1. Packaging Unlimited Named
Industry of the Year
CUTTING EDGE TECHNOLOGY
Packaging Unlimited is located at
261 Broadway Ave.
County Judge Executive
Jim Henderson presents General Manager
Jeff Holman with Industry of the Year Award.
Packaging Unlimited Employees
have established a long list of sales
and operational records within the
plant. The people are the business
for Packaging Unlimited.
Packaging Unlimited produces
packaging that protects shipments
from every industry. Things from
automotive components, moon pies
and pool tables are all covered with
corrugated packaging.
P
ackaging Unlimited was named
Industry of the Year by the
Franklin-Simpson Industrial
Authority Tuesday, December 8, 2015
at the organization’s annual awards
luncheon held at Kentucky Downs.
Packaging Unlimited manufactures
a wide range of industrial packaging,
including standard brown corrugated
boxes, boxes that are lined with
partitions, foam or wood and high-end
display packaging.
Packaging Unlimited started
out in 1975 with 20,000 square feet of
rented space and two paying customers.
They have now grown to over 1.7 million
square feet of office, manufacturing,
contract packaging and warehouse space
in five cities in Kentucky and North
Carolina.
Packaging Unlimited began
operating in 1997. Two years later,
Simpson County Judge Executive Jim
Henderson was elected into office.
Henderson has watched the business
grow over the past two decades. “It’s
been a pleasure to watch the business
development of Packaging Unlimited
over these past 18 years. They’ve
demonstrated what it takes to be
successful in the very competitive
packaging market. I’m proud of Jeff’s
commitment to this venture in our
community. He & Packaging Unlimited
have created economic opportunity for
our citizens and region, while being
innovative in finding new and efficient
ways to grow their business. They are a
true example of the best of the American
free enterprise system and I’m glad
to have them as a part of the Simpson
County community,” Henderson said.
Franklin houses 173,000 sq. ft.
at their location on Broadway Ave. The
Franklin location opened their doors
in 1997. Recent capital improvements
at the Franklin plant include four new
machine centers at a cost of well over two
million dollars. It now employs over 50
employees, including four full-time route
dedicated employees that work for it’s
own fleet line.
Owning their own fleet line is one
of the many things that separates them
from the competition. Other companies
sub-contract their transportation needs,
whereas Packaging Unlimited operates its
own McClosky Trucking Organization.
The Franklin team just added their
fourth full-time driver to their Franklin
fleet line. This allows for one-on-one
personal contact with clients that would
not otherwise be possible. It also allows
for turn-on-a-dime flexibility with routes
to allow individualized service.
The packaging industry was hit
hard by the recession, and nationally
performance was negatively affected
in 2009. Industry wide, growth has
remained flat due to threats from off
shore manufacturing and competition
from plastic and other packaging
materials. Packaging Unlimited, however,
has experienced exponential growth.
They have doubled their sales in
the last five years, and attribute part of
that growth to the very city that houses
them. A list of some of their best clients
is evidence of that. Packaging Unlimited
remains very grateful to its customers
most of whom are in the surrounding
areas.
The growth of Packaging
Unlimited has also been accomplished
with support of many local vendors.
Franklin Water Department,
W.R.E.C.C., Arney Industrial Services,
Bluegrass Tire & Truck Repair, Franklin
Pallet, Goodrum Pallet. Guaranteed
Sealing and Striping and Yokeley
Machine Company are just a few local
vendors whom have been instrumental
partners in the success of the business.
Employees at Packaging Unlimited are
also valued as one of the integral keys
to success. Being responsive to customer
needs can be very challenging yet the
employees at Packaging Unlimited always
rise to the challenge.
Dennis Griffin, Executive Director
of Industrial Authority of Franklin-
Simpson said, “Packaging Unlimited
has been successful in business because
they run their five different facilities as
if everyone employed were family. That
begins at the corporate level beginning
with the owner and founder Bob
Hanekamp. The Franklin plant General
Manager, Jeff Holman, is an excellent
representative for the local facility. He
along with Plant Manager, Jeff Shrull,
have a close working relationship with
their employees. The productivity in
Franklin from the fifty employed in the
manufacturing part of the business is
some of the best in the industry. It is that
personal touch that has made Packaging
Unlimited so successful in Franklin.”
Packaging Unlimited owns its own fleet line. Dedicated delivery
drivers are instrumental in maintaining client-focused service.