The Kennedy Car Liner & Bag Company in Shelbyville was once one of the largest producers of handmade bags in the world. Image sourced from A Brief History of Shelby County, Indiana.
KCL Kennedy Car Liner, Shelbyville, IN, started in the early 1900’s in paper box car liners. Grain would sift through the boards in railroad box cars so KCL manufactured at that time large sheets of paper to line the bottom of the rail cars. From small paper bags to large multiwall paper bags were manufactured. Around 1963 KCL was one of the first to manufacture a
reclosable plastic bag. They would eventually manufacture film and custom print. KCL expanded by acquiring poly bag plants in Texas and Canada. They were at the forefront selling to industrial, retail, food, medical, military, and agricultural markets. KCL was very innovative and developed their own stock reclosable bags that were extruded and manufactured in the USA called Press N Seal,
Integrated Profile (zipper) in the film. As well as manufacturing their own zipper on a spool known as
Applied Profile. Both Applied profile and Integrated profile is widely used today. Sandwich bags typically have integrated profile (zipper) in which the zipper is formed with the film. For years sandwich bags were clear and at that time I came up with the idea to print on Sandwich bags and came out with my own line Zips® Printed Sandwich Bags. Applied Profile (zipper) is found on many food retail items from shredded cheese to frozen berries. Films developed from single layer or (mono layer) to multilayer (also known as laminated) by heating or gluing together multiple layers of film. More developments in plastics also occurred, LDPE, HDPE, PP (polypropylene), etc. Printing improved from simple and common 4-6 color presses to very high quality process print, rotogravure, (photographs).
The Start of Paschke Plastics
I began my journey with KCL in 1989 until in 1998 the company began working on
Slider bags. I was able to start Paschke Plastics, LLC in Tampa, FL in 1998 working with multiple plastic and packaging manufactures. By purchasing in high volume I can offer low competitive prices. By offering years of experience I can save companies from costly mistakes in both film and printing pitfalls. Most packaging projects start small and grow if the package is right. That’s why even the smallest jobs are as interesting to me as the largest. When designed right a small project can grow into millions of bags. Over the years I was involved in many notable, enjoyable, and demanding projects. An herb company working with Publix started with only 25,000 bags to multi millions per year. Highly involved with the largest Dental rubber band supplier as well as the largest supplier of tropical fish supplier using water tight bags. Throughout the years and many trade shows I have been able to speak with some of the biggest Exxon, Kroger, and many more. From high tech
static shielding bags, biohazard, rust inhibitive bags, to
ice bags and
trash bags. There is probably not an industry that I have not been involved in over the years providing help to both brand and private label companies. Add to that 6 years of buying and selling in the recycled plastic industry. I was able to see how plastic is recycled and reused over and over again.
Contact Us Today!
Whether you need a few cases of stock reclosable bags, or maybe trash bags for your warehouse, or looking to start a special packaging project we greatly look forward to working with you and your company -
contact us today!
