labeling, and end-of-line solutions. Overlaps with Kwik Lok on bag closing and labeling but operates at much broader scope and scale.
• KHS GmbH: German packaging machinery specialist for beverage, food, and non-food applications, including closing and labeling systems. Compares to Kwik Lok as a European-headquartered packaging machinery incumbent with a global installed base.
• Barry-Wehmiller (BW Packaging): Global packaging machinery group including brands such as Hayssen, Flexible Packaging Systems, and Thiele Technologies. Competes with Kwik Lok on bag closing/sealing machinery and packaging line integration for food producers.
• Multivac: Leading manufacturer of packaging and processing machinery, particularly thermoformers and bag/sachet systems for food. Comparable on packaging-line integration and food-industry customer base, though with a different primary packaging format.
• Bosch Packaging Technology (Syntegon): Major global packaging machinery manufacturer offering closing, filling, and labeling systems for food and pharmaceutical customers. Overlaps with Kwik Lok on bagging/sealing equipment for bakery and produce, though serves a much broader portfolio.
• Sealed Air: Major food packaging company (Cryovac, Bubble Wrap) with food safety and traceability solutions. Overlaps with Kwik Lok on food-safety and traceability value propositions for protein, produce, and bakery customers, though at much larger scale.

Direct peers

• Bedell-Krause: Niche competitor manufacturing bag closures and clipping systems for produce, bakery, and industrial packaging. Closely aligned with Kwik Lok on bag-format closure technology and produce-industry customer base, though with a smaller global footprint.
• Tipper Tie (JBT Corporation): Tipper Tie, now part of JBT Marel, sells clip and tie closures plus automated clipping systems for food and industrial bag packaging. Directly comparable to Kwik Lok's closure-plus-machine offering across overlapping protein, bakery, and produce end markets.
• Poly-clip System: Direct competitor offering plastic and metal clip closures for bags in food, produce, and industrial applications. Closely comparable on product category (bag closures), customer base (bakery, produce, meat), and integrated machine-plus-consumables business model.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/KwikLokCorp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/kwiklokcorporation
• Instagraminstagram.com/kwiklokcorporation
• Xx.com/KwikLokCorp

Compliance10 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries4 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 Kwik Lok