What Practical Packaging Solutions does

Practical Packaging Solutions, Inc. is a privately held industrial packaging distributor and solutions provider headquartered in Glendale Heights, Illinois (also referenced under Elk Grove Village, IL at the same 544 Windy Point Dr. address), founded in 2003 and operating with 1-10 employees. The company's core offering is multi-vendor distribution of packaging machinery — bagging systems (Autobag / Sealed Air), shrink wrappers (ARPAC, Smipack, Seal-A-Tron, Belco, Texwrap), stretch wrappers and palletizers (Orion, TopTier), strapping (Signode), case erectors/sealers and case packers (Combi, Wexxar/Belcor, 3M-Matic), label applicators, marking and coding systems (Markem-Imaje fiber laser, thermal transfer, and continuous inkjet), liquid filling (AiCROV), and custom integrated systems with conveyors and power film unwind. This machinery portfolio is paired with a packaging materials/consumables line that includes shrink and stretch films, Autobag bags-on-a-roll, 3M and Cantech tapes, AirPouch void fill, corrugated boxes, and thermal transfer ribbons, creating recurring revenue tied to installed equipment.

The company's revenue model combines hardware resale (machinery and consumables sourced from 15+ OEMs), professional services (custom design, CAD layout, installation, startup training, and field service), and value-added consumables inventory management for installed customers. All pricing is quote-based, driven through a website RFQ form and a consultative field sales process that includes plant walk-throughs, ROI buildouts, and proposed line layouts targeting mid-market and enterprise manufacturers in food & beverage, pharmaceutical and medical, industrial manufacturing and automotive, cosmetics and personal care, warehousing and logistics, and e-commerce fulfillment. The primary verticals are food & beverage and pharmaceutical, with FDA 21 CFR Part 11-compliant shrink films, USDA-compliant films, and ISO 9001-certified consumables supporting regulatory-driven sales. The company is founder-managed with no disclosed parent, no public listing, no funding rounds, no M&A activity, and no patents or trademarks identified.

Name

Practical Packaging Solutions

Legal name

Practical Packaging Solutions, Inc.

Website

https://practicalpackaging.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Practical Packaging Solutions is a privately held industrial packaging distributor and system integrator based in Glendale Heights, Illinois, reselling machinery and consumables from 15+ OEMs including Autobag, Markem-Imaje, ARPAC, and Combi, complemented by custom line design, installation, and field service for mid-market and enterprise manufacturers across food & beverage, pharmaceutical, industrial, and e-commerce sectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Packaging Machinery Distribution

NAICS

Packaging Machinery Manufacturing (333993), Packaging and Labeling Services (56191)

SIC

Wholesale-Machinery, Equipment & Supplies (5080), Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650)

akta.pro primary industry

End-of-Line Integration & Packaging Line Systems (IMAHAOAN)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bagging, Pouching & Sachet Packaging Equipment (IMAHAOAH), Bundling, Overwrapping & Shrink Packaging Equipment (IMALAOAI), Conveying, Feeding & Material Handling for Packaging Lines (IMALAOAG), Custom Engineered Transit Packaging & Packaging Design Services (IMALAFAM)

Keywords

• Industrial packaging machinery
• Packaging materials distribution
• Packaging line automation
• Marking and coding systems
• Packaging design services

Headquarters

HQ city

Glendale Heights

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Packaging Machinery Distribution & Sales: Revenue generated from the sale of industrial packaging machinery sourced from manufacturer partners including Autobag, ARPAC, Orion, Smipack, Markem-Imaje, Combi, TopTier, Wexxar/Belcor, and others. Products include bagging systems, shrink wrappers, stretch wrappers, case erectors/sealers, label applicators, printing/coding systems, palletizers, and liquid filling machines. Sales are consultative with custom quoting and configuration.
2. Packaging Materials & Consumables: Sale of shrink films, stretch films, poly bags, corrugated boxes, tapes, void fill bags/cushioning products, and thermal transfer ribbons. Materials are sourced from manufacturers including Bollore, Syfan, Pregis, AirPouch, Crayex, 3M, and Cantech. Consumables provide recurring revenue tied to machinery usage.
3. Installation, Startup Training & Field Service: On-site support services including equipment installation, startup training, line automation design, and post-installation maintenance and service. Value-added services include in-house parts inventory and consumables inventory management for ongoing customer support.
4. Custom Design & Consultation: Custom packaging solutions and consultation services, including corrugated packaging design, custom packaging development, and value-added services. Cold chain packaging solutions are offered for temperature-sensitive product applications across food, pharmaceutical, and industrial sectors.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Practical Packaging Solutions distributes industrial packaging machinery (bagging, shrink wrapping, stretch wrapping, case handling, labeling, marking/coding, palletizing, liquid filling) and packaging materials (shrink films, stretch films, bags, tapes, void fill, corrugated boxes, thermal transfer ribbons) sourced from leading manufacturers. The company pairs equipment distribution with in-house custom system integration, line layout design, installation, startup training, and ongoing field service to deliver integrated packaging line solutions.

Product overview

Practical Packaging Solutions is a distributor and solution provider of packaging machinery, materials, and services. Their product portfolio centers on a comprehensive range of automated packaging equipment organized into core machinery categories (bagging, shrink, stretch wrapping, void fill, strapping, cushioning, case handling, labeling, printing/marking, vibratory counting, custom integration, case packing, hand packing, liquid filling, and cold chain systems) complemented by packaging materials (shrink films, stretch films, bags, tapes, void fill products, corrugated boxes, and thermal transfer ribbons). The company pairs equipment distribution with design consultation, installation, training, and field service to deliver integrated packaging line solutions across food & beverage, pharmaceutical, e-commerce, logistics, and industrial manufacturing sectors.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Packaging Line Automation Systems Comprehensive packaging line automation solutions including consultative sales, line layout design, installation, startup training, and service for automated packaging operations across food & beverage, pharmaceutical, industrial, and e-commerce manufacturers.
• Bagging Systems Automated and semi-automated bagging machines including Autobag, FAS SPrint Revolution, and PaceSetter systems for mail order fulfillment, food processing, pharmaceutical, e-commerce, and automotive applications.
• Shrink Packaging Systems Shrink wrapping machines ranging from table-top manual to high-speed fully automatic, including L-sealers, side seal wrappers, tray shrink wrappers, inline bundlers, and shrink tunnels from manufacturers like Smipack, ARPAC, BELCO, and Seal-A-Tron.
• Vibratory Counters and Linear Weigh Scales Autobag Accu-Count 200 vibratory bowl feed and count system capable of counting and batching at speeds up to 2,500 packages per hour, and Accu-Scale 220 semi-automatic weigh-counting system capable of detecting product as light as 1/10 of a gram, for high-accuracy counting and batching operations.
• Industrial Marking and Coding Systems Industrial marking and coding equipment including SmartLase F250 fiber laser coders, SmartDate thermal transfer coders and ribbons, and Markem-Imaje continuous inkjet printers (9750, 9029, 9450 models) for product identification, traceability, and code compliance.
• Liquid Filling Machines AiCROV automated liquid filling machines for bottles, cans, pails, and drums with dual-flow precision control, easy-to-clean stainless steel components, and ATEX/explosion-proof options for filling liquid and viscous products.
• Custom Integrated Systems Custom conveyor systems, power film unwind systems, and drop-lug indexing conveyors from SEAL-A-TRON for integrating packaging lines, with in-house CAD design capabilities for bespoke configurations tailored to specific customer facilities and production requirements.
• Cold Chain Packaging Insulated shipping boxes and containers for temperature-sensitive products including food and pharmaceutical applications.
• Custom Packaging Solutions Custom design and consultation services incorporating corrugated packaging, value-added services, and specialty products for cold chain, food & beverage, and industrial applications.
• On-Site Support Services On-site equipment installation, startup training, line automation design, and post-installation maintenance and field service, including in-house parts inventory and consumables inventory management for ongoing customer support.
• Shrink Films Polyolefin shrink films including Bollore, SYTEC MVP, SYTEC 701, SYTEC 307S, Vanguard series (100, 301, 345, 501, CCL, CXV, CLF), with FDA-compliant options for direct food contact packaging.
• Stretch Films Machine and hand stretch films including Revolution high-performance machine wrap, Fortitude hand-wrap, and Steelflex Xtreme with puncture resistance.
• Corrugated Boxes Stock corrugated boxes in various sizes (4-58 inches) constructed from 200#/ECT-32-C fluted kraft corrugated, 100% recyclable, available in over 1,500 sizes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Automated bagging systems can achieve speeds up to 120 bags per minute in continuous mode, compared to manual bagging processes
• +4 more outcomes

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Eleven partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Markem-ImajecoreTechnology or IntegrationPractical Packaging Solutions partners with Markem-Imaje, a global manufacturer of high-performance marking and coding systems for product identification, traceability, and code compliance. The company distributes Markem-Imaje's SmartLase F250 fiber laser coders, SmartDate thermal transfer coders, SmartDate X Series printheads and ribbons, and the Markem-Imaje 9750 continuous inkjet printer. Markem-Imaje's state-of-the-art machines are described as user-friendly, low-maintenance, and producing reliably high-quality markings.
• Autobag (Automated Packaging Systems / Sealed Air)coreTechnology or IntegrationPractical Packaging Solutions is a premier distributor of Autobag bagging systems, bags-on-a-roll, and AirPouch void-fill products. Autobag is a product of Automated Packaging Systems (an Sealed Air company). The company offers the full range of Autobag bagging equipment including the AB 145, AB 180, AB 255, 500, 550, 850S, PaceSetter PS 125, and PaceSetter HB-series tabletop baggers, along with PI 412c thermal transfer imprinters and genuine Autobag pre-opened bags-on-a-roll.
• AiCROVcoreTechnology or IntegrationPractical Packaging Solutions partners with AiCROV to offer advanced, high-performance industrial liquid filling machine technology. AiCROV's automated systems are engineered for safety, accuracy, and adaptability in demanding production environments, featuring dual-flow precision control, easy-to-clean stainless steel components, and ATEX/explosion-proof options for filling liquid and viscous products into canisters, jerrycans, pails, and drums.
• ARPACmajorTechnology or IntegrationPractical Packaging Solutions distributes ARPAC shrink packaging equipment including the TS37 Side Seal Horizontal Shrink Wrapper, Vision Series Shrink Tunnels, 25TW Tray Shrink Wrapper, and the 105/112/115/125 Inline Shrink Bundlers. ARPAC products are described as providing versatile, high-quality shrink wrapping solutions for a range of products from pharmaceuticals to consumer goods.
• Orion (Packaging Machinery)majorTechnology or IntegrationPractical Packaging Solutions distributes Orion packaging machinery including the Sentry Low Profile (LP) and High Profile (HP) Semi-Automatic Stretch Wrappers and Orion Fully Automatic Turntable Pallet Wrapping Systems. Orion equipment is positioned as high-performance stretch wrapping solutions for streamlining final packaging processes.
• CombimajorTechnology or IntegrationPractical Packaging Solutions distributes Combi packaging equipment including the Alphapack Compact Pick & Place Packer, DPI Drop Packer, 2-EZ case erectors and case sealers, and Ergopack ergonomic workcell systems. Combi equipment is known for integrated case erection with packing functionality and soft drop technology for product protection.
• TopTiermajorTechnology or IntegrationPractical Packaging Solutions distributes TopTier palletizers including high-infeed and low-infeed models for end-of-line packaging operations in the food and consumer goods industries. TopTier palletizers can be installed as single units or integrated into existing material handling processes to enhance efficiency and productivity.
• SmipackmajorTechnology or IntegrationPractical Packaging Solutions distributes Smipack shrink packaging equipment including manual/semi-automatic L-sealing equipment (up to 800 packs/hour) and automatic L-sealing equipment (up to 1,800 packs per hour). Smipack products serve as accessible entry points into shrink packaging automation.
• SignodemajorTechnology or IntegrationPractical Packaging Solutions distributes Signode strapping equipment including the MH-VM Side Seal Plastic Strapping Machine that combines Signode's quick-change modules with high-speed, reliable operation to maximize productivity and throughput. Signode strapping machines are offered in 69 different chute sizes with hot knife sealing or friction-weld technology options.
• Pregis / AirPouch (Automated Packaging Systems)majorTechnology or IntegrationPractical Packaging Solutions distributes Pregis protective packaging and AirPouch void-fill products including the AirPouch Express 3 DuraClear 2000 system, FastWrap protective packaging, EarthAware biodegradable and recycled air pillows, and Astro-Bubble Green protective bubble cushioning. Products feature EZ-Tear perforations and patent-pending designs.
• Automated Packaging Systems (AirPouch manufacturer)majorTechnology or IntegrationAutomated Packaging Systems is the originator and sole manufacturer of genuine Autobag bags-on-a-roll and AirPouch void-fill air pillows. US plastics manufacturing processes are ISO 9001:2008 certified. Multiple manufacturing facilities in the US and Europe provide the largest plastic bag manufacturing capacity, with over 100 million stock bags maintained.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• ProMach: ProMach is a large US packaging machinery solutions provider offering integrated packaging lines across case packing, palletizing, labeling, shrink wrapping, and material handling — directly comparable to Practical Packaging Solutions' integrated line automation value proposition, though at substantially greater scale.
• Delkor Systems: Delkor Systems designs and manufactures case packing and shrink wrapping equipment and integrates it into retail-ready packaging lines, making it a directly comparable competitor in the case-packing and shrink-wrapping categories Practical Packaging Solutions distributes.
• Douglas Machine: Douglas Machine specializes in secondary packaging machinery — case packing, tray packing, and shrink wrapping — making it a direct competitor in the same packaging-equipment categories Practical Packaging Solutions sells and integrates.
• Kliklok-Woodman: Kliklok-Woodman manufactures cartoning, case packing, and end-of-line packaging equipment — directly comparable to the bagging, case packing, and integrated packaging line solutions Practical Packaging Solutions offers through its distribution relationships.
• EAM-Mosca: EAM-Mosca designs and manufactures strapping systems and integrated end-of-line packaging equipment — directly comparable to the Signode strapping lines and end-of-line packaging solutions Practical Packaging Solutions distributes.

Broad incumbents

• Barry-Wehmiller (BW Packaging): BW Packaging Systems aggregates multiple packaging machinery brands (including R.A. Jones, Clybourn, Thiele, Pneumatic Scale Angelus) covering filling, cartoning, case packing, and end-of-line — overlapping with Practical Packaging Solutions' machinery categories but serving customers through owned brands rather than distribution.
• Sonoco Products: Sonoco is a global diversified packaging manufacturer and solutions provider with rigid paper containers, protective packaging, and packaging services — a broad incumbent that competes at the materials level (corrugated boxes, films) that Practical Packaging Solutions distributes.

Emerging players

• Allpax Products (ProMach): Allpax specializes in retort and sterilization packaging machinery for food and pharmaceutical applications — overlapping with Practical Packaging Solutions' food & beverage and pharmaceutical segments but with a more focused product line.

Others

• Sealed Air (Automated Packaging Systems / Autobag): Sealed Air owns Autobag and Automated Packaging Systems, whose bagging systems, bags-on-a-roll, and AirPouch void fill form a core product line for Practical Packaging Solutions. As a principal supplier, Sealed Air is an ecosystem partner whose go-to-market choices directly shape Practical Packaging's economics.
• Markem-Imaje: Markem-Imaje manufactures the SmartLase, SmartDate, and 9750 industrial marking and coding equipment that Practical Packaging Solutions distributes. As a core OEM partner, Markem-Imaje's channel and direct-sales decisions directly affect Practical Packaging's relevance in regulated marking applications.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

Compliance4 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Practical Packaging Solutions