Welch Packaging, a corrugated packaging manufacturer, has opened a corrugator facility, known as OHCorr in Wooster, Ohio, US. The facility enhances the company’s sheet feeder network and supply chain efficiency while improving service delivery to regional customers.
The increased capacity and capability of the Welch sheet feeder system reduced overall freight costs.
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A coalition of local entities, including the City of Wooster, Wayne Economic Development Council, Ohio Department of Development (ODOD), JobsOhio, and Team NEO, an economic development agency, supported the establishment of the facility.
Welch Packaging has invested $18m for the development of the plant. The facility was launched in August 2024 and generated 50 employment opportunities within the state.
Location of Welch Packaging’s OHCorr facility
Welch Packaging’s OHCorr is located at the leased 2550 Daisy Way in Wooster Brush Company’s North Building. It lies within the Wooster Innovation Park in Northeast Ohio.
Wooster Innovation Park is a community-owned site suitable for manufacturing, research and development, and distribution. This 61.2-acre (24.7ha) lot lies on the Eastern edge of Wooster in Wayne County.
Strategically placed amidst Toledo, Cleveland, Ashtabula, Cincinnati, and Columbus, OHCorr’s location in Wooster is pivotal to serving the company’s existing box manufacturing facilities.
Welch Packaging facility details
Spanning 200,000ft² (18,580m²), the OHCorr facility produces corrugated sheets for the company’s regional box plants. The facility adds to the company’s network of 23 locations across seven states.
The facility offers proprietary board grades, which are designed to be lighter in weight, more robust, and utilise resources more efficiently compared to conventional board grades.
The infrastructure in Wooster is designed for vertical integration and supply chain resilience, allowing for increased production to satisfy the burgeoning demands of both new and existing customers.
Welch Packaging’s product portfolio
Welch Packaging’s product range includes industrial, retail, and e-commerce packaging solutions. The company’s industrial packaging is engineered to optimise packaging processes and ensure product safety during transportation. The packaging includes custom corrugated boxes, cardboard boxes, direct print boxes, Gaylord boxes and bulk bins, die-cut boxes and build-ups, auto-lock boxes, pre-glued trays, and pop-up inserts.
Welch utilises advanced machinery for retail packaging such as in-house litho-laminating and die cutters. The machinery is used to produce flexographic print boxes, lithographic print boxes, digital print boxes, countertop displays, floor displays, and pallet wraps. The enhanced graphic capabilities enhance brand recognition, aiding clients in selling more products.
For e-commerce, the company offers direct print and litho mailers, inside/outside print mailers, and custom inserts. The e-commerce packaging capabilities enable quick fulfilment, and product protection and prioritise customer experience.
Marketing commentary on Welch Packaging
Established in 1985 as Elkhart Container, this family-run enterprise has expanded into a conglomerate of corrugated manufacturing companies primarily based in the Midwest and Midsouth, with headquarters in Elkhart, Indiana.
The company’s manufacturing units specialise in the fabrication of corrugated products and packaging systems, catering to the needs of local customers. They manage an interconnected array of corrugated sheet facilities, underpinned by their proprietary sheet feeder infrastructure.
The company’s custom board grades include WP130 E, B, and C Flute, WP242 BC Double Wall and WP243 EB Double Wall.
Besides the 23 corrugated manufacturing plants, Welch Packaging also caters to its clientele through a packaging distribution business. The company has a workforce of 1,500 associates.
The company takes pride in its approach to business, which emphasises local engagement, and investment in community and equipment.
