What Packaging Design Corporation does

Packaging Design Corporation is a privately held, family-owned custom corrugated packaging manufacturer founded in 1968 and headquartered at 101 Shore Drive in Burr Ridge, Illinois, outside Chicago. The company operates as a single-source provider combining in-house design services with manufacturing, producing custom branded packaging across four core product categories: point-of-purchase displays (counter, floor, pallet, powerwing, standees, sales kits), subscription and e-commerce packaging, branded retail and specialty packaging, and custom branded industrial packaging. Supporting these are modular add-ons including custom cardboard boxes, gravity feed product displays, and corrugated inserts that substitute for plastic void fill.

Manufacturing is carried out on an in-house equipment base that includes the APSTAR rotary die cutter (4-color, 63x110 max blank), EMBA flexo folder gluer, Automatan label laminator, Marumatsu flat bed die cutter, Curioni 2-color press with slitter scorer and stitcher, and a recently acquired Kongsberg CAD cutting table. High-fidelity lithographic labels are produced in partnership with Philipp Lithographing Company and finished via Chicago Laminating Inc., then mounted in-house onto corrugated substrates. This equipment stack supports both flexographic (1-4 color) and full lithographic label printing across multiple corrugated flute types (E, B, C, BC double-wall).

The company generates revenue through project-based custom orders priced via quote, with pricing varying by material, print method, order volume, and customization complexity. Go-to-market is sales-led and direct: phone outreach, online quote request forms segmented by packaging category, and email inquiries, with no intermediary or marketplace channels. Target customer segments are subscription box companies, CPG brands, e-commerce brands, industrial/manufacturing companies, and specialty/artisan brands. Pricing is not publicly disclosed, and the company positions itself as a cost-effective alternative to larger packaging converters. No external funding, acquisitions, or executive changes beyond the original 1968 founding are evidenced; the two named founders, Howard Jones and Steve Vanclay, remain associated with the business.

Name

Packaging Design Corporation

Legal name

Packaging Design Corporation

Website

https://pack-design.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1968

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Packaging Design Corporation is a family-owned, Illinois-based custom corrugated packaging manufacturer founded in 1968, producing point-of-purchase displays, subscription e-commerce packaging, retail/specialty packaging, and industrial packaging for enterprise CPG, subscription, and DTC brand customers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Custom Corrugated Packaging Manufacturing

NAICS

Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing (322219), Industrial Design Services (541420)

SIC

Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650)

akta.pro primary industry

Corrugated Packaging (Boxes, Sheets, Pads) (IMALACAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Packaging & Product Brand Design (BPAFAEAG), Specialty Paper Packaging (Gift Boxes, Luxury Cartons, Composite Paper Cans) (IMALACAI)

Keywords

• Custom corrugated packaging
• Point of purchase displays
• E-commerce subscription packaging
• Branded retail packaging
• Industrial shipping boxes

Headquarters

HQ city

Illinois City

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Custom Corrugated Packaging Manufacturing: Design and manufacture of custom corrugated boxes, mailers, and shipping containers. Revenue generated through project-based orders where customers specify dimensions, materials, print graphics, and quantities. Pricing varies by box specifications, print complexity, and order volume.
2. Point of Purchase Display Manufacturing: Production of custom branded point of purchase displays including counter displays, floor displays, pallet displays, powerwings, and standees. Sold as custom projects with pricing based on display type, size, graphics, and quantity.
3. E-Commerce Subscription Packaging: Custom packaging solutions for subscription box companies and e-commerce brands. Ongoing relationships with subscription businesses requiring recurring packaging orders, providing potential for recurring revenue from established clients.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Packaging Design Corporation designs and manufactures custom corrugated branded packaging and point of purchase displays for businesses. Core offerings include custom branded point of purchase displays, e-commerce subscription packaging, branded retail and specialty packaging, and custom branded industrial packaging. Each project is produced to customer specifications covering materials, dimensions, print graphics, and quantities, with in-house design, flexographic and lithographic printing, die cutting, and finishing.

Product overview

Packaging Design Corporation is a single-source provider of custom product packaging and display solutions, founded in 1968. The company operates as a unified offering combining design services with manufacturing capabilities. The core product portfolio consists of four main categories: Custom Branded Point of Purchase Displays (including counter displays, floor displays, pallet displays, powerwings, sales kits, and standees), Subscription E-Commerce Packaging, Branded Retail and Specialty Packaging, and Custom Branded Industrial Packaging. Supporting these are specialized add-on modules including custom cardboard boxes, ecommerce packaging solutions, gravity feed product displays, and corrugated inserts. The company provides complete in-house design and manufacturing services with advanced machinery including APSTAR Rotary Die Cutter, EMBA Flexo Folder Gluer, Automatan Label Laminator, Marumatsu Flat Bed Die Cutter, and Curioni Press, serving clients across the Chicago area, Midwest, and nationwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Custom Branded Point of Purchase Displays Custom designed displays that help products stand out in retail environments, including counter displays, floor displays, pallet displays, powerwings, sales kits, and standees. Built for enterprise and CPG brands to capture shopper attention and drive impulse purchases in retail locations.
• Subscription E-Commerce Packaging Custom branded boxes designed for subscription box services and e-commerce shipments, featuring unique designs to enhance the unboxing experience and reinforce brand identity. Targeted at subscription box operators and direct-to-consumer brands needing recurring packaging.
• Branded Retail and Specialty Packaging Custom retail packaging designed to be informative, eye-catching, protective, and relevant to both the product and consumer, helping products stand out on store shelves. Built for boutique, artisan, and specialty brands.
• Custom Branded Industrial Packaging Custom boxes for shipping and storage that display company branding, logo, and brand identity while protecting products during transit. Used by industrial and manufacturing customers for supply chain operations.
• Custom Cardboard Boxes Versatile custom cardboard boxes for various applications including electronics, food products, glassware, medical equipment, parts, machinery, stationery, and specialty items. Sold to businesses across multiple industries.
• Ecommerce Packaging Custom e-commerce packaging solutions designed to communicate brand identity and provide an interactive customer experience during online shopping shipments. Targeted at online retailers and direct-to-consumer brands.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rightsizing packaging can reduce package size by up to 40%, translating to less warehouse space, lower shipping costs, and more efficient packaging supply chain

Named customers20 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature7 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered minor, core and supporting.

• SUBTA (Subscription Trade Association)minorOthersPackaging Design Corporation is affiliated with SUBTA (Subscription Trade Association), a trade organization serving the subscription box industry. The company displays SUBTA's logo on their website footer, indicating membership or association with the organization.
• AICC (The Independent Packaging Association)minorOthersPackaging Design Corporation maintains membership affiliation with AICC, The Independent Packaging Association. The company's logo appears on the AICC member page, indicating active participation in the packaging industry association.
• Fibre Box AssociationminorOthersPackaging Design Corporation is affiliated with the Fibre Box Association, an industry organization for corrugated packaging manufacturers. Company logo appears on FBA member listings.
• Philipp Lithographing CompanycoreTechnology or IntegrationPhilipp Lithographing Company (philipplitho.com) is a lithography partner that produces high-quality lithographic labels for packaging applications. The company produces labels using four-color offset printing (CMYK process) with aqueous, UV, and film lamination finishes. Labels are then shipped to Packaging Design for mounting onto corrugated materials.
• Chicago Laminating Inc.supportingTechnology or IntegrationChicago Laminating Inc. (chicagolam.com) provides film lamination services for lithographic labels. Performs high-heat, high-pressure lamination process to adhere durable film to litho labels, providing scuff resistance and eliminating label cracking, particularly for dark colored labels. Offers gloss, soft touch matte, and specialty finishes including embossed linen and fine leather patterns.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• PakFactory: Custom packaging manufacturer offering branded boxes, mailers, and subscription packaging for e-commerce and DTC brands. Highly comparable to PDC in product scope, target customer (subscription/DTC), and design-to-manufacturing service model.
• The BoxMaker: Custom corrugated packaging and POP display manufacturer serving retail, CPG, and e-commerce customers. Closely comparable to PDC in custom boxes, displays, and structural design capabilities.
• Bay Cities Container & Display: Custom packaging and point-of-purchase display manufacturer combining design services with corrugated production. Directly comparable on product mix (custom boxes, POP displays, retail packaging) and target enterprise customers.
• Zenpack: Custom packaging and display company focused on premium unboxing experiences for DTC, beauty, and lifestyle brands. Comparable to PDC on subscription/e-commerce packaging design quality and brand-forward positioning.
• Great Little Box Company: Custom corrugated boxes, POP displays, and printed packaging producer serving North American CPG, food, and retail customers. Comparable to PDC on product line (custom boxes, displays) and enterprise customer mix.

Broad incumbents

• Smurfit Westrock: Global paper and packaging conglomerate formed from the WestRock-Smurfit Kappa merger, integrating paper mills with corrugated converting at massive scale. Operates broadly across the same product categories as PDC but competes on volume and price for large national accounts.
• Pactiv Evergreen: Major North American manufacturer of food service, beverage, and consumer packaging with paper and converting operations. Overlaps with PDC on branded food and beverage packaging customers (e.g., restaurant/takeout boxes, dairy and beverage clients).
• Packaging Corporation of America: Large integrated US corrugated packaging producer with containerboard mills and converting plants nationwide. Comparable substrate and end markets as PDC, but at significantly greater scale and capacity.
• International Paper: One of the world's largest pulp, paper, and packaging companies with global corrugated converting capacity. Operates across the same value chain as PDC but with integrated mills, international footprint, and enterprise-scale customer programs.
• ProAmpac: Global flexible and rigid packaging manufacturer serving food, beverage, retail, and e-commerce customers. Comparable to PDC on branded retail and e-commerce packaging but operates at significantly larger scale and with broader material capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PackDesignCorp
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCmZi6eGTrIcCL6w9yF8m61Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/packagingdesigncorp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/packaging-design-corporation/?trk=tyah

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 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 Packaging Design Corporation