TricorBraun is a leading source of rigid packaging, with extensive capabilities in package design and engineering, logistics, and international packaging solutions, all driven by a dedication to excellent customer service. Today’s TricorBraun includes the history, talents and resources of Northwestern Bottle Company, Texberry Container, Caliber Packaging, W. Braun Company, Packaging Plus, Packaging West, Smith Container, Cal-West Tool & Mold, Fenton, Weber & Jones, I-Pak, Ryco Packaging Corporation and now Columbia Packaging.
1902-1997: Northwestern Bottle Company
Northwestern Bottle Company was founded by Samuel Kranzberg in 1902 and evolved through a century characterized by dramatic change. Originally a used glass bottle company, Northwestern Bottle became the first distributor for Owens-Illinois, the first company to manufacture glass bottles with a blow molding machine.
Three generations carried on the business, with Ken Kranzberg presiding over the company’s national expansion by opening branches in Indianapolis, Chicago, Kansas City, Boston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Omaha, Miami, Wilmington, and Denver.
1998: TricorBraun - The First Super Distributor
Texberry Container Company, a distributor of rigid packaging products, included branch offices in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and New Orleans. Caliber Packaging had been the result of the successful merger of Calpac Container Company and Berman Brothers in 1995. In 1997, Northwestern Bottle Company, Caliber Packaging and Texberry Container merged, creating Tricor Packaging.
Then in late 1998, Tricor Packaging and the W. Braun Company consolidated operations, forming TricorBraun, the packaging industry’s first super distributor. Internationally known and respected, the W. Braun Company added 10,000 designs and 2,500 molds to the company.
1998-Today: Adding More Options
In October of 1999, TricorBraun acquired Packaging Plus, a well-known and respected California-based distribution company. Packaging West was acquired in December 2003 and increased TricorBraun’s coverage in the western and southwestern areas of the U.S.
Smith Container, a family-owned operation based in Atlanta, Georgia, joined TricorBraun in May 2004. That acquisition greatly enhanced TricorBraun’s presence in the Southeastern U.S. with two additional branches in Charlotte and Orlando as well as sales offices in Greenville and Tulsa.
TricorBraun Design & Engineering began with the purchase of Caliber in January of 1997 and was expanded with the W. Braun acquisition. Mold engineering capabilities grew with the acquisition of blow molding specialists Cal-West Tool & Mold in 2005 and respected packaging designers Fenton, Weber & Jones in 2007. Today TBD&E includes a main design studio in Chicago and locations in Buffalo, NY and Lake Elsinore, CA.
TricorBraun’s acquisition of Ryco Packaging Corporation in 2007 is quite significant. Like TricorBraun, Ryco’s history in the packaging business goes back over 100 years, and includes a family tradition of both strong work ethic and dedication to customer service.
The most recent acquisition of Columbia Packaging represents TricorBraun’s further expansion in to the Canadian marketplace. Formed in 1995, Columbia Packaging included three key strategic distribution centers located in Vancouver, Montreal and California.
TricorBraun Today
Strong, Global and Customer-Focused
Today TricorBraun includes more than 30 locations across North America and an office in Guangzhou, China, which is staffed with Asia-based professionals providing sourcing expertise, project management, factory qualification and engineering services committed to supplying TricorBraun’s customers with the highest quality packaging components from international sources.
Our team of packaging experts includes Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) Certified Packaging Professionals, along with talented packaging designers and engineers, specialists in international packaging, and highly experienced customer service personnel.
TricorBraun is a leading source of rigid packaging, with extensive capabilities in package design and engineering, logistics, and international packaging solutions, all driven by a dedication to excellent customer service. Today’s TricorBraun includes the history, talents and resources of Northwestern Bottle Company, Texberry Container, Caliber Packaging, W. Braun Company, Packaging Plus, Packaging West, Smith Container, Cal-West Tool & Mold, Fenton, Weber & Jones, I-Pak, Ryco Packaging Corporation and now Columbia Packaging.
1902-1997: Northwestern Bottle Company
Northwestern Bottle Company was founded by Samuel Kranzberg in 1902 and evolved through a century characterized by dramatic change. Originally a used glass bottle company, Northwestern Bottle became the first distributor for Owens-Illinois, the first company to manufacture glass bottles with a blow molding machine.
Three generations carried on the business, with Ken Kranzberg presiding over the company’s national expansion by opening branches in Indianapolis, Chicago, Kansas City, Boston, Atlanta, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Omaha, Miami, Wilmington, and Denver.
1998: TricorBraun - The First Super Distributor
Texberry Container Company, a distributor of rigid packaging products, included branch offices in Dallas, Houston, San Antonio and New Orleans. Caliber Packaging had been the result of the successful merger of Calpac Container Company and Berman Brothers in 1995. In 1997, Northwestern Bottle Company, Caliber Packaging and Texberry Container merged, creating Tricor Packaging.
Then in late 1998, Tricor Packaging and the W. Braun Company consolidated operations, forming TricorBraun, the packaging industry’s first super distributor. Internationally known and respected, the W. Braun Company added 10,000 designs and 2,500 molds to the company.
1998-Today: Adding More Options
In October of 1999, TricorBraun acquired Packaging Plus, a well-known and respected California-based distribution company. Packaging West was acquired in December 2003 and increased TricorBraun’s coverage in the western and southwestern areas of the U.S.
Smith Container, a family-owned operation based in Atlanta, Georgia, joined TricorBraun in May 2004. That acquisition greatly enhanced TricorBraun’s presence in the Southeastern U.S. with two additional branches in Charlotte and Orlando as well as sales offices in Greenville and Tulsa.
TricorBraun Design & Engineering began with the purchase of Caliber in January of 1997 and was expanded with the W. Braun acquisition. Mold engineering capabilities grew with the acquisition of blow molding specialists Cal-West Tool & Mold in 2005 and respected packaging designers Fenton, Weber & Jones in 2007. Today TBD&E includes a main design studio in Chicago and locations in Buffalo, NY and Lake Elsinore, CA.
TricorBraun’s acquisition of Ryco Packaging Corporation in 2007 is quite significant. Like TricorBraun, Ryco’s history in the packaging business goes back over 100 years, and includes a family tradition of both strong work ethic and dedication to customer service.
The most recent acquisition of Columbia Packaging represents TricorBraun’s further expansion in to the Canadian marketplace. Formed in 1995, Columbia Packaging included three key strategic distribution centers located in Vancouver, Montreal and California.
TricorBraun Today
Strong, Global and Customer-Focused
Today TricorBraun includes more than 30 locations across North America and an office in Guangzhou, China, which is staffed with Asia-based professionals providing sourcing expertise, project management, factory qualification and engineering services committed to supplying TricorBraun’s customers with the highest quality packaging components from international sources.
Our team of packaging experts includes Institute of Packaging Professionals (IoPP) Certified Packaging Professionals, along with talented packaging designers and engineers, specialists in international packaging, and highly experienced customer service personnel.