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25 Years and Still Growing

Feb 01, 2011

Since 1985, FCA has grown from a single manufacturing site to over thirteen plant locations across the United States, providing custom industrial packaging to many of the nation’s leading OEMs.  There are many factors that have contributed to this phenomenal growth and success, yet I believe it is worth highlighting two things that have really set FCA apart from the pack, resulting in our company emerging as the national leader in custom designed industrial packaging solutions. For over twenty-five years FCA has had an unwavering commitment to two things: product re-design and the sourcing of alternative raw materials. These two objectives go hand in hand, and to help carry out this strategy FCA maintains close working relationships between our sales, design and sourcing teams.

Most packaging companies are simply content with taking the customers’ existing designs and building them with traditional lumber and nails. Not so at FCA. Our in-house design and engineering staff immediately gets to work at redesigning existing packaging with the view to increase performance and reduce cost.  At the same time, our purchasing department gets to work at finding the most cost effective raw material with which to build.  Gone are the days when raw material was just locally sawn hardwood or softwood, or whatever excess material the local lumber yard had lying around. FCA scours the continent, indeed the world, to identify and locate materials. 

Not too long ago, our company opened a brand-new design and testing facility in Coal Valley, IL. Not only are we designing, modeling and testing prototypes there, we are also continually testing new, alternative and innovative raw materials.  We now make our containers and shipping platforms from such diverse materials as steel, plastic decking, corrugated, engineered wood, OSB, MDF, and plywood, as well as traditional hardwood and softwood lumber, among others.  Our commitment to re-design and alternative materials has recently resulted in FCA developing a patent-pending “hybrid” product constructed from engineered wood components and steel bracketry. This hybrid product can be used as many as 30-50 times and is generally 50% more cost competitive than steel packaging.  

Whether in wood, steel, corrugated, or hybrid, our commitment to product re-design and alternative sourcing sets us apart from our competitors, and helps provide a comprehensive packaging solution that adds value to our customers. 

FCA Continues to Focus on Total Value and Excellent Customer Service in Custom Industrial Packaging

Dec 01, 2010

FCA Packaging would like to thank all of our customers from around the world who took part in our 2010 Customer Satisfaction and Value Survey. The feedback, comments and insight we received will help us continue to provide the most comprehensive packaging solutions, including our custom design, manufacturing and management of specialized packaging products, for the future. The response rate was very encouraging and we are proud to serve our customers; many of whom are the largest and most well-known OEMs in their respective industries. With the information from the survey FCA can continue our intense focus on total value, just-in-time delivery and excellent customer service!

Of particular note was the value placed on comprehensive packaging solutions that FCA provides.

These services include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Product Design and Engineering Support
• Concept Testing and Validation
• Supply Chain Management
• Container Management and Tracking
• Repair/Refurbishment
• Container Washing
• Recycle Planning and Management
• Online Ordering
• ISO 9001 Certification
• Lean and Process Improvement Programs
• Sustainable Product Offerings

To all our customers, current and future, thank you!

Recycled Packaging Options Can Save You Money

Aug 26, 2010

FCA can create a custom solution to significantly reduce your packaging costs.

With our use of engineered wood we can design and develop a more durable custom packaging solution. FCA can design a flexible, reusable product that significantly reduces purchasing costs.  We have developed a patent pending hybrid solution that is highly flexible and environmentally friendly. This hybrid packaging proactively addresses your desire to drive costs out of the manufacturing process and minimize environmental impact. 

FCA can also manage all the logistics, inspection and maintenance of the packaging products to lengthen the life of your packaging in the field, saving you thousands of dollars in packaging and disposal costs.

FCA can help you design a custom, returnable and cost-effective solution for your enterprise.

For more information review our Case Study – Recycled Packaging Program Savings