Paper Systems

What Paper Systems does

Paper Systems, Inc. is a privately held manufacturer of liquid intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) founded in 1990 and headquartered in Des Moines, Iowa. The company designs, manufactures, and ships disposable and returnable liquid bulk packaging systems for non-hazardous liquids, built around a corrugated cardboard exterior with a multi-layer food-grade polyethylene blend liner inside. Its product portfolio includes the EZ-SET disposable tote (featuring proprietary 'POP OPEN – STAY OPEN' assembly technology), the EZ-BULK and EZ-BULK 48x40 disposable container lines, the EXO-BIN returnable liquid bin, the patented EZ-VALVE disposable valve, EZ-DRAIN residue-minimizing totes, replacement bulk liners, and accessories such as fill fixtures and pallet sheets. Products are made in the United States, can be shipped knocked-down flat for freight efficiency, and are certified GFSI/BRC 'A', IMS Dairy, Kosher, ISTA, NMFC, and ISPM-15.

The company serves industrial customers across seven primary verticals — dairy, beverage/wine, specialty chemicals/coatings, cosmetics, lubricants, edible oils, and liquid foodstuffs — both domestically and internationally. It sells direct via a sales-led motion: toll-free phone, international phone line, and website contact form, with quote-based custom pricing. Revenue streams include one-time sales of liquid bulk containers, hardware sales of accessories and replacement liners, and professional services for custom packaging solutions. The company's value proposition is anchored on cost reduction (guaranteed up to 43% savings vs. competitors, up to 75% over conventional containers), logistics efficiency (up to 90% less empty warehouse space, 200 units per truckload, elimination of return freight), and food-safety / sustainability credentials (BRCGS 'A' rating, FDA-approved resins, SFI-certified corrugated sourcing, wind/solar energy use).

Operationally, Paper Systems runs with 11–50 employees from a single Des Moines facility. The company is independently owned with no parent, no subsidiaries, and no institutional funding rounds disclosed. It holds multiple patents and trademarks (EZ-VALVE, POP OPEN–STAY OPEN, EXO-BIN), is GFSI/BRC certified since fall 2015, and has been manufacturing EZ-BULK products for over 30 years. Distribution is direct to enterprise industrial buyers; no third-party channel partners, marketplace listings, or digital commerce surface are indicated. There is no disclosed AI, software, or data product; the offering is exclusively physical industrial packaging.

Name

Paper Systems

Legal name

Paper Systems, Inc.

Website

https://paper-systems.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1990

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Paper Systems is a Des Moines-based manufacturer of liquid intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) — corrugated cardboard with polyethylene liner construction — serving industrial customers in dairy, beverage, cosmetics, specialty chemicals, lubricants, and edible oils with disposable and returnable container solutions.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Industrial Liquid Bulk Packaging

NAICS

Corrugated and Solid Fiber Box Manufacturing (322211), Other Paperboard Container Manufacturing (322219), Plastics Bag and Pouch Manufacturing (326111)

SIC

Paperboard Containers & Boxes (2650), Metal Shipping Barrels, Drums, Kegs & Pails (3412)

akta.pro primary industry

Rigid IBCs (Plastic/Composite, Caged IBCs) (IMALAGAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Bulk Liners & Container Liners (Dry Bulk Liners) (IMALAGAE), IBC Accessories & Components (Valves, Caps, Pallets, Liners) (IMALAGAF), Tertiary/Transit Packaging for Food & Beverage (IMALAHAC), Aseptic & Liquid Flexible Packaging (Bag-in-Box, Spouted Liquid Packs) (IMALABAI)

Keywords

• Liquid bulk containers
• Intermediate bulk containers
• Industrial packaging solutions
• Disposable liquid totes
• Corrugated IBC totes

Headquarters

HQ city

Des Moines

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Liquid Bulk Container Sales: Sale of disposable and returnable liquid intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) including EZ-BULK, EZ-SET, EXO-BIN product lines. Products are sold as one-time purchases with recyclable/disposable design eliminating return freight costs.
2. Liquid Tote Container Accessories: Sale of accessories including fill fixtures, valves, and other components for liquid tote container systems
3. Bulk Liquid Liners: Replacement food-grade plastic tote liners for all standard liquid bulk containers
4. Custom Packaging Solutions: Tailored packaging solutions designed for unique customer applications and requirements

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Paper Systems manufactures and sells liquid intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) — both disposable and returnable — using a corrugated cardboard exterior with food-grade polyethylene bag liners inside. The company serves industrial users shipping non-hazardous bulk liquids across food-grade, aseptic, and viscous material applications, with companion accessories such as valves, fill fixtures, replacement liners, and pallet sheets.

Product overview

Paper Systems is a manufacturer of liquid bulk packaging solutions offering a comprehensive portfolio of intermediate bulk containers (IBCs) and accessories. The core product lines include EZ-SET (disposable tote with pop-open technology), EZ-BULK (cost-saving disposable container), EZ-BULK 48x40 (pallet-optimized version), and EXO-BIN (returnable bin). Supporting products include BULK LINERS (food-grade plastic tote liners), LIQUID TOTE CONTAINER ACCESSORIES (fill fixtures and valves), EZ-VALVE (patented disposable valve), EZ-DRAIN (residue-minimizing tote), and PALLET SHEETS (pallet barrier protection). The company specializes in corrugated cardboard liquid containers with polyethylene bag liners for non-hazardous liquids across food, beverage, chemical, cosmetics, and industrial applications.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• EZ-BULK: Disposable, bulk container packaging system that provides cost savings up to 43% compared to rigid containers.
• EZ-SET
• EZ-BULK 48x40
• EXO-BIN
• EZ-VALVE
• EZ-DRAIN

Products and services

• EZ-SET Disposable liquid intermediate bulk container (IBC) with proprietary POP OPEN-STAY OPEN technology enabling one-person, one-minute assembly. Designed for non-hazardous bulk liquid transport and storage.
• EZ-BULK Disposable liquid bulk container packaging system that delivers up to 43% cost savings over competitors, uses fewer raw materials, arrives flat to minimize warehouse space, and is recyclable to eliminate return freight costs.
• EZ-BULK 48x40 Disposable liquid bulk container that combines all the benefits of the EZ-BULK series on a standard 48x40 pallet footprint for optimized warehouse and logistics handling.
• EXO-BIN Returnable/reusable intermediate bulk container for liquids or dry products, designed for customers who prefer a returnable option over disposable totes.
• Bulk Liners High-quality, low-cost replacement food-grade plastic tote liners compatible with all standard liquid bulk container applications, manufactured from FDA-approved resins and films with IMS dairy and Kosher certifications.
• EZ-VALVE Patented built-in disposable valve for intermediate bulk containers that facilitates easy drainage and complete product evacuation.
• EZ-DRAIN Disposable liquid tote designed to minimize residue left inside drums or liquid bulk packaging, improving product evacuation.
• Liquid Tote Container Accessories Range of accessories including fill fixtures and valves that adapt customer systems to accommodate EZ-BULK and other liquid tote containers.
• Pallet Sheets Pallet sheets for use on all wooden pallets that serve as a hygienic barrier between the pallet and the container, improving cleanliness and protection.

Quantifiable outcome

• Cost savings up to 43% guaranteed vs competitors
• +11 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

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

One partnership is on record.

• Mid-American EnergyminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPaper Systems sources electrical needs from Mid-American Energy, utilizing readily available wind energy which is abundantly available in Iowa, making efforts to move away from fossil fuels for electrical needs.

Scale indicators13 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Mondi Group: Large-scale European integrated paper and flexible packaging producer with corrugated and bulk packaging lines serving liquid and food-grade customers, comparable on container format and customer base.
• International Paper: Major global containerboard and corrugated packaging producer, providing the upstream corrugated raw material Paper Systems converts into EZ-BULK totes; potential vertical/commercial competitor in finished rigid IBC formats.
• Mauser Packaging Solutions: One of the largest global manufacturers of rigid IBCs (Mauser/Schutz product lines), steel drums, and reconditioned bulk containers serving chemical, food, and industrial customers — direct competitor in liquid IBC and reusable container formats.
• Smurfit Kappa Group: Global corrugated and paper-based packaging producer with significant reach in paperboard container manufacturing, adjacent to Paper Systems' corrugated-IBC format on the substrate side.
• Berry Global (Amcor): Large flexible and rigid plastic packaging manufacturer with IBC and bulk container product lines serving industrial and food customers, comparable as a broad-format packaging incumbent.
• Greif Inc. Global industrial packaging leader producing steel drums, rigid IBCs (including the now-acquired Container Systems Inc.), and intermediate bulk packaging; competes with Paper Systems across liquid-bulk industrial customers.

Direct peers

• Schütz Container Systems: Major manufacturer of rigid plastic IBCs (Ecobulk line) and IBC accessories globally; the most direct direct-comparison to Paper Systems in industrial liquid bulk packaging with a broader product portfolio.
• Tri-Sure (Greif): Closures, valves, and fittings specialist for industrial drums and IBCs — competes directly with Paper Systems' patented EZ-VALVE accessory line in the IBC components market.
• BCN Technical Services / CDF Corporation: Manufacturer of bag-in-box flexible liquid containers, IBC liners, and pouches for food, beverage, and industrial liquid customers — overlaps with Paper Systems' bag-in-box style and BULK LINERS offerings.

Emerging players

• StePac L.A. Specialized manufacturer of bulk liquid packaging films and modified-atmosphere liners for fresh produce and food applications — overlapping end markets with Paper Systems' food-grade and aseptic liner business.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/paper-systems-inc-

Compliance7 records

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 Paper Systems