California packaging firm FP International to expand plant in Hopkinsville, Kentucky, for production of its Mini Pak'r air cushion machine, protective packaging product lines

Liling Tan

REDWOOD CITY, California , August 31, 2011 (press release) – The MINI PAK’R air cushion machine has been so successful that plant expansion is required for additional manufacturing in the USA. The MINI PAK’R air cushion machine is a low cost, compact system that creates six different air cushions for protecting products during shipping.

Kentucky Governor Steve Beshear joined community leaders and officials from FP International, headquartered in Redwood City, CA, at their Hopkinsville KY plant to announce the company will add a machine build operation to its facility.

FP International, a global company, designs packaging products including biodegradable air cushion packaging systems, paper cushioning systems, biodegradable and recycled polystyrene loosefill, premade bubble, and bubble mailers for a variety of industries. FP International has five manufacturing facilities in the USA and seven locations in Europe and Australia.

“FP International is quite pleased with the collaboration and friendly business climate provided by Kentucky, which is largely responsible for our decision to expand our manufacturing facility in Hopkinsville,” said FP International CEO and Chairman of the Board Arthur Graham. “This facility will be used to build our most successful MINI PAK’R® air cushion machine and product line. We hope the government personnel at all levels enjoy the contributions our presence has made to the state since we opened the plant in June 2000.”

The MINI PAK’R air cushion machine, the reason for the celebration, is a low cost, compact system that creates six different air cushions for protecting products during shipping. The MINI PAK’R is used by businesses shipping fewer than 200 boxes a day and replaces packing peanuts, premade bubble and paper products. The MINI PAK’R is sold throughout the US and on multiple continents including Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East.

Gov. Steve Beshear came to the announcement, representing the commonwealth’s role in the plant expansion: FP International was approved for up to $3 million in tax incentives through the Kentucky Business Investment program. These benefits are a way government is able to help facilitate new jobs, in Beshear’s opinion.

“Our new tax incentive programs are a real factor in the job creation we are being able to do,” Beshear said after the ceremony. “The great thing about our program is, unless they create the jobs, they don’t get the incentives. They’re all performance based.”

In his speech, Beshear thanked the company for its continued investment in the community, complimenting the “quality, skilled work force” that helped convince company management to locate the plant expansion in the area. “FP International’s expansion demonstrates our commitment to existing businesses,” said Christian County Judge-Executive Steve Tribble. “We congratulate FP on their successes and look forward to many more years of continued partnership.” For more information about the MINI PAK’R and its innovative system, please contact us at http://www.minipakr.com or call toll-free: 888-646-4757.

About FP International
FP International, headquartered in Redwood City, CA, is an award-winning manufacturer of innovative, protective packaging products and packaging systems. The company’s products include packaging-made-on-site (PMOS), loosefill / packing peanuts, biodegradable packaging, sustainable packaging, kraft bubble mailers, eco-friendly packaging, void fill, environmentally friendly packaging, loose fill, packaging popcorn, and inflatable packaging. Their flagship products include GREEN FAMILY®, 100 percent biodegradable packaging, SUPER 8® loosefill and CELL-O® inflatable packaging air cushions. They are worldwide leaders in eco-friendly packaging. Their instant air cushion packaging systems create a smaller carbon footprint and are cost efficient for customers. The company also designs and installs custom dispensing storage systems for air cushions and loosefill. FP International has manufacturing facilities in California, Delaware, Illinois, Kentucky and Massachusetts. The company has wholly owned subsidiaries in France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom with sales offices in Australia and Asia.

For more information, visit http://www.fpintl.com , http://www.minipakr.com or call 800-888-3725 or
650-261-5300.

* All content is copyrighted by Industry Intelligence, or the original respective author or source. You may not recirculate, redistrubte or publish the analysis and presentation included in the service without Industry Intelligence's prior written consent. Please review our terms of use.